8 Best Cooking Shows of All Time

OK, my Foodie Friends, whether you cook or not, cooking shows are brilliant telly. Watching a pro chop, garnish and plate makes your mouth water and sends you straight to the kitchen. Here are eight of the best. Pick one and press play.

MasterChef

Right, MasterChef first. The format started in the UK, and the American version is the one Gordon Ramsay hosts. Not everyone is fond of him, but everyone enjoys watching him. He knows how to keep an audience captivated. It isn’t only about the cooking, either, because you get the chefs’ own stories too, and that’s a big part of why so many people stay tuned from one episode to the next. Lots of countries have made their own version, and that tells you how much everyone loves it.

Iron Chef

Iron Chef is one of the most iconic shows to make it onto international TV. Serious cooking battles, yes. But the hilarious English dub gets plenty of laughs too. The contestants fight for the title and face different challenges each week, so there’s always something new.

Emeril Live

Emeril Lagasse is one of the earliest and most famous celebrity chefs. Most cooking shows are shot in a tidy studio kitchen. This one was set up in front of a live audience. And that catchphrase, “Bam!”? It was enough to inspire plenty of aspiring chefs. Big crowds, big personality. His culinary stunts had a real impact on cooking enthusiasts, and so many chefs got their breakthrough thanks to him.

Cutthroat Kitchen

Alton Brown hosts, and he’s great fun to watch. This is no ordinary cooking contest. The chefs get a “budget” at the start to buy what they need. The less they spend, the more they keep, because the winner pockets the rest. Add Brown’s mischievous looks and some torturous sabotages and you’ll be binging in no time.

Hell’s Kitchen

This one puts the chefs under pressure, and you too. Gordon Ramsay hosts, and there’s a lot of bleeping. It shows how people juggle so many jobs at once in a kitchen and cope when the heat is on. Just as a side note, it’s fast-paced and great entertainment, though it won’t teach you much. Here’s more on Gordon Ramsay’s aggressive teaching, which goes beyond just shouting.

Chopped

Chopped has had various spin-offs and it’s a classic. It’s more like a game than a grudge match. A hidden element is unveiled just before the time starts, and off they go. The cooks genuinely look like they’re having fun. It keeps you hooked, and it’s enjoyable too.

Top Chef

Top Chef is a mix of a cooking show and a reality show. The contestants have to live together, so you get plenty of cooking and everyday house drama. Backstabbing, surprises, interesting challenges. Viewers love it, and it’s easy to see why.

Chef’s Table

Netflix’s Chef’s Table gained a lot of popularity in a very short time. It shows the personal and professional lives of chefs, and how they tackle problems and balance their lives. Not impressed by the theme song? The prestigious cast makes up for it. You’ll learn plenty about the backstory of these chefs.

The bottom line

Cooking shows are great entertainment. They’re loved by aspiring chefs, keen cooks and anyone who just likes to eat. Some have even been the gateway to a dream for chefs. You can learn a thing or two about cooking from them, and have fun along the way. As always, many thanks for reading and until next time…Steve.

Cooking shows FAQ

Can you learn to cook from cooking shows?

You can learn a thing or two. Some shows are about the cooking and some are just entertainment. Hell’s Kitchen, for example, is more of a great watch than a lesson.

Do you have to be a keen cook to enjoy them?

Not at all. Plenty of viewers aren’t experts. Some watch to improve their skills, and some watch for pleasure. Either way, it’s fine.

Which of these shows is about chefs’ lives?

Chef’s Table. It shows the personal and professional lives of chefs and how they tackle problems and balance their lives. MasterChef also tells the cooks’ own stories.

Where can I watch cooking shows?

You can find them online, or on cable TV if you have a variety of channels. Chef’s Table is on Netflix.

Steve Deacon

Founder & Writer

Hi, I'm Steve, founder of The Yum Yum Club. After years in the corporate rat race traveling the world, my wife Jen and I settled back in the UK to follow our true passion: great food and wine. Having worked in restaurant kitchens in my youth, I share honest home-cooked recipes, kitchen timing tips, and culinary discoveries.

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