Rules You Probably Didn't Know 'Chopped' Contestants Have To Follow
Here's how to avoid the chopping block.
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Of all the Food Network shows, Chopped has a pretty simple concept: four contestants duke it out in three rounds until one chef is left standing. In the appetizer, entrée, and dessert rounds, they have to incorporate a collection of mystery ingredients into each dish...and they only have 30 minutes. Easy as pie, right?
Wrong. It might sound straightforward in theory, but once you see chefs try to wrangle five star dishes with geoduck, canned chicken, and candy corn, you realize that competing on Chopped is no walk in the park.
But after nearly 15 years on television, the show has proven how addictive this concept is. As a result, it's become a bona fide Food Network staple. There's a reason we always tune in. The creativity, the high energy competition, and the fights over the ice cream machine have become a comfort show for millions of viewers.
But what goes on behind the scenes? How have they filmed over 55 seasons in just 14 years? How do they source all of these wacky ingredients? Does Scott Conant really hate raw red onions that much? We tracked down everything you probably didn't know about being a contestant on the iconic cooking show.
Want more food TV intel? Check out our stories about The Great British Baking Show, MasterChef, and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
You must apply online first.
Every chef competing on Chopped completes an online application filled with questions about themselves and their career.
Then comes the in-person interview.
Chopped hopefuls wait to hear back from producers to schedule an on-camera interview. According to former contestant Julianne Feder, this was the opportunity to sell skills, backstory, and why you thought you'd make it all the way.
You must be a United States citizen to apply.
While producers look for a diverse group of contestants of different genders, backgrounds, and ethnicities, in order to adhere to the Food Network's eligibility requirements, you must be a citizen of the United States.
You must be a professional chef.
The competition really boils down to individual skills and technique, which is why contestants are required to be the real deal and work professionally as a chef.
But non-chefs sometimes get a chance to compete.
The Food Network films special episodes with amateur cooks, such as "grandmas who cook" or “firefighters who bring the heat in the kitchen," in which case no professional experience is needed.
You must be willing to talk about your personal life.
According to former contestant Josh Lewis, questions during his audition spurred his anxiety storyline: "I have some anxiety issues, and [the audition] is when that came up. When I eventually got on, that was kind of my story, that I was there to overcome my anxiety. That story was true; one of the reasons I wanted to be on in the first place was to prove to myself that I could do something like that," he told The A.V. Club.
You must be a good improviser.
Producers look for chefs who will thrive in the Chopped environment and try to spot this skill through interview questions and your past work.
You have to disclose any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Due to the mystery ingredients used on the show, contestants have to tell producers if there are any foods they can't eat when they apply.
Even if you make it past the auditions, you may not compete.
Five chefs are chosen each episode, but only four compete—the fifth one is a back-up contestant. "As a standby, I had to show up and be prepared just like the real contestants. The night before I sharpened my knives and laid out my shoes and comfortable clothes. I set the alarm for 4:30 a.m.," Julianne Feder told Thrillist.
You must arrive camera-ready.
The contestants are given their Chopped aprons on set, but besides that, their appearance is up to them, because there are no stylists on set. Chefs are supposed to arrive for their call time ready to film.
You have to sign a confidentiality agreement.
This has to happen before filming starts and bans contestants from disclosing information about the show or they risk of being fined $650,000. Um, yikes.
You don't find out about themed episodes ahead of time.
Former contestant Josh Lewis was on a sandwich-themed episode, which he found out about the day of. "We didn't learn that we’d be doing sandwiches until right before the first round of the competition started, just like it appeared on TV, so I didn't have a lot of time to be disappointed," he told The A.V. Club.
You get to tour the pantry beforehand.
So that contestants know what ingredients are available to them in the pantry, each one is given a walk through before filming or cooking starts.
You get an equipment tutorial, too.
Ever wonder how the chefs are able to hastily use that thermo-freeze ice cream maker? The show teaches them how to use the equipment on set prior to filming.
You should prepare for items to be misplaced.
According to former contestant Michael Vignola, the show used to purposefully create drama. "When I was on the show, they removed or moved a few items each round to confuse you. They don't do that anymore!" he told Tasting Table.
You should prepare for a long day of filming.
Between setting up the stations, the judging deliberations, filming post-round interviews, and, oh yeah, cooking, an episode can take more than 14 hours to film. Contestants have to get to set by 5:45 a.m. and block out two consecutive days for filming, according to the online application.
Get ready to cook in front of a big audience.
Though it looks like there's no one else in the kitchen besides the contestants, judges, and host, that's not the case. Chef Marcus Samuelsson revealed there are actually around 140 people—including producers and crew members—there while filming. While that may seem overwhelming, it's anything but. "A lot of them have been there from day one," he told Mashed. "And it's diverse in every way you can imagine...a big restaurant family."
You have to give a post-show interview.
...Whether you won or not. "After you've been named the winner, there's still an hour to an hour and a half of on-camera interviews to go through—those scenes where contestants explain what's going through their minds at any given moment," Chopped winner Kathy Fang told Delish.
You must BYOK (bring your own knives.)
The show provides all the pots, pans, plates, and pantry items, but chefs are responsible for their knife sets. According to the Food Network's website, each contestant can bring up to seven knives.
You can't chat with the judges beforehand.
Even though everyone is on the same set all morning. It isn’t until the first round is completed that the contestants are introduced to the judges. Hey, they've gotta remain impartial!
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