Content Warning: This article contains references/discussions to murder.
The best part of Worst Cooks in America is witnessing the epic kitchen catastrophes. Crispy foods come out soggy, salt gets mistaken for sugar and entire meals go up in flames. The fans eat it up because it is absolutely hilarious. This cooking competition creates a sense of comfort for the audience at home, knowing that other people out there are just as terrible at cooking. However, Worst Cooks in America would be nothing without the celebrity chefs that mentor the recruits, leveling them up to culinary confidence.
Not every mentor is the same, and after 22 seasons, some mentors stand out, while others are easy to forget. Mentors need to coach their recruits to help them improve their skills week after week, and sometimes, that means giving them a little bit of tough love. The best mentors on Worst Cooks in America need to have a great sense of humor, easy-to-follow cooking tips, and most importantly, they need to have a track record of leading their recruits to the grand prize.
Alton Brown
On paper, Alton Brown seems like he would be a great mentor on Worst Cooks in America. He's known for his wits and a sardonic sense of humor; fans have seen that on display in his other Food Network shows. With that in mind, it was surprising to see just how much Alton was a mismatch for Worst Cooks, as his sense of humor came across as mean.
Alton only served as a mentor once, and his recruit lost to Anne's. Between the losing streak and the questionable behavior on screen, fans aren't necessarily looking for Alton to return to this show. He's a much better fit on other competition shows.
Beau MacMillan
The first chef to compete against Anne Burrell, Beau MacMillan had the technical know-how to mentor the Blue Team on their cooking skills. However, he ultimately didn't have the charisma needed for this show. Beau hadn't hosted a cooking show before taking on the mentor role on Worst Cooks.
Unfortunately, the lack of experience led to a forgettable performance. It's hard to even remember that Beau was on Worst Cooks. He lost to Anne in the first season and hasn't returned for a rematch.
Michael Symon
Michael Symon's first and only time in the boot camp was during the "Best of the Worst" season, which meant he had some of the worst cooks ever assigned to his team. That's a big task. However, fans appreciated Michael for his big laughs and the fact that he genuinely seemed like he was enjoying his time on the show.
An Iron Chef, Michael approached the competition with confidence. However, his team wasn't able to pull off a win at the end. His personality is a great fit for the show, but since he's only appeared once and lost his season, he's outshined by other mentors with more successful track records. If he comes back to the boot camp for a rematch, he could easily ascend to become an all-time favorite.
Robert Irvine
Before his cooking career, Robert Irvine served in the UK's Royal Navy, so joining the boot camp of Worst Cooks in America seemed like a natural fit. While Robert definitely has the grit and the skills to coach the amateurs, his sense of humor was sometimes a little too dry for the outrageous pace of the show.
Although Robert might not be the best mentor on Worst Cooks, he certainly isn't the worst. His recruit won back in season 14. If he ever returns to the show, it will be interesting to see if he could pull out another win.
Carla Hall
Carla Hall joined Worst Cooks in America for season 21, and her recruit triumphed over Anne's. Of course, it takes a great coach to take home the win on the first try, and Carla did it with a smile on her face the entire time.
What makes Carla a great mentor is her positive energy. Her recruits seemed to connect with her easily because of her sunshiney personality. Sometimes, however, it seemed like she was too nice for boot camp. Perhaps if she gets another season under her belt, she can prove that she has the tough love that's essential to instilling culinary confidence in the contestants.
Tyler Florence
Every time Tyler Florence appears on Worst Cooks in America, he gets better and better. He felt a little stiff in his first season, but now, he's full of charm and full of jokes. His lighthearted yet authoritative approach to teaching the recruits is exactly what the show needs.
Tyler has appeared on the show seven times, more than any other Blue Team mentor. Unfortunately, despite appearing on the show all of those times, he's only won once. His personality is great, but the poor track record shows that there's room for improvement for him as a mentor.
Alex Guarnaschelli
Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, or ICAG for short, was a great mentor on the show because of the warmth she brought to the kitchen. She formed a genuine connection with her recruits week after week. Fans loved to see her emotional investment in the competition, and with years of experience teaching people how to cook through the TV screen, she was really effective at sharing cooking tips and building a team of strong cooks.
Unfortunately, Alex's time on the show has been marred with controversy. The season is no longer available to stream because the winner, Ari Robinson, was charged with the murder of her daughter. It was a tragic update for an otherwise great season. Fans are hoping that Alex can get another chance in the boot camp to prove, once again, how great she is at being a mentor.
Rachael Ray
One of the most famous faces to join Worst Cooks in America, Rachael Ray brought her signature sense of humor to the competition, and she led her team to victory two of the four times that she's competed.
Rachael's brand works well with Worst Cooks in America. Her schtick has always been about creating bold flavors in an approachable and simple way. This methodology is effective for the amateurs on Worst Cooks, who can barely figure out how to turn on the stove when they first enter boot camp. Rachael is one of the best because of her personality and her track record in the competition. Fans would love to see her come back for another rematch against Anne.
Bobby Flay
Out of all of the chefs who have led the Blue Team over the years, Bobby Flay has the best track record of leading his recruits to victory. He's competed four times against Anne, and he's won three of those times. That makes him one of the most effective coaches on the show.
Of course, Bobby is everywhere on Food Network, so he's no stranger to cooking competitions. He's also experienced in breaking down complex techniques for the viewers at home. All of that experience definitely helps him out on Worst Cooks. He also has a great sense of humor. Fans of Food Network know that it's not always on display in some of his other shows, but the comedic format of Worst Cooks allows him to let loose a little bit, and it works perfectly.
Anne Burrell
Worst Cooks in America would not be the same without Anne Burrell, and she is hands down the best mentor on the show. After 22 seasons, she's an expert in applying pressure and showering the recruits in tough love to help them learn the kitchen basics. Her catchphrases and her tips are so easy to follow that the audience at home leaves with some new culinary knowledge too.
Anne's Red Team, who she proudly calls the "Rocking Red Stars," has won the competition a whopping fourteen times. Anne's easy-to-follow recipes, her great sense of humor, and her even bigger heart make her the model mentor for Worst Cooks.