In the pantheon of cooking competition shows, Chopped will always be a classic. The long-running series has become a staple on many a foodie’s DVR, and it’s not hard to see why. Chopped pairs a frantic, competitive atmosphere with the excitement of off-the-wall ingredients—not to mention the sumptuous dishes the chefs invent. But lately, some fans have noticed a dip in quality in the episodes, and they’re pointing fingers at the chefs.
Competing chefs on Chopped are tasked with making exquisite dishes using pre-selected ingredients and must survive three rounds—appetizer, entree, and dessert. The chefs have 30 minutes for each course and must incorporate a basket of often truly bizarre ingredients. The baskets can contain anything from arugula to turkey ice cream cake, and chefs must find a way to utilize all ingredients into their dish. Each round, the chef who does the worst job coming up with an inventive dish that incorporates every ingredient gets the chop.
It’s a hard task for any chef, but fans think the talent pool for the show’s contestants is drying up. Between 47 seasons of the original show and more than a dozen specials and spin-offs, there have been over 500 episodes of Chopped. It’s a narrow overlap between the chefs who are capable of competing on the show versus the ones who want to compete on the show, and after 500+ episodes, the number of eligible chefs is bound to dwindle.
However, not all fans think Chopped is on the decline. They agree that the chefs are better in some episodes than others, but that’s the way it’s always been. Many also think that the ingredient baskets have gotten more challenging over the years, which keeps the show new and exciting. The Chopped series has also spawned many specials and spin-offs, like Chopped 420, which a lot of fans enjoy. They think the show has found a way to stay fresh and fun throughout its many seasons.
Like any other show, Chopped fans run the gamut between those who this the show was, and still is, the best thing ever, as well as those who think it’s time for the show to hang up the apron. But as long as there are viewers who still want to see chefs duke it out for the title of Chopped champion, the show will likely continue to pack baskets full of head-scratching ingredients and set chefs loose in the kitchen.
Source: Reddit