Chopped

- Season 38

(2018)

The chefs must cook a glorious meal for the judges using only fired-up grill pans. The first basket contains a shocker of a meat and a sweet surprise that the competitors wish they could ignore.

The Chopped chefs get swept up in mushroom mania, with mushroom surprises in the baskets and plenty in the pantry. In Round One, the competitors try to make a great first impression on judge Martha Stewart with an unusual cocktail and an intensely-flavored protein. In the second basket, the chefs discover a creative use for bacon and a French dessert with a wild twist. Then in the final round, two chefs face the difficult task of making mushrooms into sweet creations.

In the first round, the chefs find a classic Asian food in an innovative form and some lovely plums. A tough cut of meat and a container full of an unusual mayonnaise product test the chefs' creativity in Round Two.

Four chefs layer flavors in perfect, trendy bowls under the watchful eye of judge Martha Stewart. For the first round, Martha brings a surprise from her garden. Dessert bowls are made from an Italian syrup and a candied treat.

The mandatory ingredients for the appetizer round include scallions, water chestnuts, wonton wrappers, hot dog eclairs. The entree round will feature ingredients such as pheasant, green tomatoes, tepache liqueur, and trash can nachos. The dessert round must include moon grapes, apricot paste, bagel chips, and pickle cupcakes.

Bartenders who love to cook compete in this special competition. An outrageous cocktail is the centerpiece of a fun first basket, and in the entree round, a potato dish prompts two contenders to grab more spuds from the pantry.

The baskets have seafood ingredients that make the competition difficult.

The chefs prepare a meal of magnificent beach bites for the judges. A variety of seafood and a flotilla of edible boats kick things off in the appetizer basket, and a beach-themed surprise makes an appearance in the entree basket.

From kitschy classics to artisanal designer donuts, the chefs will get a taste of it all as they celebrate delicious rings of joy in every round and feel the pressure of performing well for a very demanding donut connoisseur, judge Martha Stewart. A box of donuts and a jar of a particular condiment challenge the competitors in the appetizer round. A wild donut creation is the centerpiece of the entrée basket. Then, the two chefs lucky enough to advance to the donut dessert round must make Martha proud using her own donut dough recipe.

Four female butches must break down a large piece of beef while they size up a sweet salad in the first basket, find fresh chickpeas in the second basket and a face third savory round.

The baskets are full of healing foods.

The chefs get some surprises in the baskets, starting with the appetizer round, when they have to make gefilte fish work with something super sweet. The judges are excited to see a beautiful pork product in the entree basket.