Kosher foods are any foods that meet the criteria for edible consumption outlined by Jewish law. Many chefs choose to attend a kosher cooking school to learn what foods are kosher, how to prepare them properly, what processes must be undertaken to ensure the food remains kosher, and how to run a kosher restaurant once schooling is complete. When choosing a kosher cooking school, you will need to consider your eligibility for a program by researching application requirements, and you will need to think about the tuition rates for the school as well as the reputation of the program.
You will need to complete a high school education in order to qualify for acceptance to a kosher cooking school, and your grades will need to be at least moderately good for most programs. Research the different application requirements for each program, and take note of any application fees. Try to find the program in which you will likely fit well; this means doing some research into the aims of the program, finding out who will be teaching the courses, and what kind of accreditation the school has gained. Accreditation is a process by which the kosher cooking school has been found to offer quality education that is respected by employers and other educational institutions.
It helps to determine beforehand what your overall goals are for attending a kosher cooking school. Once you graduate, you will need to either find employment at a restaurant or start your own restaurant; if you want to attend classes simply to learn how to cook kosher meals for you and your family, you may want to think about a kosher cooking school that offers individual classes rather than degree programs. This will save you time and money, and you will be able to gain the basic skills necessary to cook kosher meals.
Be sure to consider tuition rates for each kosher cooking school you are considering, as these rates can vary significantly. It is likely you will need to secure loans or other financial aid in order to attend the school, so look into the various options for funding your education. This may have an impact on which school is most feasible for you.
Whenever possible, talk to chefs who have completed programs at the schools you are considering. Find out what they thought of the program — both good and bad aspects of it — and ask them for recommendations as to whether they would attend the program again or not. Read reviews online if any exist, and find out what past and current students say about the program.