Cooks vs. Cons - Episode Guide

Professional chefs and home cooks compete for cash in this high stakes burger battle, as judges Graham Elliot and Daphne Oz try to separate the pros from the amateurs. After a shocking elimination, the remaining competitors must cook their best dishes using tropical fruit.

Judges Graham Elliot and Daphne Oz are out to spot the mac 'n' cheese that separates the pros from the home cooks in this latest battle. Who will claim victory? Can an amateur really out-cook a professional?

Two professional chefs compete against two home cooks for a cash prize, and in round one, the competitors create their best tacos using the surprise ingredient of soda. In round two, it all comes down to who can create the best dish with pickles. When a kitchen fire erupts, will the cooks and cons manage to keep their cool, or will judges Kardea Brown and Graham Elliot be able to tell who the real pros are?

The cooks and cons try not to crumble during one of the most difficult challenges yet: incorporating cookies into a classic meat and potatoes dish! Then, it really gets nutty when the competitors show off what they can do in round two with the surprise ingredient of nuts. It's up to judges Josh Elkin and Graham Elliot to decide who they think is a pro cook and who's just a con!

Professional chefs and amateur cooks are challenged to show off their skills by preparing a pasta dish with the surprise ingredient of corn. Then, the competitors aren't too sweet on the notion of incorporating the surprise ingredient of candy into their second round entrees. Judges Graham Elliot and Daphne Oz must figure out who's a pro and who's just faking it!

Thousands of dollars are on the line as judges Kardea Brown and Graham Elliot try to discern the cooks from the cons as they incorporate flavors from the Caribbean to Kentucky in a world-class meatball showdown. Things get a bit saucy in the second round, as the competitors race the clock creating their best dishes in a chocolate challenge.

Heavyweight chefs battle it out with amateur cooks for a big cash prize as judges Scott Conant and Daphne Oz attempt to separate the cooks from the cons! The lasagna challenge is layered with twists, as contestants must incorporate the surprise ingredient: condiments. Then, round two keeps rolling as the surprise ingredient doughnuts has the remaining cooks colliding between sweet and savory.

Professional chefs and home cooks compete through a sticky situation, when the surf and turf challenge must utilize syrup as the surprise ingredient. Then, will the amateurs crumble in round two trying to work chips into a winning dish? Judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Daphne Oz attempt to sift out the chefs from the pretenders!

Judges Richard Blais and Daphne Oz know their shrimp and grits, but do they know how to tell a cook from a con? Working chefs and home cooks hide their identity as bacon makes a glorious appearance in the first round. In round two, the remaining contestants put their skills to the test in the battle of the cherries. The taste of defeat may be tart, but the winner gets a huge cash prize with a cherry on top!

The playing field is flattened during the pancake challenge, as pros and amateurs alike must decide how to incorporate onions into their dishes. Judges Scott Conant and Alex Guarnaschelli are tasked with awarding the prize to the tastiest creation, despite the surprise ingredient of grapes that will leave one contestant feeling sweet and others sour.

While judges Richard Blais and Daphne Oz attempt to suss out the pros and amateurs, things get twisted as the competitors are challenged to incorporate pretzels into their chicken wing dishes. The second round gets even fresher when the remaining competitors fight for the ultimate prize by working with mint.

Delicious ideas are brewing during the clash of the sandwiches, as professional and amateur cooks must utilize beer in their handheld masterpieces. Then, in round two, the surprise ingredient of muffins challenges the contestants to avoid a crummy result. It's up to judges Marc Murphy and Daphne Oz to determine who's a pro and who's an average Joe!

It's Sloppy Joe day in the kitchen, and the pros and amateurs must use pies as the surprise ingredient. Some cooks get crusty, but for others, the path to the cash prize is as easy as pie! Judges Josh Capon and Daphne Oz share cooking ghost stories in the second round when the remaining cooks must utilize campfire treats in their dishes.

