With all the cooking shows out there focusing on a single chef's adventures (No Reservations, Avec Eric), not to mention the ones focusing on chefs traveling around the world challenging other chefs (Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, Chefs vs. City), it can be hard to keep track of the regular old cooking-competition shows. With The Next Iron Chef starting up on the Food Network on Sunday night (see video below), we thought we'd give you a leg up by breaking the shows down for you in one handy guide:
The show: Chopped (Food Network, Tuesdays 10 PM/9 Central)
The gimmick: In each episode, four chefs are given a random assortment of foods to combine into an appetizer, an entree and a dessert, with one chef being eliminated after each course.
Season: Currently ending its second season
Host: Ted Allen
Judges: Vary, but have included Scott Conant, Marc Murphy, Jody Williams and Geoffrey Zakarian
Chefs: Andre Marrero (L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon), Mina Newman (Christos Steakhouse) and more
Sample challenge: Make an appetizer of beef shoulder, fish sauce and canned pumpkin. Um, deelish?
Prize: $10,000
Not to be confused with: Iron Chef
In short: A surprisingly fresh take on the food competition genre with interesting results
The show: Hell's Kitchen (FOX, Tuesdays 8 PM/7 Central)
The gimmick: Chefs compete in a restaurant kitchen for the approval of Gordo.
Season: Currently in season six
Host: Gordon Ramsay
Judge: Not really judged so much as ruled by Ramsay
Chefs: No one you've heard of before the show airs
Sample challenge: Prepare a vegetarian meal for veggie-hating children
Prize: A chance to run one of Ramsay's kitchens
Not to be confused with: Considering Gordo's way with the insult, it's not likely you'll confuse it with anything.
In short: An enjoyable romp, but hard to take seriously because it's the drama rather than the cooking that takes center stage
The show: Iron Chef America (Food Network, Sundays 9 PM/8 Central)
The gimmick: Based on the Japanese original, the show features a celeb "Iron Chef" battling a guest chef using a single ingredient for multiple dishes.
Season: Currently in season seven
Hosts: Alton Brown, Kevin Brauch, "Chairman" Mark Dacascos
Judges: Vary, though Ted Allen, Karine Bakhoum and Jeffrey Steingarten appear regularly
Chefs: Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Symon are the current Iron Chefs.
Sample challenge: Prepare five dishes featuring elk in one hour
Prize: The honor of the competition
Not to be confused with: Chopped, Throwdown!
In short: Though lacking the magic (and camp allure) of its Japanese inspiration, it's still one of the more exciting food shows on TV.
The show: The Next Food Network Star (Food Network)
The gimmick: People of various persuasions (chefs, consultants, housewives, etc.) compete to have a show aired on the Food Network.
Season: Five
Hosted by: Bobby Flay
Judges: Bobby Flay, Bob Tuschman, Susie Fogelson
Previous winners: Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, Guy Fieri, Amy Finley, Aaron McCargo, Jr., Melissa d'Arabian
Sample challenge: Inspired by Julie & Julia, cook a three-course meal for 20 of the culinary world's elite.
Prize: A six-episode television show on the Food Network
Not to be confused with: Next Iron Chef, Top Chef
In short: The title aptly describes this Food Network ratings powerhouse.
The show: Next Iron Chef (Food Network, Sundays 9 PM/8 Central starting October 4; Watch a sneak peek of the new season above)
The gimmick: Professional chefs are narrowed down in a series of challenges designed to test their readiness in areas deemed necessary to be an Iron Chef (i.e. artistry, resourcefulness).
Season: About to start season two
Hosted by: Alton Brown, "Chairman" Mark Dacascos
Recurring judges: Anya Fernald, Donatella Arpaia, Jeffery Steingarten
Previous winners: Michael Symon
Sample challenge: Create an amuse-bouche that best sums up a chef's style in 30 minutes
Prize: The title of Iron Chef and a recurring role on that program
Not to be confused with: Top Chef Masters, Next Food Network Star
In short: A departure from the Iron Chef mold, it still manages to have more bite to it than Top Chef Masters.
The show: Top Chef (Bravo, Wednesdays 10 PM/9 Central)
The gimmick: Over the course of a season chefs are narrowed down through "quick fire" and "elimination" challenges judged by regular judges and celebrity guests.
Season: Currently in season six
Hosted by: Padma Lakshmi
Recurring judges: Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons
Guest judges: Everyone from Anthony Bourdain to Tim Zagat
Previous winners: Harold Dieterle, Ilan Hall, Hung Huynh, Stephanie Izzard, Hosea Rosenberg
Sample challenge: Make a dish using only food from a vending machine
Prize: Cash and a whole lot of Glad-family products
Not to be confused with: Next Food Network Star, Next Iron Chef
In short: Arguably the most respected of the cooking competition shows, as even its runners-up appear to get a boost from competing.
The show: Top Chef Masters (Bravo)
The gimmick: 24 professional chefs are narrowed down in a bracket competition based on "quick fire" challenges from the original Top Chef and new "elimination" challenges.
Seasons: One (2009)
Hosted by: Kelly Choi
Recurring judges: Gael Greene, James Oseland, Jay Rayner
Guest judges: Girl Scouts, Neil Patrick Harris, Top Chef winners
Previous winners: Rick Bayless
Sample challenge: Create offal-based street food to serve at Universal Studios
Prize: Cash donations for the chef's charities of choice, acclaim
Not to be confused with: Top Chef
In short: Similar to the original Top Chef, but without the desperation, backstabbing and Padma.