Chopped - Season 6 / Year 2014

The chefs must make use of ingredients that are usually thrown out, for being imperfect, overripe or stale. For example, the first basket includes juicer pulp and tea bags. Then in the second round, the competitors have to get creative with a little bit of salad dressing and some paltry scraps of poultry. And the finalists get some often-tossed portions of a fruit and the peels of a veggie to work into their desserts.

The firefighter competitors get the meal started with some hearty meat-and-cheese appetizers that would be a hit back at their firehouses, but will the judges enjoy them? Then in the entree round, some big errors with a non-basket-ingredient gets one of the judges inordinately upset. And playing with fire is part of the challenge in the final round.

When the clock starts ticking down from 20 minutes, the chefs must rush to make appetizers with pickled pigs' feet and sweet potato chips. And one chef doesn't realize they've made a potentially costly mistake until it's too late. Then in the entree round, the competitors must try to make pie work with venison. And the two finalists come up with similar ideas for their desserts, but which dish will the judges prefer?

The chefs learn they will be expected to make a pizza perfect meal. In the first round one of the competitors takes a loose interpretation of the theme: How will the judges react? Then some unusual toppings must make their way onto the entree pizzas. And the finalists must make pizza for dessert, with candied mushrooms and salted caramel sauce.

With courage to spare, four home cooks compete in the Chopped Kitchen to prove that they are as good as they think they are: But what will the judges think after tasting their chicken tenderloin appetizers? Then in the entree round, one of the competitors endeavors to pull off a very ambitious hanger steak dish within the 30-minute time limit. And two very unusual ingredients show up in the dessert basket, and the judges watch to see if the amateur cooks can figure out what to do with them.

The chefs learn that they will be making hamburgers, in some shape or form, for every round, starting with veal burgers for appetizers. Then in the entree round a little quail egg causes a big headache for some of the competitors. And who's ever heard of a dessert burger?

With chocolate in every basket of this themed competition, the chefs must figure out how to make this perennial dessert favorite work in the first two, savory, courses. Then the two competitors who make it to the end must find a way to combine two chocolate ingredients with cherries and a German layer cake.

The chefs get some great news before the cooking begins: Bacon will be in every basket! In the first one, they find Mangalitsa bacon and apple chips. Then in the second round, the judges watch to see if the competitors will be able to make dried cherries work with their pork entrees. French toast and bacon are a breakfast classic, but can the final two chefs manage to transform these mystery ingredients into dessert?

Chopped is brewing up some serious competition, as all three rounds are devoted to beer. For their appetizers, the four chefs must make sausages work with toasted lager. A tasty tripel ale is the beer in the basket for the entree round. And in the final round, the iconic beer and pretzel combination must be made delicious in dessert form.

Four chefs who lost in previous competitions return, wanting the win more than ever. A bright green dessert and a seafood snack must be worked into the competitors' appetizers. Then in the entree round, the chefs must contend with quinoa and sour candy. And with one more chance to redeem themselves, the two finalists fight to the end, as they make desserts from palm seeds and dulce de leche.

For the first time, four determined grannies face off in the Chopped Kitchen. In the appetizer basket they find a favorite grandma leftover: a coffee can of bacon grease. The three feisty grandmas who make it to the entree round must make meatloaf mix work with an aptly named cocktail. And the judges can't wait to get some grandmotherly love served up with their oatmeal desserts.

Four athletes, Brandi Chastain, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Greg Louganis and Charles Oakley, bring their fierceness and passion to the Chopped Kitchen for the premiere competition of a five part $50,000 Tournament of Stars. With the charities they are competing for in their minds, they open the first basket to find a scary ingredient: alligator. Then in the entree round, the celebs must cook with strange eggs and tiny limes. The two sports stars who make it to the dessert round put their athleticism and enthusiasm into making great final dishes that include crystallized ginger and wafer cookies.

The four competitors for this second part in the Tournament of Stars are all cooking-competition veterans, alums of Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. But Coolio, Lou Diamond Phillips, Penn Jillette and Carnie Wilson have never stepped foot in the Chopped Kitchen! How will they do with beef tongue and microwaveable chocolate cake in the appetizer basket? Then the stars have a pizza party in the entree round, after they discover leftover slices in the basket. And with hopes of making it to the $50,000 finale, two competitors must make desserts using chocolate bars and banana chips.

The usual rounds are replaced today by breakfast, lunch and dinner. In round one, the chefs attempt to make a glorious morning meal from coffee cake and cream-filled chocolate eggs. Then in the second round, three young, very energetic chefs race to create delicious fish dishes for lunch. But one competitor's recklessness leads to an emergency situation. And the judges are excited to see what the two finalists can do with a divine dinner basket.

