Worst Cooks in America

10 Best Episodes of Worst Cooks in America

Recruits with poor cooking skills go through an eight-week culinary boot camp to earn a cash prize of $25,000. The recruits are trained on the various basic cooking techniques including: baking, knife skills, temperature, seasoning and preparation. The final challenge is to cook a restaurant quality three-course meal for three food critics.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 10, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Worst Cooks in America - S16E6

#15 - Celebrity: There's No We in Food (Season 16 - Episode 6)

The celebrity recruits are left to run free in boot camp, working in teams to recreate a dish from taste alone. Unbeknownst to them, though, chefs Anne Burrell and Tyler Florence are secretly watching their every move.

The episode was rated 8.12 from 26 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S20E7

#14 - Fight for Food Fame (Season 20 - Episode 7)

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In the last skill drill, the final two recruits are challenged by a couple of cooks who aren't kidding around -- Chopped Junior Champions! Then, Chef Anne Burrell and Chef Alex Guarnaschelli teach the recruits their finale menus. For the final main dish challenge, the recruits put their newly learned skills to the test by cooking a three-course restaurant quality meal for a panel of culinary experts. Judges Mary Giuliani, James Tahhan and Julian Rodarte blindly taste each course and determine the winner who will take home $25,000!

The episode was rated 8.12 from 17 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S5E4

#13 - Surprise! (Season 5 - Episode 4)

The recruits may have mastered putting out one plate of food but they are still a far cry from being able to cook for their families. Anne Burrell's and Bobby Flay's challenges this week teach them how to cook quantity.

The episode was rated 8.13 from 32 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S3E8

#12 - Worst to First: The Final Battle (Season 3 - Episode 8)

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In the final battle, the two remaining recruits must execute their own three-course menu for a panel of culinary titans at David Burke Kitchen, a restaurant in New York City. Bobby and Anne work with their respective recruits to design the menus, taking into account their personal culinary journeys. The contestants learn new techniques, shop for groceries, practice their menus and execute all three courses in a dramatic end to an exhausting competition. Finally, the panel of culinary experts β€” including David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson and Susan Feniger β€” determine which chef has moved from worst to first and will walk away with the $25,000 grand prize.

The episode was rated 8.18 from 22 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S20E6

#11 - Eat Your Heart Out (Season 20 - Episode 6)

The final four recruits walk into boot camp to find photos of their past kitchen disasters and play a quick game that takes them on a trip down memory lane. Then, Chef Anne Burrell and Chef Alex Guarnaschelli show the recruits how to make classic comfort food dishes before the recruits cook for their toughest critics and the people who sent them to boot camp -- their loved ones! With hearts and bellies full, only two recruits move on to the finale, while the bottom recruits will be sent home.

The episode was rated 8.19 from 21 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S2E8

#10 - Worst to First (Season 2 - Episode 8)

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The final two recruits must prepare a three-course meal in a real restaurant kitchen for a panel of demanding gourmands. Chefs Anne and Robert devise a menu, send the recruits shopping for ingredients and then help their recruit practice the menu for three short hours. The next day, the recruits find themselves at New York’s Tribeca Grill, where they'll cook for culinary experts Marc Murphy, Donatella Arpaia and Drew Nieporent. After much deliberation, the panel reveals its choice for the best-executed meal.

The episode was rated 8.19 from 36 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S21E2

#9 - Farm-to-Table and Date Night (Season 21 - Episode 2)

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The episode was rated 8.20 from 20 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S15E9

#8 - The Day We've Been Waiting For (Season 15 - Episode 9)

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The final two recruits learn a three-course, restaurant-quality meal before the Main Dish Challenge; judges Debi Mazar, Michael Psilakis and Jessica Tom take the recruits' dishes into a blind taste test to determine the $25,000 grand prize winner.

The episode was rated 8.24 from 21 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S21E5

#7 - Hook, Line and Sink 'Em (Season 21 - Episode 5)

Chefs Anne Burrell and Carla Hall congratulate the recruits for mastering the land, but now it's time to conquer the sea. First, the teams go head-to-head in a seafood identification game with trivia questions and traveling by boat to grab ingredients. The skill drill challenge has them whipping up steaming bowls of mussels, and in the main challenge, the chefs task their recruits with making seafood risotto. The least successful recruits who are still lost at sea are sent home.

The episode was rated 8.36 from 22 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S21E6

#6 - Bonkers for Baked Goods (Season 21 - Episode 6)

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It's time for the recruits to learn about the wonderful world of desserts. They get a crash course in cake decorating from pastry chef Zac Young, and then their cake decorating skills are put to the test. For the skill drill, chefs Anne Burrell and Carla Hall teach the recruits how to make anything-but-ordinary cupcakes. Then the recruits return to the savory side when they have to make fresh pasta from scratch. The least successful dishes earn their recruits a trip home.

The episode was rated 8.39 from 18 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S22E2

#5 - Sin City and Final Showdown (Season 22 - Episode 2)

Teams of recruits go head-to-head in a series of casino-themed culinary challenges under the watchful eyes of chefs Anne Burrell and Michael Symon. Then former Worst Cooks recruits watch and comment on a Celebrity Edition finale with Wells Adams and Johnny Bananas.

The episode was rated 8.42 from 19 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S21E8

#4 - Fight for Finale (Season 21 - Episode 8)

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To start off the final week in boot camp, the remaining recruits compete in a relay race that tests their speed, knowledge and skill in the kitchen. Then chefs Anne Burrell and Carla Hall teach their final two recruits how to make a three-course, restaurant-quality meal. For the last challenge, the two finalists put all their newly learned culinary skills to the test in order to impress a panel of culinary experts. Judges Adrienne Cheatham, JJ Johnson and George Mendes sample the recruits' dishes in a blind taste test and choose the winner of the $25,000 prize.

The episode was rated 8.44 from 16 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S22E1

#3 - Redemption and Boardwalk Snacks (Season 22 - Episode 1)

Eight recruits return to finally master the kitchen under the mentorship of Anne Burrell and Michael Symon. The chefs challenge the recruits to remake the dish that sent them home the first time. Then former Worst Cooks recruits watch and comment on an episode in which the contestants compete in boardwalk-themed cooking challenges led by Chef Anne and Chef Alex Guarnaschelli.

The episode was rated 8.50 from 20 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S21E7

#2 - This Ain't No Yolk (Season 21 - Episode 7)

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The recruits tackle the most important meal of the day, breakfast! They start by playing a fast-paced game to see how their skills stack up. Then chefs Anne Burrell and Carla Hall teach their teams how to cook an elaborate breakfast spread. In the main challenge, the recruits hope to earn a spot in the finale as they execute dishes requested by their loved ones and serve them family-style for all the remaining recruits and both chefs to taste.

The episode was rated 8.61 from 18 votes.

Worst Cooks in America - S21E4

#1 - Between Two Buns (Season 21 - Episode 4)

The recruits start the week learning about flavor pairings in a wacky sandwich tasting game. For the skill drill, chefs Anne Burrell and Carla Hall have their teams put their own spin on fried chicken sandwiches. In the main challenge, the recruits rock and roll while creating unique roulades, but it may be the last week of boot camp for the least successful recruits.

The episode was rated 8.63 from 19 votes.

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