This page is designed to help those who want to start a career in the culinary field in the state of New Hampshire.
The schools included in our list take between a few months and two years to complete and offer hands-on training that leads to certificates and associate degrees, preparing students for employment in restaurants, bakeries, and other dining establishments.
Before being ready for your first job as a in the culinary field, you have to learn:
- Cooking techniques
- Checking ingredients
- Following safety and sanitation standards
- Planning menus
- Inspecting supplies
- Monitoring sanitation practices
- Ordering and maintaining an inventory of foods
- And more
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in New Hampshire was $58,690 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $36,950 per year, on average.
As more restaurants and dining places are expected to open across the nation, employment for chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 7 percent by 2034.
Employment for bakers in the United States is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re passionate about food, we encourage you to read our list and find out more about the culinary and baking schools in New Hampshire.
#1White Mountains Community College
About the School
White Mountains Community College offers a Culinary Arts Associate in Applied Science program.
Students prepare for employment at a five-star resort hotel, fine dining establishments, or possibly start their own restaurant.
Classes are held by expert chefs who bring their real-world culinary experiences into the classroom.
The two-year degree covers a wide range of theory and practice.
Culinary lab classes are offered as four-week modules.
Courses Offered
The program includes the following courses:
- Culinary Foundations
- Food Preparation Techniques
- Food Theory and Meat Fabrication
- Food Service Sanitation
- Baking Theory
- Baking Fundamentals, Quantity Food Production, and Hot Food Plating
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2020 Riverside Drive, Berlin, NH 03570
- Phone: (603) 752-1113
- Website: https://www.wmcc.edu
#2Lakes Region Community College
About the School
Lakes Region Community College offers a Culinary Arts program that leads to an Associate Degree or Certificate.
The program prepares students for entry to mid-level employment in a variety of culinary venues.
The curriculum combines courses and culinary lab management skills with industry demands.
Students are employed in the culinary field during the summer to complement the learning experience.
The workplace opportunities provide students with hands-on knowledge and the benefit of work experience.
Those who successfully complete the program are able to:
- Demonstrate basic knife skills and describe the French terminology of each knife cut
- Prepare stocks, sauces, and soups from ingredients following industry practice
- Produce several regional ethnic dishes from within the United States and internationally
- Be able to manage a fully functioning kitchen
- And more
The curriculum includes:
- Bakery Production
- Culinary Fundamentals
- Sanitation & Safety
- Cost Control
- Dining Room Management
- Introduction to Garde Manger
- Hot and Cold Plated Desserts
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 379 Belmont Rd, Laconia, NH 03246
- Phone: (603) 524-3207
- Website: https://www.lrcc.edu
#3Concord Regional Technical Center
About the School
Concord Regional Technical Center offers a Culinary & Pastry Arts program that prepares students to:
- Work side-by-side with professional chefs to produce the finest quality restaurant food
- Design cakes and pastries from scratch
- How to use professional equipment and cookware
- And more
The curriculum includes:
- Culinary & Food Preparation Skills
- Baking & Pastry Techniques
- Catering & Banquet Services
- Food Safety & Sanitation
- Dining Room Guest Services
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 170 Warren Street, Concord, NH 03301
- Phone: 603-717-7654
- Website: https://thecrtc.org
#4Manchester School of Technology
About the School
Manchester School of Technology offers a Culinary Arts program designed to give students the core fundamentals of each discipline, which later can be built upon through future schooling, apprenticeships, or working in the field.
The program offers the opportunity to learn on industry equipment.
Students can start their chosen experience in an innovative and creative lab and classroom environment.
They are part of a student managed dining room and bakery where they begin to gain skills in the hospitality field.
Students prepare for careers as prep cooks, bakers, caterers, restaurant managers, pastry chefs, line cooks, and other related occupations.
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Gerald Connors Circle, Manchester, NH 03103
- Phone: (603) 624-6490
- Website: https://mst.mansd.org
#5Portsmouth Career Technical Education
About the School
Portsmouth Career Technical Education helps students gain the skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation, and real-world experience they need to prepare for high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers.
The center offers programs such as:
- Automotive Technology
- Accounting and Entrepreneurship
- Computer Science
- Culinary Arts
- Health Science Technology
- And more
Portsmouth Career Technical Education offers a two-year Culinary Arts program designed to prepare students for a career in the New Hampshire Seacoast’s thriving restaurant and hospitality industry.
Students may also continue to a two or four-year institution to pursue a Culinary Arts, Baking, and Pastry Arts, Food Service Management, or Hospitality Management degree.