Bringing the funny to the Chopped Kitchen, four comics (Sinbad, Tommy Davidson, Robert Wuhl and Gillian Vigman) compete for a chance to move on to the $50,000 finale. The stars open up the first basket and get a pork delicacy and a gummy candy. In the entree round, the three remaining comedians must make jalapeno poppers palatable with beer can chicken. And with vanilla cupcakes in the final basket, transforming the ingredient becomes key for the two finalists.

With only one spot left in the $50,000 charity tournament finale, actors Lucas Grabeel, Michael Imperioli, Peter Scolari and Tasha Smith bravely take on the role of chef. In the first round, one competitor tries desperately to figure out the right cooking technique for a tricky ingredient. And a pretty citrus fruit and a spiny lobster are two of the mystery ingredients that the competitors must demystify in the entree round. Then in the final round, the two remaining stars make a mess in the kitchen and some very creative desserts with mascarpone and strawberries.

The four amazing finalists open the first basket and get a drive-thru snack and a cold dessert. $50,000 is destined to go to one of the last three celebrities' favorite charities, but which stars will have good luck with the duck in the entree basket? And the fifteenth and final round of the Chopped Tournament of Stars is bound to be intense: do the competitors have enough culinary stamina left to make something yummy, beautiful and creative from churros and champagne?

The chefs have two starchy ingredients to work with in the appetizer round: Chinese dumplings and Middle Eastern noodles. Then in the entree round, the three competitors go in different directions with lack of lamb, and will one chef recover after burning two of the mystery ingredients? And two pawpaw desserts are critiqued as the judges decide which chef will be the Chopped Champion.

In the first basket, the fryer gets pretty crowded as the chefs race to make crispy chicken wings, and the chefs are challenged to make African peri peri rub work in their dishes. Then in the entree round, a difficult cut of meat and a salty sandwich spread are among the mandatory ingredients. And will either finalist decide to bake a pie from the pie dough in the dessert basket?

There are mixed reactions from the chefs when they learn that they will be competing with three baskets of leftovers. When time starts in the first round, the chefs frantically dig in to takeout containers from various types of restaurants. Then in the entree round, some forgotten packets of hot sauce find their way in to the basket and one chef realizes a critical error too late. And who knew there was such thing as leftover bacon, one of the ingredients in the dessert round?

Four mothers who rule their home kitchens attempt to stay composed and confident as they cook in a much larger arena. Among the goodies in the appetizer basket are chicken noodle soup and salsa. Then in the entree round, the moms must contend with a sugary ingredient that kids tend to love but parents often ban from breakfast. And the two ladies who make it to the dessert round find lady fingers in the mystery basket.

The chefs battle for the lead in the first round, as they try to figure out what to do with a potent ingredient: so-called 100-year-old eggs! Then in the second round, mango pudding must make its way into the competitors' main course dishes. And with waffle cones in the final basket, will either chef make ice cream for dessert?

Every basket has a little bit of an Australian slant to it: Will the competitors think this theme makes for a g'day in the kitchen? In the first round, lamb ribs are the Down Under favorite that the chefs must make their own, and a very alcoholic beverage leads some chefs down a dangerously fiery path. Then in the entree round, fans of emu fan fillets will be happy about what's inside the basket? And in the dessert round, the settings on the ice cream machine trip up one of the finalists, while the judges are on the edge of their seats, wondering if the mistake can be corrected in time.

The chefs find blowfish tail in the first basket and hope they can stay cool as they cook up an amazing appetizer in a hurry. Then in the entree round, the competitors find a can of something orange and a jar of something rather unusual: date palm. And when the two finalists take on dessert, aiming for perfect final plates, they must work with basil juice.

The chefs open up the first basket to find a fancy cake and a Bloody Mary. Then in the entree round, the three chefs try to create excellent dishes from ground chicken and seafood paella. And an ice cream machine blunder causes problems for one of the finalists.

Making their kids proud, four daring dads take on the pressure cooker that is the Chopped Kitchen, but how will the fathers-turned-competitors fare with fish and salt and vinegar potato chips in the appetizer round? The dads get the gift of a bottle of scotch in the entree basket. And after the two fathers fight it out in the dessert round, the judges debate whose rice pudding and pretzel dessert was more successful.

Presentation is at the forefront of the judges' first decision, as they compare shrimp and chickpea dishes. In the entree round, the flavor profile of the baklava in the basket might cause the chefs to stumble. And the chefs try to find wise ways to use salt pearls in their dishes. Then the finalists must work booze and cashews into their desserts.

