Worst Cooks in America
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:42:42 PM Wikipedia source
Worst Cooks in America is an American reality television series that premiered on January 3, 2010, on Food Network. The show takes 12 to 16 contestants (referred to as "recruits") with very poor cooking skills through a culinary boot camp, to earn a cash prize of $25,000 and a Food Network cooking set. In the celebrity edition of the show, the winning celebrity gets a $50,000 prize to donate to the charity of their choice. 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.
Infobox
Genre
mw- Reality television Cooking show
Country of origin
United States
No. of seasons
29
No. of episodes
217
Executive producers
Rowena DeLaRosa Bob Kirsh Nicola Moody Pip Wells
Production location
New York City
Running time
60–90 minutes
Production company
Optomen Productions, Inc.
Network
Food Network
Release
January 3, 2010 (2010-01-03) –present
Tables
Worst Cooks in America mentors · Mentors
1
1
Mentor
1
Seasons
2
Seasons
3
Seasons
4
Seasons
5
Seasons
6
Seasons
7
Seasons
8
Seasons
9
Seasons
10
Seasons
11
Seasons
12
Seasons
13
Seasons
14
Seasons
15
Seasons
16
Seasons
17
Seasons
18
Seasons
19
Seasons
20
Seasons
21
Seasons
22
Seasons
23
Seasons
24
Seasons
25
Seasons
26
Seasons
27
Seasons
28
Seasons
29
Seasons
30
Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell
Mentor
Anne Burrell
Beau MacMillan
Beau MacMillan
Mentor
Beau MacMillan
Robert Irvine
Robert Irvine
Mentor
Robert Irvine
Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Mentor
Bobby Flay
Tyler Florence
Tyler Florence
Mentor
Tyler Florence
Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Mentor
Rachael Ray
Alton Brown
Alton Brown
Mentor
Alton Brown
Alex Guarnaschelli
Alex Guarnaschelli
Mentor
Alex Guarnaschelli
Carla Hall
Carla Hall
Mentor
Carla Hall
Michael Symon
Michael Symon
Mentor
Michael Symon
Cliff Crooks
Cliff Crooks
Mentor
Cliff Crooks
Jeff Mauro
Jeff Mauro
Mentor
Jeff Mauro
Darnell Ferguson
Darnell Ferguson
Mentor
Darnell Ferguson
Tiffany Derry
Tiffany Derry
Mentor
Tiffany Derry
Antonia Lofaso
Antonia Lofaso
Mentor
Antonia Lofaso
Gabriele Bertaccini
Gabriele Bertaccini
Mentor
Gabriele Bertaccini
| Mentor | Seasons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |
| Anne Burrell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beau MacMillan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Irvine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bobby Flay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyler Florence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rachael Ray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alton Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Guarnaschelli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carla Hall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Symon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cliff Crooks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff Mauro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darnell Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tiffany Derry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Antonia Lofaso | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gabriele Bertaccini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First released
First released
Season
First released
Episodes
Last released
Episodes
Network
1
1
Season
1
Episodes
6
Episodes
January 3, 2010 (2010-01-03)
Originally released
February 1, 2010 (2010-02-01)
Originally released
Food Network
