Find an experienced cook near you

Fill in a short form and get free quotes for professional cooking services

4.2

Great rating - 4.2/5 (11114+ reviews)

Do you need help with meal preparation?

  • Home cooking
  • Cooking Lessons
  • Vegetarian meal preparation
  • Vegan meal preparation
  • Meal planning
  • … or anything else
It only takes 2 minutes. And it's free.
Up to 50% cheaper than franchise dealers
No job too big or small
Free insurance coverage
Secure cashless payments
Same day or next day service at no extra cost

Best rated cooks near me

Recent Cooking reviews

Excellent!!!!

Home cooked meals

$150

Totally amazing service, the meals were awesome, super helpful labels for the macros and she communicated with me really well!

Macro friendly meal prep

$100

Great work on doing the meals!

Meal prep. Must be pet free home

$250

Mariza was very patient and catering to my specific requests. Communication was always quick and efficient and was very negotiable. Cake looked and tasted amazing and everyone was so impressed. Would definitely recommend Mariza for your future cake needs. Hassle free transaction.

Cake maker/baker (Pug)

$150

Alex's cake was just as we ordered. We were so happy with how it turned out, both in looks and taste! Would definitely recommend her to all. Thanks again!

Specialty cake my husband's 40th birthday for 40 people

$200

It was easy to talk to Imesha and she communicated promptly . She was also well organised and did a good job .

Home cooking - hourly rate

$30

What's the average cost of a cook

$85 - $220

low

$85

median

$150

high

$220

Low, median and high bar chart distribuiton

Average reviews for Cooking Services

based on 466 reviews

4.91

441
16
4
4
1

What is Airtasker?

Post your task

Post your task

Tell us what you need, it's FREE to post.

Review offers

Review offers

Get offers from trusted Taskers and view profiles.

Get it done

Get it done

Choose the right person for your task and get it done.

Now Available
  • Get it done now. Pay later.
  • Repay in 4 fortnightly instalments
  • No interest
  • Available on payments up to $1,500

648+

Tasks successfully completed

1

Average amount of offers per task

3

 hrs

Average time to receive offers

Statistics from the most recent tasks on Airtasker over the last 4 years.

Hire trusted Cooks with Airtasker

Cooking is one of those skills that takes a moment to learn but a lifetime to master. Those who choose to master it over a lifetime are generally highly sought after, and for good reason.

Whether you’re a catering company who needs a chef to help serve up food at a gala event, a restaurant who requires the short term assistance of a chef while they search for a long term staffer, or perhaps even a hopeless romantic who wants to engage the services of a private chef to make an anniversary particularly special, you can now gain access to a huge amount of talent, and all at the click of a button.

Simply tell us about the job that you’d like the chef to do and suggest what you’d be willing to pay, and you’ll soon begin to receive offers from available chefs. Each chef comes with ratings and detailed reviews of their previous work, so you can be confident that your chosen hire will be able to produce the sort of quality food that you require.

So what are you waiting for? Get a free, no obligation quote today!

Offers in no time

Start getting offers to do your task ASAP!

Local, skilled pros

Take your pick of skilled Cooks nearby.

Real reviews

Judge for yourself – every task gets a review.

Flexible pricing

Choose the offer that’s right for you.

Top Cooking related questions

Professional cooks usually have previous kitchen experience or qualifications. They’re paid to prepare food, either in a commercial environment, in people’s homes as a personal cook, or they may work from their own kitchen at home.

Yes. Most cooks specialise in a particular type of cooking, like baking, seafood, gluten-free, vegan, steaming, frying, or even a particular cuisine.

A professional cook doesn’t necessarily need any set qualifications, but it’s common for professional chefs to hold a certificate or have some work experience in a professional kitchen.

Professional cooks can give you a restaurant quality meal but in the comfort (and convenience) of your own home. If you’re hosting a dinner party, it means you can spend more time with your guests and minimise the clean up afterwards.

This will depend on whether your cook is assembling the meal at your place or at theirs. Generally, private catering chefs will bring all the ingredients, along with any specific appliances they need. However, they may use your basic utensils and servingware.

The price for a professional or personal cook is usually between $70-$200 when you hire through Airtasker. It could be more or less than this, depending on how many people they need to cater for, the cost of ingredients, and the time it’ll take them to prepare the meal.


Suggested reads about Cooking

What do cooking services include?