This program consists of two individual one-year courses that focus on building the skills and knowledge required for a career in this field.
Contact Information
- Address: 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Phone: (603) 436-7100 x2903
- Website: https://www.portsmouthnh.gov
#6New Hampshire Food Bank
About the School
The New Hampshire Food Bank offers two distinct pathways to help students build or advance their careers in the food service and hospitality industries.
Students participate in an eight-week, 168-hour curriculum that covers cold preparation, butchery, bread baking, and pastry techniques.
Classes take place at the New Hampshire Food Bank’s state-of-the-art Production Kitchen in Manchester.
Two paths are available:
- Culinary Job Training Program: a program for individuals looking to gain new skills and jumpstart their culinary careers
- Apprenticeship Program: Apprentices gain real-world experience through a structured on-the-job training component offered by local restaurant partners
The apprenticeship program is designed exclusively for individuals who are currently employed by a restaurant and want to level up their training.
There is no cost to the apprenticeship or employer for this program.
Contact Information
- Address: 700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH 03109
- Phone: 603-669-9725
- Website: https://nhfoodbank.org
#7Seacoast School of Technology
About the School
Seacoast School of Technology offers a two-year Culinary Arts program.
The program is designed to equip students with hands-on skills in:
- Knife skills and precision cutting
- Cooking methods
- Production of restaurant-quality items
- Sanitation and food safety in a licensed commercial kitchen
- Professional kitchen workstations with commercial-grade tools and equipment
The two-year program is structured as follows:
- Year One- a fast-paced, hands-on introduction to the skills and standards of the culinary industry
- Year Two- students refine their culinary skills and step into leadership roles
Contact Information
- Address: 40 Linden Street, Exeter, NH 03833
- Phone: 603 775 8461
- Website: https://sst.sau16.org
#8University of New Hampshire
About the School
The University of New Hampshire offers a Culinary Nutrition and Food Studies minor degree program that includes five courses and 20 credit hours.
The program is available in Durham.
This Minor provides students with the ability to explore the foundation of nutritional sciences and gain a practical appreciation of the culinary arts while building an understanding of food environment and culture as it applies to human health.
The minor offers students hands-on learning experiences in culinary arts and the flexibility to incorporate study abroad coursework via the UNH in Italy program.
The program requirements include:
- Nutrition in Health and Well Being
- Culinary Arts Skills Development
- Food and Society
- Food and Culture in Italy
- Critical Analysis in Food Studies
- Food Science: Principles and Practice
- From Seed to Sea: Examining Sustainable Food Systems
- Managerial Skills in Dietetics
- International Food and Culture
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 131 Main St (Nesmith Hall), Durham, NH 03824
- Phone: 800-735-2964
- Website: https://www.unh.edu
#9Bauman College
Cooking classes are also available online and can be completed from the comfort of your home.
Bauman College offers a Holistic Chef program that helps students become professional holistic chefs in 12 months by completing classes online.
The online program teaches students to prepare fresh, nutritious, and delicious foods using sustainable ingredients and practices.
Courses Offered
The program combines professional culinary techniques with a nutrition-centered approach to food preparation- in addition to teaching the business skills they need to advance their careers.
The curriculum and culinary classes include entrepreneurial lessons that give students the tools to succeed as professional chefs.
The college offers its students the opportunity to work in a real-world environment in their home region and prepare them to enter the workforce after completing the Holistic Chef program.
Contact Information
- Address: 5900 Doyle Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
- Phone: (800) 987-7530
- Website: https://baumancollege.org
#10Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America offers a variety of online programs for students who are looking to upgrade their resumes and improve their career prospects.
The online degrees are designed for food industry professionals.
Master’s programs that include short residencies at the school’s California and New York campuses are available.
The bachelor’s program is delivered exclusively online.
Courses Offered
The Bachelor’s Degree is designed for CIA Associate Graduates Only.
Students need to have at least four years of full-time, progressive work experience after graduating from the institute’s associate degree program.
They have the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without interrupting their work schedule.
Students get comprehensive food-specific skills.
They explore topics such as economics, sustainability of food systems, and key principles of business leadership.
Up to 30 transfer credits from a college other than CIA can be applied to complete the degree faster.
Contact Information
- Address: 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 2, Suite 2102, San Antonio, TX 78215
- Phone: 800-CULINARY
- Website: https://www.ciachef.edu
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in New Hampshire
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$36K
|
|
|
$61K
|
|
|
$90K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in New Hampshire
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 420 | $62,080 | $29.85 | $93,360 | $27,000 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best culinary and baking schools in New Hampshire, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
This is an important step, so take your time and make an informed decision.