Judges Richard Blais and Marcus Samuelsson are put to the test determining whose crab cakes are the best between cooks and cons. When frozen vegetables must be used to create a winning dish, will it be a piece of cake for the working chefs or will the amateurs have the advantage? Then, it's a booze cruise to the finish, as the secret ingredient of cocktails keeps the judges drunk with power.

A hearty challenge is set for the pros and amateurs when chowder must be prepared with carnival treats. The waft of the fair grounds intoxicates some, but one cook falls into a deep-fried funk! Then, will judges Richard Blais and Monti Carlo undress the cons in the second round as they try to use the surprise ingredient of salad dressing?

Professional cooks and amateurs play ball in a cheesesteak playoff, as ballpark snacks must be worked into a winning dish. Judges Katie Lee and Marcus Samuelsson call a fair game, but for one cook, it's a clear strikeout! Then, the remaining contestants embrace the Italian kitchen during a pasta sauce challenge.

Judges Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli try to avoid a carb overload as the cooks deconstruct pizza to accent their Parmesan-inspired dishes. Then, the pros try to separate themselves from the home cooks as they create masterpieces from deli food.

The British staple of fish and chips makes its way across the pond as the cooks fry up their interpretations for judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Katie Lee. Later, the competition gets reheated as Thanksgiving leftovers are used to create a winning dish.

Contestants must be on "gourd" for the French toast battle, as surprise ingredient pumpkin gets carved up into the dishes. Then, in round two, judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Curtis Stone determine whose dish is tops, when ice cream toppings are used to accent savory staples.

The dumpling challenge is filled with surprises when the addition of peanuts creates nutty interpretations. In the next round, potato fries must be repurposed into the culinary creations. Judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Sunny Anderson savor the twice-fried masterpieces on the way to choosing a winner.

Judges Ted Allen and Daphne Oz ring in the holidays, as rack of lamb is infused with traditional holiday drinks. Forget naughty or nice -- who's a cook and who's a con? In round two, holiday treats are re-gifted as flavorful dishes.

Pro and amateur cooks let their passions boil over during the pasta challenge, as Asian condiments must be used to achieve umami bliss. In round two, judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Jet Tila eat sinfully delicious savory apple dishes before choosing a winner.

The frittata challenge isn't all it's cracked up to be, as contestants' creamy egg cakes must mingle with zesty surprise ingredient olives. Judges Daphne Oz and Justin Warner attempt to separate the pros from the home cooks in round two, when rice rears its starchy head.

Judges Daphne Oz and Scott Conant open Pandora's lunchbox, as the competitors must include kids' lunch snacks in a traditional steak and egg pairing. Then the pros and amateurs face a tangy twist in round two, as the surprise ingredient of mustard encourages some spicy outcomes.

Stuffed peppers come packed with flavor as cooks squeeze healthy juices into these pockets of yum. Then, a gooey duel rages, as cheese must be melted into a winning dish and judges Daphne Oz and Justin Warner must decide on a cheesy winner.

The contestants are toast unless they can create succulent quesadillas from a tart surprise ingredient, cranberries. Then, judges Scott Conant and Daphne Oz can't waffle on their decision in round two, as pros and amateurs must use waffles on the way to winning the big cash prize.

Cooks peruse their options as salad bar toppings must be deftly sauteed into shrimp scampi variations. Then, judges Jeff Mauro and Daphne Oz need a pick-me-up in round two, and the surprise ingredient of coffee does the trick.

A taste of New Orleans comes to the kitchen as pro and amateur cooks take on the hearty task of concocting gumbo with the surprise ingredient of ginger. The cooks and cons are pumped for round two, as judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Justin Warner pick a winner after getting filled up on gas station snack-infused masterpieces.

Game day comes to the kitchen, as cooks kick off the competition by having to tackle sliders while incorporating tailgate snacks. In round two, the end zone is in sight, as judges Eddie Jackson and Daphne Oz decide who comes out on top when the pros and amateurs cook with pizza toppings.