You can hire a cook to provide food for a range of meals and occasions, from home cooking and meal prep to specialty cooking and even dinner party catering. You can arrange cooking services to happen in your own kitchen or your cook can bring the food ready-prepared. Your chef will take care of everything from buying ingredients to cleaning up. Here’s what you can expect depending on your cooking service:

Home cooking
Want fresh meals in your home? Your home chef can either offer regular home cooking services where they cook multiple nights per week, or provide a one-off meal if you just need occasional help. Your private chef will ask if you have any food preferences or intolerances, how many people they need to cook for, and what appliances and equipment they can use. They’ll usually plan the meals ahead of time, purchase the ingredients, and freshly cook the meals in your kitchen, and then clean up before they go.

Baking
Want to impress your best friend with an amazing cake for her birthday party? Or perhaps it’s your turn to bring some baking to work for morning tea? Hire a pastry chef or professional baker to create a cake, biscuits, muffins, or something else tasty. They’ll ask you how many people you’re baking for, any flavour preferences, and any special decorations you’d like. Your baker will bake at their place and deliver the finished product to your home or office once it’s ready.

Dinner party chef
If you’re planning a dinner party with friends, why not hire a dinner party chef to help take all the stress out of hosting? Your professional cook will contact you to confirm the number of guests, what courses/canapes you’d like, and whether the event is formal or informal. They’ll usually prepare most of the food where the event is being held (whether at your home or at a venue) and clean up the kitchen after they’re done.

Specialty cooking
Cooking paleo, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free can be a challenge, whether it’s for yourself, a family member, or for an event you’re catering. Fortunately, many cooks are experienced with a range of different food requirements, including food intolerances, special diets, and allergies. When you hire a cook, they’ll choose recipes and ingredients that are suitable, confirming any dietary requirements before they get started. They’ll be careful to avoid cross-contamination if they’re preparing alternative meals for certain members of your family or party.

Meal preparation & planning
If you struggle to come up with meal ideas and always find yourself short of time throughout the week, why not hire a cook to prep your meals for the week? Your personal cook will confirm how many meals you’d like, the number of people, and if you have any preferences. They’ll choose meals that keep well and are easy to store, and taste great fresh or reheated. They’ll either prepare the food in your kitchen (cleaning up afterwards) or drop your freshly prepared meals off when they’re done, packaged and ready for the fridge or freezer.

Recent Cooking tasks

Experienced Healthy Meal Prep Chef Needed in Melbourne

$40

Melbourne VIC, Australia

16th May 2026

I’m looking for an experienced chef in Melbourne to prepare healthy weekly meals. I need someone who understands balanced nutrition, high-protein meals, portion control, and fresh ingredients. The chef must have access to their own kitchen or a suitable kitchen where they can prepare the meals safely and professionally. The job may include weekly meal planning, cooking, and preparing meals in advance. Please send your experience, sample menus, availability, and pricing.

Personal chef for meal prep! CBD! + parking!

$50

Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

15th May 2026

I’m trying to Budget as much as I can at the moment just until I get my life together a bit more but I could really use a hand in my meal preps! Seven day meal prep involving: Brekkie: omelettes plus sourdough Lunch: Chicken big mac bowl Dinner: Chipotle Beef Rice Bowl We can chat whether it’s hourly or per week or per set of meals - i’ve said it to $50 for each seven day meal prep so far Any help is much appreciated

Indian Cook Required - Vegetarian food

$30

Carnegie VIC, Australia

15th May 2026

Looking for Indian cook to prepare vegetarian meals at my home in Carnegie on a part time basis- ideally 2 hrs &;twice a week. We are a vegetarian household of 2 so traditional Indian cooking will be required. All ingredients will be provided Happy to pay $30 hourly rate

