Bigger may not always mean better, but here’s hoping it does in 100 Cooks, Food Network’s massive summer cooking competition series.
As the title indicates, this brand-new show will feature a whopping 100 competitors all vying for top honors.
So what all do we know about 100 Cooks so far? Here’s a look at the details.
When does 100 Cooks premiere?
The new series kicks off on Food Network starting Sunday, June 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It will also run on the YouTube channel for Nick DiGiovanni and be available on discovery+ and HBO Max after airing.
Who hosts 100 Cooks?
The show is hosted by actor Terry Crews, who said in a statement, “This is the kind of competition I live for — big energy, big stakes, and 100 talented home cooks bringing everything they’ve got. Every challenge was unpredictable, every dish had a story, and the passion in that kitchen blew me away. Seeing their creativity up close was an incredible experience — and an absolute blast!”
Judging each round of the competition will be Food Network’s Alex Guarnaschelli and DiGiovanni.
What is 100 Cooks about?
The series will feature 100 home cooks competing to win the cash prize of up to $250,000. Contestants include everyone from firefighters to lawyers to students and stay-at-home mothers. The format finds them selected at random to compete by the lottery ball-style “Cook Mixer.” They will then face off in the competition, which is also randomly chosen by the “Challenge Mixer.”
The season will begin with a “supersized” premiere that whittles down the possible 500 candidates to the 100 who will ultimately compete.
Food Network
From there, “the series welcomes 100 of the country’s best home cooks to run through an epic seven-week culinary gauntlet where 99 cooks will be eliminated, and only one is named America’s best home cook,” the description reveals. The premiere itself will feature 50 cooks competing in different challenges: a noodle dish battle, a rotisserie chicken face-off, an egg challenge, and a best party bite competition, among others.
Other competitions to be featured throughout the season include contests on food trivia, spicy weeknight dinners, bake sales, and one-pot dinners. Then, the finale, which airs on July 19, will feature the final eight cooks competing through three challenges for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
100 Cooks, Series Premiere, June 7, 9 p.m. ET/PT, Food Network