Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to safely re-thermalise bulk amounts of pre-cooked food which has been chilled or frozen. It requires the ability to select, thaw, reheat, and present pre-cooked food items according to food safety procedures and standards.
Foods may be entire meals or individual items. This unit applies to all hospitality and catering organisations which prepare and serve pre-cooked food that has been chilled or frozen.
These organisations include hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, correctional centres, health establishments, defence forces, cafeterias, kiosks, cafes, canteens, fast food outlets, residential caterers, meals-on-wheels services, in-flight and other transport caterers, and event and function caterers.
The unit applies to individuals who work with very little independence and under close supervision and guidance of more senior chefs. They follow predefined organisational procedures and report any discrepancies to a higher level staff member for action. This includes catering assistants, fast food and other cooks.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Select frozen and chilled foods. | 1.1.Confirm food production requirements from food preparation list. 1.2.Identify and select chilled and frozen food items from storage according to recipe needs and stock rotation requirements. 1.3.Check pre-cooked foods for spoilage or contamination prior to preparation. 1.4.Dispose of spoilt stock within scope of responsibility and report losses to supervisors. |
2. Prepare chilled and frozen food for reheating. | 2.1.Use appropriate methods to thaw chilled and frozen foods according to food safety procedures and standards. 2.2.Space trays and containers to allow air flow. 2.3.Meet time and temperature standards when thawing products. 2.4.Transfer food to the point of production and service, maintaining correct temperatures. |
3. Reheat pre-cooked food items. | 3.1.Prepare kitchen equipment for reheating food items. 3.2.Select and load trays and containers appropriate for the equipment type and loading procedures. 3.3.Space reheating trays and containers to allow air flow. 3.4.Use appropriate methods and equipment to reheat pre-cooked food items according to cooking instructions, food safety procedures and standards, and manufacturer instructions. 3.5.Check and record food temperature according to food safety procedures and standards. 3.6.Clean thermometers between temperature checks of each food item. |
4. Maintain, portion, present and serve reheated food. | 4.1.Transfer reheated food safely to heated bain marie or service-ware. 4.2.Maintain food temperature during preparation according to food safety requirements. 4.3.Evaluate food items against quality indicators for re-thermalised food and adjust before serving as required. 4.4.Portion food items to minimise waste and maximise yield and profitability. 4.5.Plate food items with appropriate accompaniments and garnishes according to standard recipes and regional variations. 4.6.Visually evaluate dishes and adjust presentation. 4.7.Serve or deliver food items at temperatures that comply with food safety procedures and standards. 4.8. Clean work area, and dispose of or store surplus and re-usable by-products according to organisational procedures, environmental considerations, and cost-reduction initiatives. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
prepare and re-thermalise the following food items, including at least one chilled and one frozen item, to meet the following food service requirements:
entire meals
individual meals
bulk meals for external transportation
sous vide products
conduct temperature checks on the following food and ingredients:
cold
frozen
raw
reheated
produce meals containing re-thermalised food items for at least six different customers:
within commercial time constraints and deadlines
reflecting required quantities to be produced
following food safety procedures for thawing, re-thermalising and maintaining reheated food items
according to required methods and temperature specifications for thawing, re-thermalising and maintaining reheated food items
following procedures for portion control and food safety practices when re-thermalising chilled and frozen foods
responding to special customer requests and dietary requirements.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
culinary terms and trade names for pre-cooked food types commonly subject to chilling and freezing
contents of stock date codes and rotation labels
characteristics and uses of different pre-cooked food types subject to chilling and freezing:
bulk foods
plated meals
sous-vide products
meals-on-wheels
takeaway meals
quality indicators for re-thermalised food items
indicators of spoilage and contamination of chilled and frozen food items in storage
food safety procedures for preparing and serving bulk amounts of pre-cooked food:
thawing
transferring
re-thermalising
maintaining reheated food items
mise en place requirements for re-thermalising chilled and frozen foods
methods and temperature specifications for chilled and frozen food items:
thawing
re-thermalising
maintaining reheated food items to a safe core temperature
safe operational practices and essential functions and features of equipment used to re-thermalise chilled and frozen foods:
oven
steamer
microwave
bratt pan
grill
salamander
water bath.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in an operational commercial kitchen. This can be:
an industry workplace
a simulated industry environment, such as a training kitchen servicing customers.
Assessment must ensure access to:
fixtures and large equipment:
bain marie or hotbox
commercial grade work benches (1.5m/person)
commercial refrigeration facilities to ensure appropriate thawing of frozen food items:
cool room
refrigerator
double sink
storage facilities:
shelving
trays
small equipment:
containers for hot and cold food
food handler gloves
service-ware:
platters, dishes, and bowls
cutlery and serving utensils
spoons:
large plain and slotted metal spoons
ladles in a variety of sizes
serving spoons
wooden spoons
temperature probes
thermometers
tongs
commercial equipment to ensure appropriate reheating of pre-cooked food items:
combi ovens
grill or salamander
induction stove
kettle
microwave
steamer
water bath
cleaning materials and equipment:
antibacterial wipes
cleaning cloths
commercial cleaning and sanitising agents and chemicals for cleaning commercial kitchens, equipment and food storage areas
dustpan and brooms
garbage bins and bags
hand towel dispenser and hand towels
mop and bucket
separate hand basin and antiseptic liquid soap dispenser for hand washing
sponges, brushes and scourers
tea towels and oven mitts
organisational specifications:
current commercial stock control procedures and documentation for ordering, monitoring and maintaining stock
equipment manufacturer instructions
mise en place lists, menus, standard recipes, and recipes for special dietary requirements
ordering and docketing paperwork
food safety plan
safety data sheets (SDS) for cleaning agents and chemicals
diverse and comprehensive range of perishable food supplies for commercial cookery or catering
industry-realistic ratios of kitchen staff to customers; these can be:
staff and customers in an industry workplace during the assessment process; or
individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities, set up for the purpose of assessment, in a simulated industry environment operated within a training organisation.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors; and:
have achieved the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery to assess this unit as part of a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery qualification; and
have worked in industry for at least three years where they have applied the skills and knowledge of this unit of competency.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
SKILLS | DESCRIPTION |
Reading skills to: | locate information in food preparation lists, cooking instructions, food safety procedures and standards to determine re-thermalising requirements locate and read date codes and rotation labels on food products. |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate thawing temperatures and time required for the quantity of portions required determine cooking times and temperatures. |
Learning skills to: | locate key information in standards and specifications relating to thawing, re-thermalising and maintaining food temperature. |
Problem-solving skills to: | evaluate the quality of re-thermalised food items and make adjustments to ensure a quality product monitor temperatures and adjust according to identified discrepancies. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently sequence the stages of food preparation and re-thermalisation. |
Self-management skills to: | manage own speed, timing and productivity. |
Technology skills to: | use food thawing and re-thermalisation cooking equipment. |
Range Statement
Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. | |
Adjusting presentation must involve consideration of: | accompaniments and garnishes that maximise visual appeal: balance colour contrast plating food for practicality of: customer consumption service wiping drips and spills. |
Sectors
Hospitality
Competency Field
Commercial Cookery and Catering