Originally released
12
Recruits
Rachel Coleman
Winner
Jennifer "Jenny" Cross
Runner–up
Anne Burrell (1/15)
2
2
Season
2
Episodes
8
Episodes
January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02)
Originally released
February 20, 2011 (2011-02-20)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Joshua "Joshie" Berger
Recruits
Georgann "Georg" Coleman
Winner
Anne Burrell (2/15)
3
3
Season
3
Episodes
8
Episodes
February 12, 2012 (2012-02-12)
Originally released
April 1, 2012 (2012-04-01)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Kelli Powers
Recruits
Vinnie Caligiuri
Winner
Anne Burrell (3/15)
4
4
Season
4
Episodes
7
Episodes
February 17, 2013 (2013-02-17)
Originally released
March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Alina Bolshakova
Recruits
Rasheeda Brown
Winner
Bobby Flay (1/3)
5
5
Season
5
Episodes
7
Episodes
February 17, 2014 (2014-02-17)
Originally released
March 31, 2014 (2014-03-31)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Amber Brauner
Recruits
Jamie Thomas
Winner
Bobby Flay (2/3)
6
6
Season
6
Episodes
7
Episodes
January 4, 2015 (2015-01-04)
Originally released
February 15, 2015 (2015-02-15)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Kristen Redmond
Recruits
Genique Freeman
Winner
Anne Burrell (4/15)
7
7
Season
7
Episodes
6
Episodes
September 23, 2015 (2015-09-23)
Originally released
October 28, 2015 (2015-10-28)
Originally released
7
Originally released
Jenni "JWoww" Farley
Recruits
Kendra Wilkinson
Winner
Anne Burrell (5/15)
8
8
Season
8
Episodes
7
Episodes
January 4, 2016 (2016-01-04)
Originally released
February 16, 2016 (2016-02-16)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Nick Slater
Recruits
Lawrence Crawford
Winner
Anne Burrell (6/15)
9
9
Season
9
Episodes
8
Episodes
September 14, 2016 (2016-09-14)
Originally released
November 2, 2016 (2016-11-02)
Originally released
9
Originally released
Loni Love
Recruits
Nicole Sullivan
Winner
Rachael Ray (1/2)
10
10
Season
10
Episodes
10
Episodes
January 1, 2017 (2017-01-01)
Originally released
March 5, 2017 (2017-03-05)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Daniel Mar
Recruits
Ann Odogwu
Winner
Anne Burrell (7/15)
11
11
Season
11
Episodes
8
Episodes
September 23, 2017 (2017-09-23)
Originally released
October 11, 2017 (2017-10-11)
Originally released
8
Originally released
Perez Hilton
Recruits
Melissa Peterman
Winner
Rachael Ray (2/2)
12
12
Season
12
Episodes
10
Episodes
January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07)
Originally released
March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Hazell Mckenzie
Recruits
Steven Crowley
Winner
Anne Burrell (8/15)
13
13
Season
13
Episodes
6
Episodes
April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)
Originally released
May 20, 2018 (2018-05-20)
Originally released
7
Originally released
La Toya Jackson
Recruits
Ian Ziering
Winner
Tyler Florence (1/1)
14
14
Season
14
Episodes
7
Episodes
August 12, 2018 (2018-08-12)
Originally released
September 24, 2018 (2018-09-24)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Bradley Garcia
Recruits
Sarah Harris
Winner
Robert Irvine (1/1)
15
15
Season
15
Episodes
9
Episodes
January 6, 2019 (2019-01-06)
Originally released
March 3, 2019 (2019-03-03)
Originally released
15
Originally released
Allison Wolfe
Recruits
Brittany Carel
Winner
Anne Burrell (9/15)
16
16
Season
16
Episodes
7
Episodes
April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)
Originally released
June 2, 2019 (2019-06-02)
Originally released
8
Originally released
Tonya Harding
