On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A cook is a professional individual who prepares items for consumption in the food industry, especially in settings such as restaurants. A cook is sometimes referred to as a chef, although in the culinary world, the terms are how to cook pierogi interchangeable.

Cooks’ responsibilities include preparing food, managing food stations, cleaning the kitchen, and helping the chefs. In 776 BC, Coroebus of Elis who won the Ancient Olympic Games in a sprint race was also a cook. In a sense, cooks were acknowledged as trained craftsmen. Brigade De Cuisine as the Cuisinier. They help the top levels in the hierarchy, such as chefs, and prepare specific dishes. The cooks that prepared and cooked the food for those of the Chinese population that were in the upper echelons of society and therefore could afford it, would operate through inns, restaurants and even by roaming the streets as a street vendor, thus offering customers a variety of options.

The cooks in Ming China, as mentioned before, were only available to be utilised by the very wealthy. Despite the exclusive nature of the job and the status levels of those they prepared food for, the occupation of the cook during Ming times was not a highly coveted profession due to the amount of animal killing involved with being a cook. Cooks in Ming China could learn their trade through the multitude of recipe books and herbal guides that was published during the Ming Dynasty. Based on the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of work opportunities for cooks is expected to go up by 6 percent during the time period of 2016 to 2026. In 2016, the number of jobs for a cook was at 2,403,000. 48 for every hour of work.

There is not a strict set of achievements that one must accomplish before one can become a cook. There are institutions that provide culinary programs, such as vocational cooking schools. There are mandatory lessons that cover topics such as food safety, sanitation, hospitality, and advanced cooking. This will last for less than two years to four years. It is also known that some cooks receive their education through culinary apprenticeships that can be sponsored by professional culinary institutes or trade unions. Apprenticeships usually have a duration of one year and provide on-the-job experience along with technical training.