Quote for Family Kitchen Helper / Meal Prep Assistant

$10

Somerville VIC, Australia

15th May 2026

We’re a busy family (2 adults, 2 children) looking for a warm, organised, reliable person to help support the kitchen and food side of our home on an ongoing basis. This is a “kitchen fairy” / family food support role for a household that values nourishing food, calm systems, and a well-functioning home. We’d love someone who genuinely enjoys creating order in a kitchen, notices what’s needed, and can gradually learn our family preferences and rhythms over time. Tasks may include: • Fridge clean-outs and resets • Pantry organisation and stock rotation • Checking stock levels and noting groceries needed • Unpacking grocery deliveries • Washing/chopping fruit and vegetables • Preparing healthy snacks and lunchbox items • Protein prep (eggs, chicken, mince, meatballs etc.) • Simple wholefood meal prep • Cooking / baking simple nourishing family meals and snacks • Helping keep the kitchen calm, functional and reset • Reducing food waste and helping things flow smoothly week to week Food style: • Wholefoods-focused • High protein • Family-friendly meals • Minimal processed food where possible • Nourishing hearty food • Variety and balance important We’re looking for someone who is: • Warm, calm and trustworthy • Organised and proactive • Comfortable working independently • Confident in a kitchen and food prep • Happy to learn family preferences over time • Naturally tidy and orderly • Reliable and consistent • Non-smoker • Police check preferred (or willing to obtain one) Potential for ongoing weekly work for the right person. Please let me know: • A little about yourself • Relevant experience • Your hourly rate • Availability Would love to find someone who genuinely enjoys helping a family feel nourished and supported through food and kitchen systems 🤍

I need an 8 inch gender reveal cake

$80

Springvale South VIC 3172, Australia

14th May 2026

I need an 8 inch gender reveal cake. _ 1 tier _ gender: girl _ flavour: lychee & strawberry (or any as long as the cake looks pretty and taste amazing) _ Can you also attach images of samples

Meal prep etc

$10

Somerville VIC, Australia

13th May 2026

Meal prep / cooking / pantry & fridge fairy (ignore $10 budget it makes me enter a number)

Need someone to make a cake for a 15th Birthday

$90

Kellyville NSW, Australia

13th May 2026

Looking for someone around the hills area that would be able to make a small cake that feeds around 10 people for a girls 15th.birthday. I need a heart shaped cake similar to the image attached by sunday morning (around 11am-1pm). willing to negotiate price

Tidying and cleaning house , Meal prepping and laundry

$100

Sunset Beach WA, Australia

13th May 2026

We have 2 kids , need help with tidying and cleaning house , Meal prepping and laundry

Meal preparation

$80

Darling Point, New South Wales

27th Apr 2026

Looking for someone to cook meal preps once a week for weekly lunches/dinners. 3 or so different basic meals. I will buy ingredients. Feel free to send quotes through and what kind of food you cook. Thanks!

Food is great. Easy to deal with.

Household Assistant – Bathroom Clean + Meal Prep

$30

Bondi Beach, New South Wales

24th Apr 2026

🏠 Household Assistant – Bathroom Clean + Meal Prep | Bondi I'm looking for a reliable, switched-on household assistant! Think of it as being a trusted extra pair of hands: you'll help keep my studio running smoothly so I can focus on everything else. What's involved (once a week, ~2–4 hours): 🧽 Bathroom clean — a thorough weekly clean of my bathroom (studio apartment, so it's compact and manageable) 🥘 Meal prep — batch cooking/prepping a week's worth of healthy meals for one person. You're welcome to prep at yours and drop off, or work in my kitchen — though please note it is a small studio kitchen, so please factor that into your approach The role in a nutshell: Once a week or fortnight to start, with potential to expand You set the rhythm that works for both of us I'll provide groceries and containers (or we can discuss) Recipes and preferences can be shared in advance - I'm easy to work with Who I'm looking for: Reliable, self-directed, and trustworthy Comfortable in a small kitchen and confident with batch cooking basics Based in or near the Eastern Suburbs 📍 Location: Bondi, Sydney 📅 Frequency: Weekly (ongoing, starting with a trial session) 💰 Rate: Please quote your hourly rate - happy to discuss based on experience If this sounds like you, please share a bit about your background, what you typically charge, and your usual availability. Looking for someone I can build an ongoing, reliable arrangement with. 🙏

Amazing work! Will use Emily and her lovely daughter again for help. Thank you both :)

