Book by the hour
Book a cook by the hour
Book a cook through the MeeHelp app for a few hours: for guests, a family get-together or a week when you can't manage the kitchen. Tell the app how many people you're cooking for and choose the hours.
Decide the menu before the visit and keep the ingredients ready. The cook prepares the food in your kitchen.
Schedule ahead, for the hours you need
Scheduled
Pick a date and time that suits you.
Hourly
Choose how many hours the visit should last.
How it works in the app
- Book cooking as an hourly task and tell the app how many household members you're cooking for (1 to 5).
- Bookings run for 2 to 12 hours, in 2-hour steps. Later start times allow shorter bookings only.
- Schedule at least 2 hours ahead and up to 5 days ahead, for a start time between 7 AM and 8 PM.
- The app checks your address — city, pincode and map location — and tells you if your area isn't covered yet.
- Each task shows what's included and what isn't before you confirm.
- You can ask for a male or female helper. The extra charge for this applies only if a helper of that gender is assigned; otherwise the first available helper comes.
- The helper's details appear once you've paid, and the job starts when you share the PIN shown in your app.
When people book a cook by the hour
- Guests are coming over and you'd rather serve home-cooked food.
- Your regular cook is away for a few days.
- You want a few days of meals prepared in one go.
- Someone at home is unwell and needs simple, fresh meals.
What can be done in a booking
Usually included
- Cooking the dishes you choose
- Preparation such as chopping, grinding and kneading dough
- Packing tiffins and storing cooked food properly
- Cleaning the cooking area and the utensils used
Usually not included
- Buying groceries
- Catering for large events
- General house cleaning — book an hourly maid instead
- Looking after children or patients
Tell the helper the tasks you want done first when they arrive.
How booking works
Choose the help you need
Pick the type of help in the MeeHelp app.
Schedule the visit
Choose a date and a start time, at least 2 hours ahead.
Choose the hours
Book for as many hours as the work needs.
Confirm in the app
Review the details and confirm your booking.
Where you can book a cook by the hour
Bookings are available in all eight of these cities. Whether someone is free at a particular time depends on who is near you.
- Mumbai & MMR
- Delhi NCR
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Chennai
- Pune
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
The app checks your address when you book, so you only see help that is available where you live.
Booking safely
What MeeHelp checks when a helper registers
When a helper registers on MeeHelp:
- Mobile number verified by OTPEach helper's mobile number is verified with a one-time password when they register.
- Aadhaar document collected and manually reviewedEach helper submits their Aadhaar document when they register, and MeeHelp reviews it by hand. The address on that document is available to MeeHelp.
MeeHelp reviews the helper's Aadhaar document to check their identity. It is not a police verification or a background check, and MeeHelp does not separately check where the helper lives — so follow the tips below as well.
Tips for your booking
- Write down any allergies and food rules (for example, no onion or garlic) before the cook starts.
- Check the helper's details in the app before they arrive, and share the start PIN only when they're at your door.
- Approve the helper's entry with your society or building security before the booked time.
- Keep cash, jewellery and important documents locked away during the visit.
Hourly Cook: frequently asked questions
How far ahead do I need to book a cook?
Hourly bookings are scheduled at least 2 hours ahead, and up to 5 days ahead. Book early if you're expecting guests.
How many hours should I book?
Bookings run in 2-hour steps. A simple family meal fits a short booking; several dishes for guests, or a few days of meal prep, needs longer.
Do I need to have the ingredients ready?
Yes. Keep the ingredients and utensils ready before the cook arrives, and share the menu when the booking starts.
Can I book the same cook every day?
Hourly bookings are one-off visits. For daily cooking, a regular cook is usually the better fit.
Book a cook by the hour in the MeeHelp app
On-demand bookings happen in the MeeHelp app. Download it and sign up with your mobile number.