Hell's Kitchen has been going strong for 18 seasons. First debuting in May 2005, the show has since aired nearly 300 episodes (282 to be precise), and as is the case with any show of this magnitude, there is a wide variety of episodes, in terms of quality. Some episodes are simply more engaging than others, whether that be through a particularly fun challenge, an explosive dramatic moment, or a shocking elimination.
Sometimes episodes simply fall short for whatever reason. Luckily, one bad episode isn't enough to kill an entire season. Unluckily, it will always be remembered as a dud. These are the 10 worst episodes of Hell's Kitchen, ranked according to IMDb.
"12 Chefs Compete" - 6.3
"12 Chefs Compete" is the seventh episode of the 13th season, which is by far the most hated season of Hell's Kitchen, at least according to IMDb.
The episode features a team switch and Italian cuisine as the primary theme. Ramsay noticed that this was Roe's second time in a row being nominated for elimination, although Ashley was eliminated after being blamed for the Red Team's raw calamari.
"8 Chefs Compete" - 6.3
Just a few weeks later saw the release of "8 Chefs Compete," the 11th episode of season 13. This episode contained the annual Blind Taste Test, with the Red Team being rewarded with a day at the Santa Monica Pier, while the Blue Team was punished with cleaning the dorms.
The episode ended with Fernando Cruz being eliminated by Ramsay owing to his weak leadership capabilities during dinner service.
"5 Chefs Compete" - 6.3
It seems as if season 13 did not end on a high note. "5 Chefs Compete" is the third-to-last episode of the season. It also has the unique distinction of being the 200th episode of the entire series, although that didn't seem to affect its reputation.
This episode saw the remaining chefs cooking for glampers, and the punishment of the episode saw three chefs picking up dog poop in the Hollywood Hills. It's a little bizarre.
"The Yolks On Them" - 6.3
Venturing out of season 13 is The Yolks on Them, the punny-named third episode of the show's 16th season. The team challenge was certainly a unique one, as it saw them cooking with ostrich meat.
The women won and were rewarded with zip lining and a ride in a private jet, while the men were punished by cleaning up eggshells and prepping raw pine nuts. The episode ended with one chef packing their bags and another faking an injury. Not a great ending.
"All-Stars Arrive" - 6.2
With a title like "All-Stars Arrive," viewers may think that they are in for a treat. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case, owing by the episode's 6.2 rating on IMDb.
"All-Stars Arrive" is the first episode of the show's 17th season. All 16 contestants were previous Black Jacket recipients, and the teams were divided into male and female - males in blue, females in red.
"A Little Slice Of Hell" - 6.2
Another season 17 episode is "A Little Slice of Hell." Serving as the season's sixth episode, it sees the contestants making pizza. The episode is notable for a couple of occurrences, including Elise's meltdown after her pizza fell apart and Jared lying about getting a nasty cut.
When Ramsay went to investigate, he saw that Jared was clearly lying and made a crude, yet hilarious, remark. It ended up costing him the competition, as an incensed Ramsay eliminated him for his deception and poor performance.
"10 Chefs Again" - 6.1
"10 Chefs Again" is the ninth episode of the show's 15th season. The episode saw the chefs cooking up some bison meat. The Red Team won the competition, with the reward being a face-to-face meeting with various exotic animals.
Meanwhile, the Blue Team was punished by making bread by hand, cleaning a carpet, and churning butter. In the end, Joe went home in a shocking elimination, owing to her inconsistent performances throughout the competition.
"9 Chefs Compete" - 6.1
Season 15 had a horrible one-two punch in "10 Chefs Again" and "9 Chefs Compete." In this episode, the remaining contestants were forced to make breakfast and serve brunch.
The reward was a trip to Palm Springs in a private jet, while the Red Team was punished by making mimosas for the upcoming brunch service. Chad Gelso ended up getting eliminated due to his consistently declining performance and utter lack of confidence.
"Winner Chosen" - 6.0
It's never a good sign to see an episode titled "Winner Chosen" rated so low. Unfortunately, season 15 ended on a horrible note with this episode, the second lowest-rated of the entire series.
This episode saw Ariel and Kristin competing in their final challenge, with Ariel Malone being deemed the winner and given a head chef position at BLT Steak in Bally's. However, she has since left that position for other career opportunities.
"Catch Of The Day" - 5.9
Dipping below the 6.0 mark and becoming the only Hell's Kitchen episode to do so is Catch of the Day, the ninth episode of season 17.
This episode is particularly notable for its nasty punishment, which saw the chefs preparing fish and drinking gross smoothies. The smoothies proved so disgusting that three of the chefs ended up vomiting. The episode is also home to a particularly controversial elimination, with Vincent Hurd being sent packing - despite not being nominated.