Healthy Meal Prep Help - weekly

$100

Port Melbourne VIC, Australia

10th Apr 2026

I’m looking for someone to help with healthy home style meal prep for our family (myself, my husband, and 8 month old daughter- baby doesn’t really much by way of solids yet!). I am hoping to organise a weekly session, where I can source the ingredients, and we can agree upon simple recipes, and you can cook and store away some meals, to be refrigerated and or frozen. What I’m looking for: - Weekly session - Prepare 2-4 serves for 3-5 meals per session (lunches/dinners) - Focus on high-protein, lower-calorie meals (e.g. chicken, fish, lean meats, vegetables) - Simple, nutritious, not heavy or overly processed - Boxing up of the meals into containers, ready to be stored in fridge + freezer - Light clean/tidy up of the kitchen after use (we also have a fortnightly cleaner, so this should only involve the clean up from your cooking session) Logistics: - Location: Port Melbourne - Frequency: once per week - Ideal time/day: Wednesday late morning/early afternoon - Can be done in my kitchen with clean up please - I will cover the cost of groceries separately - Open to meal plan ideas, or I can pick out recipes, happy to be flexible and discuss exact details Ideal person: Reliable, organised, clean in the kitchen, care around hand hygiene Looking for someone ongoing if we are a good fit. Please share your ideas and interest :)

Great service, will be using again! Michelle was professional and friendly :)

Meal Prep Chef

$250

Fitzroy North VIC, Australia

29th Mar 2026

I’m looking for an experienced chef or meal prep specialist to help plan and cook high-protein meals tailored to my daily macro targets. Meals can be prepared from your own kitchen, and I’m happy to either pick them up or arrange delivery — whatever works best.

Amazing service and incredible meals. Couldn’t have been happier with the experience — highly recommend!

Home cooked meals

$160

Hawthorn VIC, Australia

3rd Mar 2026

Looking for someone to come once a fortnight to cook in bulk for our family of 4. Imagine it would be 3-4 hours to cook, clean up etc

Would be happy to recommend Annelies. She was easy to communicate with and an excellent cook

Refill 8 candle vessels with soy wax and scent

$150

Toorak VIC 3142, Australia

25th Feb 2026

Hello, I’m looking for an experienced candle maker to assist with refilling 8 empty candle vessels before an event next Thursday. Details as follows: • 8 × empty Diptyque candle vessels• Refill using soy wax• We will supply our own fragrance oil (specifically formulated and safe for candle use)• Wick type, number, and placement must match Diptyque’s original configuration for optimal burn performance (reference images available online)• Professional finish consistent with luxury candle standards Please confirm: • Your experience refilling luxury vessels such as Diptyque• Whether you are able to use client-supplied fragrance oil• Estimated cost per vessel and total cost• Turnaround time•vessels will be delivered to you urgently via courier. Kind regards, Catherine

Perfect!! Will definitely call on again. Warm, friendly and so professional and proactive!

Meal prep 2x per week

$100

Humpty Doo NT, Australia

17th Feb 2026

Hey all will need 3 meals prepped, cooked and weighed 2x a week macaroni and honey chicken pasta, chicken and rice, sweet potato and mince and happy to supply all ingredients needed price is negotiable

Highly recommend, very professional

Private Chef Meal Prep

$200

Richmond VIC, Australia

17th Feb 2026

I am looking for someone to come to my home once per week to cook a full week’s worth of meals. I follow a micronutrient focused diet, so meals must be prepared according to specific ingredient and nutrition guidelines that I will provide. I will supply all groceries in advance. Tasks include: • Batch cooking meals for the week • Portioning and storing food properly • Basic kitchen clean up after cooking I am looking for someone who is organised, reliable, and comfortable following detailed dietary instructions.

Great communication and did a great job following instructions.

Home cooking

$50

Princes Hill VIC, Australia

4th Feb 2026

Regular cooking of Indian / western food in our house. Some served on day, some stored in fridge / freezer, ingredients provided,

Friendly, efficient and delicious cooking!

Cleaning cooking and meal prep

$25

Hawthorn East, Victoria

20th Jan 2026

Need help with cooking, house cleaning and do some meal prep Rate 25/hr Requirement- 2-3 times a week for 4hrs Please Quote me your hourly rate

Zoe did a great job with cooking and meal prep. The food was lovely and it made a big difference for our family. Thank you, Zoe!

Cleaning, cooking and meal prep

$25

Hawthorn East, Victoria

2nd Jan 2026

We are looking for someone who can come 2–3 times a week to help with cleaning, cooking, and meal prep. It’s a small 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit. Hours: 4–5 hours per day. Please quote your ongoing hourly rate for future work. My budget is $25/hour, so kindly do not quote a rate that would be difficult for me to afford.

Zoe did a great job. I would definitely recommend her to family and friends

Meal Preparation

$200

Teneriffe QLD, Australia

28th Dec 2025

Looking for a household assistant to pick up groceries and meal preparation once a week

Thanks Georgia did a good job