6mo ago

Pizza chefs of Lemmy, is a job as a pizza chef a physically demanding job?

I'm asking because, i'm thinking about doing a little part time job as a pizza maker on one day of the week because 1. i FRICKIN LOVE PIZZA and 2. i need to do something physically demanding as an contra to my office job which is only mentally exhausting. Just doin workouts at the gym would be an option yes, but getting the same result through doing something would be way better. Thanks for every shared experience!

40 comments

I've seen enough cartoons to know that you need strong lungs to sing baritone Italian operas whilst tossing the pizza dough into the air.
- Very good point, didn't think about that. Thx!

I was a pizza chef for a bit. To answer your question, yes it is. The pizza oven heats the kitchen a lot and if you’re not busy you can get away from it for a bit, but when it’s busy good luck. I would drink about a liter of water per shift and wouldn’t need bathroom breaks because of how much I was sweating. The dough can be rough to work if you have a newbie making it. Other than that it’s mostly just the heat that is fucked and if you have a cheapskate owner who doesn’t buy good ventilation or AC oof
- Thanks for sharing your experience!

Yes, lots of drinking and drug in front of a pizza oven have fucked up better people than you.
- Didn't know lots of drinking and drugs was part of the job as a pizza chef. The more you know
  
  drugs and alcohol abuse isn't just limited to pizza chefs, but chefs in general
  
  It's the main two parts of the job actually.
  The pizza has a minor role.
  
  Pretty sure it's all food and drink establishments.

I've been a chef for 15 years. This job is BOTH physically and mentally exhausting. Not to mention the rampant drug and alcohol addictions.
If you really wanna do this, go for it. I suggest you try to find the ritziest place in the area. Pizza places are where I would go for a new plug in a new city.
Oh, and you aren't gonna get paid.
- Well i think there is no other option than making own experiences. Thanks for your answer!

Any kitchen work demands muscles you never even knew existed.
Your legs will hate you, but get some good, proper shoes with insoles.
Your back will hate you, try and find a place that has kitchen mats, instead of bare floor.
Your arms will hate you, and they will just have to get used to it...
The thing is, you'll work steadily and THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYONE HAS AN ORDER NOOOOOOWWWWW and you run yer nuts off, and finish & go home, genrally buzzing from the adrenaline, which is why so many cooks, chefs and staff drink excessively...to shut down the noise....so be wary of that
Your body will adapt, go have fun.
- Thanks for sharing!
- What's the difference with mat or no mat?
  
  Shock absorption/dampening with every step. Most kitchen floors are going to be concrete so every step has no give and the shock of the impact has no where to go but into your joints and bones.
  Imagine banging your head against a brick wall over and over. Shoes are like wearing a helmet, the pads are a pillow against the wall.
  
  It's not the same thing but the comparative lameness of it is kinda the point. I have a home office, carpeted. I bought a desk that can be used to stand because I sit way too much and it gives me back problems.
  My feet started to really hurt because I was standing so much. In comfortable shoes (corrective ones that I need), on carpet.
  I bought a 'fatigue mat' and now I stand all day without noticing any pain. Just about an inch of rubbery foam stuff has made a huge difference.
  So I can imagine that someone working far longer shifts than I do, on likely cement floors would massively benefit from matting.
  
  The mat (along with) good shoes and insoles cushion impact on your legs/back. It also creates a non slip area that is important if you're working with oil (hot or cold).
  If you have several mats running along a line it's customary to take plastic wrap and tie the ends so they all are one piece and don't scootch away from each other during the shift.
  #protip

You will have gains in the places you don't want gains.
- Sounds interesting nevertheless
  
  Yeah also this, cheese & carbs add up quickly!

Would you still love it if you did it for a living?
- You'd have to! Can't make good pizza without love!
- I thought about that, but i guess i have to try for an answer.
  
  You probably won't.

I've spent 20 years in various kitchens, pizza included, and in my experience while kitchen work is very tiring it's not very good exercise. In a well designed kitchen you will mostly be moving back and forth in a small, maybe 5 square foot, area bending over, squatting down, standing back up, and reaching a lot. Don't get me wrong, it is very active work, but it's not likely to make you much stronger or improve your cardiovascular health or conditioning much.
There's something else to consider as well. Relative to the misery, kitchen work pays very, very poorly. As a result kitchens are largely populated by those either unable or unwilling to find better paying and less demanding jobs or by those who are deeply passionate about the work. Neither of these types make terribly good workmates to a casual interloper and it would be wise to keep in mind that those around you are living out a tough life. One they mat find deeply rewarding, but tough nonetheless.
There are, however, as many types of kitchens as there are types of people, so you may find a place that fits with what you want to get out of it, it just might be a longer than average search. Good luck, though.
- Also a very good point, i also thought about but couldn't word as good as you just did. Thanks!

I wouldn't think so but a lot of people made fun of riker for the way he used that pizza paddle in Star Trek Picard.

Sounds like a good plan, since you're not financially dependent on it, Why not try it? Alternatively, what about working at a bar?
- I worked at a small bar before, that wasn't for me. But first of all it can be be different elsewhere, and second yes something like that was the plan, you're right, why not try it
  
  The thing with a pizzeria is that I expect that you'll just be standing statically a lot. Working at a bar, as a waiter will give you the opportunity to walk a lot. As a barman to talk to people and move more than when you'd just be making pizzas in the kitchen

You need very large forearms.
- How many football fields?
  
  At least one i would guess?

I hear it can get pretty hot in there

Yes, lots of heat from the ovens dehydrating you. Always standing and moving around. Risk of intense burns from the super hot oven, lots of drug usage in the restaurant business. if you or the waiter mess up an order customers have to wait 15-25 more minutes which means less tips.

I doubt any place will hire you for only one day a week. That will not be helpful for them.
- Yeah i'm not sure with that, too

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