Recruits
Alec Mapa
Winner
Anne Burrell (10/15)
17
17
Season
17
Episodes
8
Episodes
August 4, 2019 (2019-08-04)
Originally released
September 22, 2019 (2019-09-22)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Adrian Read
Recruits
Juliann Sheldon
Winner
Bobby Flay (3/3)
18
18
Season
18
Episodes
10
Episodes
January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05)
Originally released
March 8, 2020 (2020-03-08)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Shannon Akins
Recruits
Leo Lech
Winner
Anne Burrell (11/15)
19
19
Season
19
Episodes
7
Episodes
May 10, 2020 (2020-05-10)
Originally released
June 14, 2020 (2020-06-14)
Originally released
7
Originally released
Wells Adams
Recruits
Johnny Bananas
Winner
Anne Burrell (12/15)
20
20
Season
20
Episodes
8
Episodes
June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21)
Originally released
September 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Ariel "Ari" Robinson
Recruits
Zack Ignoffo
Winner
Alex Guarnaschelli (1/1)
21
21
Season
21
Episodes
8
Episodes
January 3, 2021 (2021-01-03)
Originally released
February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28)
Originally released
14
Originally released
Amber Leverette
Recruits
Cameron Bartlett
Winner
Carla Hall (1/1)
22
22
Season
22
Episodes
6
Episodes
April 25, 2021 (2021-04-25)
Originally released
May 30, 2021 (2021-05-30)
Originally released
8
Originally released
Mercedes “Sadie” Manda
Recruits
Domaine Javier
Winner
Anne Burrell (13/15)
23
23
Season
23
Episodes
8
Episodes
January 5, 2022 (2022-01-05)
Originally released
February 23, 2022 (2022-02-23)
Originally released
12
Originally released
Peachez Iman-Cummings
Recruits
Marti Cummings
Winner
Cliff Crooks (1/1)
24
24
Season
24
Episodes
7
Episodes
April 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)
Originally released
May 29, 2022 (2022-05-29)
Originally released
9
Originally released
Tracey Gold
Recruits
Jodie Sweetin
Winner
Anne Burrell (14/15)
25
25
Season
25
Episodes
8
Episodes
January 1, 2023 (2023-01-01)
Originally released
February 5, 2023 (2023-02-05)
Originally released
12
Originally released
Nick Trawick
Recruits
Michael Judson Berry
Winner
Anne Burrell (15/15)
26
26
Season
26
Episodes
8
Episodes
August 6, 2023 (2023-08-06)
Originally released
September 10, 2023 (2023-09-10)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Jessica Singer
Recruits
Samantha "Sami" White
Winner
Jeff Mauro (1/1)
27
27
Season
27
Episodes
6
Episodes
January 7, 2024 (2024-01-07)
Originally released
February 4, 2024 (2024-02-04)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Stacey Loper
Recruits
Leona McTaggart-Chapman
Winner
Tiffany Derry (1/1)
28
28
Season
28
Episodes
7
Episodes
January 5, 2025 (2025-01-05)
Originally released
February 2, 2025 (2025-02-02)
Originally released
10
Originally released
Corinne Olympios
Recruits
Adam Rippon
Winner
Antonia Lofaso (1/1)
29
29
Season
29
Episodes
7
Episodes
July 28, 2025 (2025-07-28)
Originally released
September 1, 2025 (2025-09-01)
Originally released
16
Originally released
Todd Zimmerman
Recruits
Cari Westerman
Winner
Gabriele Bertaccini (1/1)
30
30
Season
30
Episodes
7
Episodes
January 4, 2026 (2026-01-04)
Originally released
February 15, 2026 (2026-02-15)
Originally released
10
Originally released
TBA
Recruits
TBA
Winner
TBA
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | Recruits | Winner | Runner–up | Winning Mentor | |||
| First released | Last released | Network | |||||||