The chefs open up the first baskets to find falafel mix and date paste, among the four appetizer ingredients. Then in the entree round, the chefs must work with a fish that is new to them. And the chefs get cookies in the dessert round that they are hesitant to transform.

The chefs open the appetizer baskets and find sweetbreads, which they must make into a delicious dish in 20 minutes. Then in the entree round, "a little or a lot" comes into play when the competitors have to work with a strong spice blend. And the final two chefs must make chocolaty, salty, fruity desserts.

The chefs find two fishy ingredients in the first basket: Will their appetizer dishes hook the judges? Then in the entree round, some spiny leaves and beef kidneys must be combined. And as the finalists rush to make dessert from figs and lemon verbena, a collision in the kitchen causes a stir.

For the first competition in the first ever Chopped Teen Tournament, four very talented young cooks compete for a chance to move on to the finale and win $25,000 and a culinary school scholarship. In the appetizer round, the cooks must work with lamb loin chops and kale chips. Perhaps surprisingly, the teen chefs seem less than happy to get French fries and cookies in the main course round. Then when the final two cooks open the dessert baskets to find a frozen treat, will they transform the ingredient into something new and delicious?

Intensity and energy abound in the second competition of the Teen Tournament! Cleaning shrimp and slicing jalapenos are the first order of business in the appetizer round. The teen chefs have to hop to it when they find out they have to cook frog leg entrees. And in the dessert round, an iconic New York cookie must be combined with a popular nut.

Four new teen chefs enter the Chopped Kitchen with their sights set on winning a spot in the Grand Finale. Will they think dandelion greens are a dandy ingredient for the first round? The fryer is in high-demand in the entree round, featuring Cornish hens. Then in the dessert round, the ice cream machine is the kitchen toy of choice.

Four more very skilled teen chefs fight it out in the Chopped Kitchen for the last remaining place in the Grand Finale. In the appetizer round, salsa verde is a very fresh surprise. Then in an intense entree round, the competitors do their best with couscous and buffalo, and one teen chef must stay strong to finish the round after a big setback. And popcorn balls and gummy fish are paired up in a sweet dessert round.

In this finale of the Chopped Teen Tournament, four amazing champs from the preliminary competitions return to see which one will take the tournament and the huge grand prize: $25,000 and a culinary school scholarship! In the first round, there's a spectacular sea creature shocker in the basket. A classic kids' snack in the basket adds to the fun in the entree round. And when the last two remaining teen chefs face off in their second dessert round, the ice cream maker stirs up an interesting encounter between the competitors.

Food-truck and food-cart pros, on a roll, fight it out for Chopped Kitchen dominance. The mandatory appetizer round ingredients range from a cheap, sweet treat to a fine-dining indulgence. The three chefs who move on to the entree round find a pork delicacy and a Mexican staple. And when the finalists take on the dessert round, there is potential for confrontation over a key piece of equipment.

Four distinct groups of champs will return to the Chopped Kitchen: professionals, amateurs, heroes and celebrities, all leading up to a grand finale where one chef will seize the biggest prize in Chopped history: $50,000 and a new car! In this initial battle, four stellar professionals fight to see who will represent the pros in the finale. They have to wrangle and cook eels and figure out what to do with a super salty veggie for their appetizers. Then in the entree round, the champs have to work with a bird and a soda. And a special cheese and a creepy chocolate item appear in the dessert basket.

Some of the most beloved amateur winners return to the Chopped Kitchen for a shot to compete in the $50,000 finale. In the appetizer round the competitors must use salsa and cheese blintzes in their culinary masterpieces. Then as the entree round gets started, an off-balance tug-of-war over a piece of equipment has everybody laughing, except for the chef who loses the fight. And grapefruit is among the loot the last two champs find in the dessert basket.

With two spots left in the $50,000 Ultimate Champions Grand Finale, the Chopped Kitchen welcomes back four incredible cooking heroes -- two firefighters, a police officer and an army vet. In the appetizer round, the hero champs must get creative in order to make savory dishes with pineapple and fruit and nut bars. Then in the entree round, the champs find some lovely stalks of spring garlic in the basket, as well as some beautiful lamb chops. And an unpleasantly purple ingredient that the cooks must work into a dessert makes for a challenging last round.

Four Chopped Champions from the world of entertainment and sports compete for the last spot in the $50,000 finale. In the appetizer round, the celebrity champs find a peculiar type of flour and sweet tea in the baskets. Then a can of soup in the entree round causes various issues for the competitors. And the judges taste banana paste and cream cheese desserts before deciding on the last finalist.

