A good home cook can transform your household's daily rhythm. But finding the right fit involves more than just asking "can you cook dal makhani?" Here are the ten questions we recommend asking every candidate.

1. What cuisines can you cook confidently?

Ask for specifics — not just "North Indian" but whether they can handle leavened breads, biryanis, or South Indian tiffin. Ask them to cook a simple meal on day one as a trial.

2. Do you have experience with dietary restrictions?

If anyone in your household is diabetic, Jain, vegan or has allergies, this is critical. A cook who has only ever prepared meat dishes may struggle to adapt, no matter how skilled they are.

3. What are your hygiene practices?

Ask about handwashing, how they handle raw meat, whether they use separate chopping boards and how they store leftovers. Watch their answers carefully — hesitation can be revealing.

4. Can you work within a budget?

Give a concrete figure: "Our weekly grocery budget is ₹2,500. Can you plan meals within that?" The answer will tell you a lot about their experience managing a household kitchen.

5. How do you handle meal prep and advance cooking?

Many families want dough kneaded the evening before, or dal soaked overnight. Understanding whether the cook is open to prep tasks beyond active cooking hours is important.

6. Are you comfortable cooking for guests?

If you entertain regularly, you need a cook who can scale quantities and handle mild pressure without panicking.

7. What is your notice period?

Standard notice in this sector is 15–30 days. Knowing this upfront helps you plan for any gap in service.

8. Do you have references from previous employers?

Two references are ideal. Call them. Ask specifically about reliability, food quality and whether they would hire the person again.

9. Are you comfortable with our working hours?

Be explicit: "We need breakfast by 7:30 AM and dinner by 8:00 PM. Is that workable?" Never assume flexibility.

10. What salary are you expecting?

Ask last, once you've already formed a view on their suitability. Delhi cooks typically expect ₹10,000 – ₹16,000/month; Bangalore and Mumbai run slightly higher.

One final tip

Have the candidate cook a single meal before you make a hiring decision. It is the most reliable indicator of their actual skill level — and it costs you nothing but an hour.