| 1 | 6 | January 3, 2010 (2010-01-03) | February 1, 2010 (2010-02-01) | Food Network | 12 | Rachel Coleman | Jennifer "Jenny" Cross | Anne Burrell (1/15) | |
| 2 | 8 | January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02) | February 20, 2011 (2011-02-20) | 16 | Joshua "Joshie" Berger | Georgann "Georg" Coleman | Anne Burrell (2/15) | ||
| 3 | 8 | February 12, 2012 (2012-02-12) | April 1, 2012 (2012-04-01) | 16 | Kelli Powers | Vinnie Caligiuri | Anne Burrell (3/15) | ||
| 4 | 7 | February 17, 2013 (2013-02-17) | March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31) | 14 | Alina Bolshakova | Rasheeda Brown | Bobby Flay (1/3) | ||
| 5 | 7 | February 17, 2014 (2014-02-17) | March 31, 2014 (2014-03-31) | 14 | Amber Brauner | Jamie Thomas | Bobby Flay (2/3) | ||
| 6 | 7 | January 4, 2015 (2015-01-04) | February 15, 2015 (2015-02-15) | 14 | Kristen Redmond | Genique Freeman | Anne Burrell (4/15) | ||
| 7 | 6 | September 23, 2015 (2015-09-23) | October 28, 2015 (2015-10-28) | 7 | Jenni "JWoww" Farley | Kendra Wilkinson | Anne Burrell (5/15) | ||
| 8 | 7 | January 4, 2016 (2016-01-04) | February 16, 2016 (2016-02-16) | 14 | Nick Slater | Lawrence Crawford | Anne Burrell (6/15) | ||
| 9 | 8 | September 14, 2016 (2016-09-14) | November 2, 2016 (2016-11-02) | 9 | Loni Love | Nicole Sullivan | Rachael Ray (1/2) | ||
| 10 | 10 | January 1, 2017 (2017-01-01) | March 5, 2017 (2017-03-05) | 16 | Daniel Mar | Ann Odogwu | Anne Burrell (7/15) | ||
| 11 | 8 | September 23, 2017 (2017-09-23) | October 11, 2017 (2017-10-11) | 8 | Perez Hilton | Melissa Peterman | Rachael Ray (2/2) | ||
| 12 | 10 | January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) | March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11) | 16 | Hazell Mckenzie | Steven Crowley | Anne Burrell (8/15) | ||
| 13 | 6 | April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15) | May 20, 2018 (2018-05-20) | 7 | La Toya Jackson | Ian Ziering | Tyler Florence (1/1) | ||
| 14 | 7 | August 12, 2018 (2018-08-12) | September 24, 2018 (2018-09-24) | 14 | Bradley Garcia | Sarah Harris | Robert Irvine (1/1) | ||
| 15 | 9 | January 6, 2019 (2019-01-06) | March 3, 2019 (2019-03-03) | 15 | Allison Wolfe | Brittany Carel | Anne Burrell (9/15) | ||
| 16 | 7 | April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21) | June 2, 2019 (2019-06-02) | 8 | Tonya Harding | Alec Mapa | Anne Burrell (10/15) | ||
| 17 | 8 | August 4, 2019 (2019-08-04) | September 22, 2019 (2019-09-22) | 14 | Adrian Read | Juliann Sheldon | Bobby Flay (3/3) | ||
| 18 | 10 | January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05) | March 8, 2020 (2020-03-08) | 16 | Shannon Akins | Leo Lech | Anne Burrell (11/15) | ||
| 19 | 7 | May 10, 2020 (2020-05-10) | June 14, 2020 (2020-06-14) | 7 | Wells Adams | Johnny Bananas | Anne Burrell (12/15) | ||
| 20 | 8 | June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21) | September 2, 2020 (2020-09-02) | 14 | Ariel "Ari" Robinson | Zack Ignoffo | Alex Guarnaschelli (1/1) | ||
| 21 | 8 | January 3, 2021 (2021-01-03) | February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28) | 14 | Amber Leverette | Cameron Bartlett | Carla Hall (1/1) | ||
| 22 | 6 | April 25, 2021 (2021-04-25) | May 30, 2021 (2021-05-30) | 8 | Mercedes “Sadie” Manda | Domaine Javier | Anne Burrell (13/15) | ||
| 23 | 8 | January 5, 2022 (2022-01-05) | February 23, 2022 (2022-02-23) | 12 | Peachez Iman-Cummings | Marti Cummings | Cliff Crooks (1/1) | ||
| 24 | 7 | April 24, 2022 (2022-04-24) | May 29, 2022 (2022-05-29) | 9 | Tracey Gold | Jodie Sweetin | Anne Burrell (14/15) | ||