In a Chopped first, three not-at-all-average "Joes" fight it out against one outstanding pro, with $50,000 and a new car on the line! When the competitors get risotto in the first round, they have to decide whether to completely transform it or to greatly enhance its flavor. Then in the entree round, there's a huge surprise in the basket that not all of the champs are excited to see. And with the grand prize looming large, the last two competitors open the basket to find some booze and some baked goods.

Four fourth and fifth graders attempt to stand tall in the Chopped Kitchen! The mini culinary artists find a very kid-friendly ingredient in the first basket: cotton candy. In the second round, the judges are thoroughly impressed by the three remaining little cooks, who are seeking to make delicious entrees from pizza dough and a bitter green. And an exciting dessert round features brownie mix as one of the mystery ingredients.

Four chefs from America's baseball stadiums arrive in the Chopped Kitchen hoping to be big hitters! In the first basket they get some typical game-day eats, including Italian sausage. Then in the second round, the chefs are pleased to see a beautiful flank steak. And the judges hope that the desserts are delicious, down to the last blueberry.

In the first basket, a freaky gummy and a funny mummy hit on the Halloween theme. In the second round the chefs find some awfully scary offal and some more gummy goodness. When the final round rolls around, the remaining two chefs are left spinning their gears about what to do with spider webs made with pretzels and blue cheese.

The chefs set out to utilize ramen in a creative way in their appetizer dishes. Then in the entree round, an offal surprise in the baskets is a source of jokes for the judges and stress for the competitors. And a New England treat in the dessert basket might make the final two chefs shout for joy. But can they combine it successfully with the other three ingredients in the basket?

Yes, we have no bananas! But we do have banana blossoms in the first basket and four women competing! The three chefs who make it to the entree round must work with a notoriously stinky ingredient. And will a colorful ingredient in the last basket prompt the finalists to sprinkle a little fun on to their desserts?

The chefs open the appetizer basket to find vegan franks and three other meatless ingredients and have to work frantically to compose appetizers in 20 minutes. Then in the entree round, the judges wonder if one chef's strange decision about what to throw into the blender will be a blunder or a surprise success. Then the finalists find a green soda and a Russian sweet in their dessert baskets.

Turkey time means family time, even in the Chopped Kitchen as the whole Chopped family -- all of the judges -- are gathered together. In the first round, the four judges-turned-competitors must use hominy and gummy turkey feet in the appetizers they make for their four colleagues judging from the Chopping Block. Then in the entree round, beautiful ingredients like boniato sweet potatoes and savoy cabbage allow these world-class chefs to showcase their skills. And a Thanksgiving-themed spirit is one of the mystery ingredients in the final, suspenseful round.

Frog leg fest: The chefs open the first basket to find the French delicacy and some fine fungi. Then in the entree round, some little beans and big pork chops cause the competitors difficulties. And one of the finalists decides to take the cheese in the basket and use it in an ice cream. Will it work?

The chefs must work their magic in the appetizer round using pesto sauce and chicken. Then in the entree round, a second basket of beautiful ingredients, including spirulina chips, challenges the chefs to get creative. And a treat from Kazakhstan is the most interesting find in the final basket.

Spaghetti's bosom buddy, and breadcrumb's perfect mate, is the tasty theme for this special competition as the chefs learn they must make meatballs in every round. Creme brulee is the mystery ingredient curveball in the first meatball round. Then in the entree round, boar shoulder meets the meat grinder. And what exactly constitutes a "dessert meatball?" The two finalists come up with unique interpretations.

We're decking the Chopped halls with the stars of Food Network's The Kitchen! In the first round, the talented co-hosts must make merry appetizers out of seafood salad and challah bread. Then in the entree round, meat and potatoes seem like a great gimme, but what will the star cooks do to bring yule logs to the holiday party? And the two finalists' demeanors become fast and focused as they try to win a $10,000 holiday gift for a favorite charity.

This special competition is all about celebrating the sandwich, every "wich" way it may be prepared. The four competitors must get creative, starting with beef brisket appetizer sandwiches, but when two chefs make the same big mistakes, who will move on? The chefs must make entree-worthy sandwiches from pork shoulder and pate. And stacking up dessert sandwiches is so much fun, but what will the two finalists make with Thai curry paste and chocolate-covered espresso beans?

It's four chefs, one family, in a Chopped first when a mother, father, daughter and son who run a restaurant together compete to see who will become the Chopped Champion. The family opens up the first basket to find a flatbread and a strong citrus. Then with three family members left in the entree round, there is fish to de-bone and tofu to flavor. The last two chefs proudly fight for the title as they create desserts using lobster tail pastries and cinnamon chips.