How to Hire a Cook for Your Indian Home — Types, Cost & Tips
👨🍳 Hiring Guide · Published 2026-05-15 · 1 min read
A good cook can transform your daily life. No more Swiggy bills. No more 30-minute-after-office cooking marathons. No more unhealthy takeout. But finding the right cook for your specific needs — cuisine, dietary restrictions, schedule — requires careful planning.
Types of Cooks You Can Hire
| Type | What They Do | Cost (Metro) |
|---|---|---|
| Tiffin Cook | Prepares 2 meals, basic home-style food | ₹8,000-₹12,000 |
| Full-Time Cook | All 3 meals + snacks + tea | ₹14,000-₹22,000 |
| Specialized Cook | Specific cuisine (South Indian, Punjabi, Jain, Bengali) | ₹15,000-₹25,000 |
| Party/Event Cook | On-demand for events and gatherings | ₹2,000-₹5,000/event |
What to Test During Trial
- Ask them to cook a regular weekday meal — evaluate taste, hygiene, plating
- Check if they clean the kitchen after cooking (many don't)
- Test their ability to follow dietary instructions (less oil, no onion-garlic, sugar-free)
- Ask them to prepare a dish they've never made using a YouTube recipe — tests adaptability
Common Mistakes When Hiring a Cook
- Not clarifying whether grocery shopping is their responsibility
- Not setting a fixed menu rotation (leads to the same 5 dishes on repeat)
- Not discussing kitchen hygiene standards explicitly
- Expecting a cook to also clean the full house (different skills entirely)
Ready to book?
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