| 25 | 8 | January 1, 2023 (2023-01-01) | February 5, 2023 (2023-02-05) | 12 | Nick Trawick | Michael Judson Berry | Anne Burrell (15/15) | ||
| 26 | 8 | August 6, 2023 (2023-08-06) | September 10, 2023 (2023-09-10) | 16 | Jessica Singer | Samantha "Sami" White | Jeff Mauro (1/1) | ||
| 27 | 6 | January 7, 2024 (2024-01-07) | February 4, 2024 (2024-02-04) | 16 | Stacey Loper | Leona McTaggart-Chapman | Tiffany Derry (1/1) | ||
| 28 | 7 | January 5, 2025 (2025-01-05) | February 2, 2025 (2025-02-02) | 10 | Corinne Olympios | Adam Rippon | Antonia Lofaso (1/1) | ||
| 29 | 7 | July 28, 2025 (2025-07-28) | September 1, 2025 (2025-09-01) | 16 | Todd Zimmerman | Cari Westerman | Gabriele Bertaccini (1/1) | ||
| 30 | 7 | January 4, 2026 (2026-01-04) | February 15, 2026 (2026-02-15) | 10 | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
· Mentor records
Alex Guarnaschelli
Alex Guarnaschelli
Mentor
Alex Guarnaschelli
Wins
1
Losses
0
Win Pct.%
100%
Carla Hall
Carla Hall
Mentor
Carla Hall
Wins
1
Losses
0
Win Pct.%
100%
Cliff Crooks
Cliff Crooks
Mentor
Cliff Crooks
Wins
1
Losses
0
Win Pct.%
100%
Tiffany Derry
Tiffany Derry
Mentor
Tiffany Derry
Wins
1
Losses
0
Win Pct.%
100%
Antonia Lofaso
Antonia Lofaso
Mentor
Antonia Lofaso
Wins
1
Losses
0
Win Pct.%
100%
Gabriele Bertaccini
Gabriele Bertaccini
Mentor
Gabriele Bertaccini
Wins
1
Losses
0
Win Pct.%
100%
Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Mentor
Bobby Flay
Wins
3
Losses
1
Win Pct.%
75%
Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell
Mentor
Anne Burrell
Wins
15
Losses
13
Win Pct.%
54%
Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Mentor
Rachael Ray
Wins
2
Losses
2
Win Pct.%
50%
Robert Irvine
Robert Irvine
Mentor
Robert Irvine
Wins
1
Losses
1
Win Pct.%
50%
Jeff Mauro
Jeff Mauro
Mentor
Jeff Mauro
Wins
1
Losses
2
Win Pct.%
33%
Tyler Florence
Tyler Florence
Mentor
Tyler Florence
Wins
1
Losses
6
Win Pct.%
14%
Alton Brown
Alton Brown
Mentor
Alton Brown
Wins
0
Losses
1
Win Pct.%
0%
Beau MacMillan
Beau MacMillan
Mentor
Beau MacMillan
Wins
0
Losses
1
Win Pct.%
0%
Darnell Ferguson
Darnell Ferguson
Mentor
Darnell Ferguson
Wins
0
Losses
1
Win Pct.%
0%
Michael Symon
Michael Symon
Mentor
Michael Symon
Wins
0
Losses
1
Win Pct.%
0%
| Mentor | Wins | Losses | Win Pct.% |
| Alex Guarnaschelli | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Carla Hall | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Cliff Crooks | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Tiffany Derry | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Antonia Lofaso | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Gabriele Bertaccini | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Bobby Flay | 3 | 1 | 75% |
| Anne Burrell | 15 | 13 | 54% |
| Rachael Ray | 2 | 2 | 50% |
| Robert Irvine | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| Jeff Mauro | 1 | 2 | 33% |
| Tyler Florence | 1 | 6 | 14% |
| Alton Brown | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Beau MacMillan | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Darnell Ferguson | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Michael Symon | 0 | 1 | 0% |
References
- The Futon Critichttp://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/worst-cooks-in-america/listings
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2010/01/worst-cooks-in-america.html
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/article/2010/01/04/worst-cooks-in-america/
- Worst Cooks in Americahttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570957/