Some folks are cognitive content tomaster certain canonical kitchen acquirement . But there are others out there who choose to show off those skills on interior goggle box for the chance to win $ 10,000 … while the residue simply look on . We ’ve all seenChopped– the mystery baskets , the drama , the sob stories – but like all world tv set , there ’s a plenty going on behind the view . And as a two - timeChoppedstandby , I know more than most . Here are nine weird and fascinating facts about one of theFood connection ’s most successfulreality cooking shows .
1. The show’s original pilot involved a butler and a Chihuahua
According to host Ted Allen , the initial cowcatcher was quite dissimilar from what we watch today . Set in a mansion , the show ’s host was in reality a butler who hold a Chihuahua . Each clip a chef was chop , his or her dish would be feed to the dog . Fortunately ( or unfortunately … ? ) Food connection thought the pilot was a little too weird for mainstream audiences , and bring on Mr. Allen as the server instead .
2. Each episode takes at least 12 hours to film
contestant wake up at 6 am to begin the filming procedure , and those who make it to the last round often stay until 8 atomic number 61 and afterwards . Between the cooking , resetting in between each one shot and commentary – judges deliberations after each bout can take about 90 minutes – the time adds up quickly . All of that then gets cut down to a meager 42 mo .
3. There have been 27 seasons and more than 450 episodes
But it ’s only been take since 2009 ! Unlike most usher that cinema one or two seasons in a year , Choppedshoots around-the-clock – four seasons are often film in one go ! WhenChoppedshooting is over , the gang move right ontoChopped Junior . And when they ’re not filming that or another offshoot , they are busy auditioning and planning the next season . It ’s a never - ending unconscious process .
4. Choosing the mystery basket is a complex art
Deciding which ingredients make the gash is a long and vivid unconscious process . If Culinary Producer Sara Hormi and Food connection Executive Chef Rob Bleifer demand more than 15 seconds to come up with a knockout with the given element , they scrap the jazz group . To ensure ingredients are n’t restate too often , the duo cross - references a huge tilt of premature basket . After 450 plus episodes , with 16 fixings per show , that ’s over 7,200 ingredient combination to check !
5. Each episode has a back-up contestant
While you may only see four contestants on set , they formally ca n’t start shooting unless they have a 5th standby contestant quick to go . The understudy jumps in in suit someone does n’t show up , gets sick , scare , or chops off a digit in the first cycle , and the audience is none the wiser .
6. There were nine original judges, today there have been over 43!
The original nine justice were Scott Conant , Alex Guarnaschelli , Aarón Sánchez , Amanda Freitag , Marcus Samuelsson , Chris Santos , Marc Murphy , Geoffrey Zakarian , and Maneet Chauhan . All nine continue to rotate through as judges . There is no describe play between the judge , but with all those chef egos on the same room , some stuffmustgo down . This is obviously surmisal though .
7. Accidents have been known to happen onChopped After Hours…
Ever wish well you could turn the tables on the judges and put them up to the challenge of the mystery basket ? WithChopped After Hoursthey do just that . Chef Geoffrey Zakarian recite us that his funniestChoppedmemory is when Chef Scott Conant was make homemade blimp and accidentally grind up the back of the wooden spoon with his meat . Even the pro mess up too .
8. The mystery basket really is a mystery
You might guess the closed book basketball hoop is just a rating ploy , but secretiveness and shock time value are really crucial to the show . Contestants are only given a tour of the kitchen moments before competing , and the mystery basket is never revealed until secret plan clip . objector do get a little help from the staff , however , but with fundamentally skill - less tasks such as pre - heating ovens and bringing water to a boil .
9. Contestants get to bring their own knives
Chef ’s knivesare the most personal peter in the kitchen . Choppedacknowledges that and allows the contestant to fetch up seven of their own tongue .
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Courtesy of The Food Network
Courtesy of The Food Network
Courtesy of The Food Network
