1Padma Lakshmi eats up to 8,000 calories a day during filming.
Jon Kopaloff//Getty ImagesIn a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Lakshmi revealed that she consumes between 5,000 to 8,000 calories a day testing contestants' meals.
2Only one contestant has ever been disqualified.
NBC//Getty ImagesCliff Crooks was asked to leave the competition after pinning down fellow contestant Marcel Vigneron and attempting to shave his head.
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3The judges' table can last for hours.
Bravo//Getty ImagesWhile viewers only see a few minutes of debate, judge Gail Simmons revealed to Parade the judges' table takes about four hours.
4Filming the rest of the episode takes even longer.
BravoIt's not just the judges' table that seems to last forever. Contestants must be able to commit around six weeks total to the show. In 2012, it was revealed that each episode could involve filming for 16 to 18 hours per day.
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5Groceries cost a lot of money.
Bravo//Getty ImagesIn an interview, a culinary producer for the show revealed they spend up to $5,000 on groceries.
6Padma wears an earpiece.
Bravo//Getty ImagesIt would be quite the script to remember during Quickfire and the judges' table, so Padma wears an earpiece that feeds her information.
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7Producers get leftovers.
Bravo//Getty Images 8The worst dish was in season two.
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9Chefs make two of each dish.
Bravo//Getty ImagesAccording to a 2007 interview, contestants must make two of each dish—one for photos, the other for the judges.
10There's sometimes an unofficial fifth judge.
BravoSince the judges' choices must all be unanimous, it can sometimes be hard to come to a final decision. In 2010, a camera operator named T-Bone would help break any ties, since he was able to taste all the dishes after taking close-up shots.
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11No outside contact allowed.
Bravo//Getty ImagesLike many other reality shows, Top Chef contestants can't have contact with the outside world.
12No contact with the judges is allowed, either.
Bravo//Getty ImagesIn order to keep the competition fair, chefs are supposed to skip the small talk with judges and only communicate about their dishes. Season five's Stefan Richter broke this rule when he gave Padma Lakshmi leftover roses he had used on his plate, which a producer took away from her almost immediately.
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13Gail Simmons doesn't like black beans.
Bravo//Getty ImagesIn a 2010 panel, Simmons admitted that black beans give her "the heebie jeedbies."
14Padma Lakshmi loves fried chicken.
Bravo//Getty ImagesIf you ever find yourself on Top Chef, whip up some fried chicken to get on Padma's good side. It's the host's "go-to meal," and she often cooks it with green mango powder to give it a special flavor.
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15Chefs aren't eating the fancy stuff.
Bravo//Getty ImagesIn a 2017 interview with Delish, finalists Brooke Williamson and Shirley Chung revealed that the chefs don't want to cook elaborate meals for themselves. Instead, they eat mostly carbs and junk food.
16Some challenges are created around brand deals.
BravoFrom container brands to special types of equipment, certain challenges are given to the contestants because of sponsorships. It's especially easy to tell if you see the camera focus in on a Breville blender's logo, for example.
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17The show is not entirely unscripted.
BravoIn fact, retakes are common if lines are flubbed. When you see a close-up of a judge's face talking to a contestant, it's possible that the chef was already dismissed and is not even standing there at all.
18No haircuts.
NBC//Getty ImagesThis rule is specifically related to Marcel Vigneron, who wasn't allowed to cut his hair due to "continuity errors," according to the show.
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19Time restraints are real.
Bravo//Getty ImagesQuickfire time limits are enforced, and the same is true of the four-hour challenges. The competition keeps things fair.
20No clean-up required.
Bravo//Getty Images 
Shea Simmons is an experienced lifestyle writer based in Atlanta, Georgia with particular interests in beauty and wellness. Her work has appeared in Bustle, OpenFit, LifeSavvy, and USA Today’s Make It Grateful.
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