Love is in the air as the cooks and cons put their hearts on the plate entwining tarts with vegetable or candy hearts. Round two seduces judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Jeff Mauro, as chocolate is lovingly used to crush the competition.

Canny choices are made when the cooks chip away at their dishes, elevating nachos with the surprise ingredient of canned soups. In round two, judges Sunny Anderson and Daphne Oz decide which cook takes the cake as pros and amateurs work cake into their savory fare.

The cooks and cons try not to come unwrapped in round one when they're faced with incorporating cabbage into their burritos. Then, will judges Sunny Anderson and Amanda Freitag have their hunger cured when the contestants incorporate ham into their round two masterpieces?

The pros and amateurs try not to slip up when given bananas to pair with pork chops in the first round. Then, in round two, Anne Burrell and Daphne Oz realize it's not day at the park when they must decide who did the best job of incorporating picnic salads into their dish.

Contestants spice it up for judges Daphne Oz and Aarti Sequeria by using salsa to create fabulous Alfredo dishes. In round two, the cooks and cons must think outside the takeout box and transform Chinese takeout into a winning dish!

In round one, judges Daphne Oz and Russell Jackson pull up a stool for a juicy diner classic -- the patty melt! However, the jukebox gets bumped when the cooks and cons face incorporating cinnamon into the savory dish. Round two has its own record scratch as the cooks need to incorporate party dips into their dishes.

The pros and amateurs sweeten up judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Simon Majumdar when utilizing pineapple in their fried chicken dishes in the first round. Then, the judges keep their eyes peeled for the cooks and cons in round two to decide who smashed the competition with their best potato dish.

In the first round, Judges Aarti Sequeira and Justin Warner fish for the cooks and cons while observing the contestants hook up tuna casserole with milk. The remaining contestants try not to crack under pressure when incorporating eggs in their round two masterpieces.

The cooks and cons are a bit sour when tasked with integrating lemon varietals into their round one breakfast sandwiches. Things get a bit sweeter in the second round when they must use maple in their dishes, and Judges Aarti Sequeira and Jet Tila tap a winner.

In round one, the cooks and cons churn out great dishes for judges Jordan Andino and Alex Guarnaschelli with butter-infused jambalayas. Then, round two is buzzing with excitement when the judges can't bee-lieve who the pros and amateurs are after watching them make their best dishes with honey.

It gets hot in the kitchen during round one as the cooks and cons bubble up their best chili cheese fries while incorporating apricots. The remaining contestants cook with garlic in round two, and judges Eddie Jackson and Justin Warner must choose the dish they "clove" the most!

Judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Carla Hall grill the cooks and cons in round one, while the pros and amateurs try not to stumble incorporating backyard beverages into their burgers. Round two gets wild when the remaining contestants must include buffalo in their dishes.

Ted Allen and Sunny Anderson try and spot the impastas while observing the cooks and cons incorporating noodles into their huevos rancheros dishes. Then, the remaining contestants are anything but sour about including yogurt in their round two masterpieces.

The cooks and cons are all vying to reel in the win while making fish tacos with pastries in the first round. Then, judges Daphne Oz and Gail Simmons have the wurst time sussing out the pros and amateurs in round two, but ultimately link up to decide who made the best dish incorporating sausage.

The pros and amateurs must keep clam and mussel on when faced with incorporating carrots into their baked clam dishes in round one. Then, the stakes are steep in round two, as the contestants must fuse tea into their dishes for judges Jeff Mauro and Daphne Oz.

Host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Daphne Oz and Marcus Samuelsson throw the cooks and cons a curve ball in round one by tasking them with fusing corn and hot dogs. After one contestant strikes out, the remaining contestants continue to round two in hopes of making their best dish incorporating barbecue.

In round one, the cooks and cons must incorporate berries into their biscuit and gravy dishes in order to impress host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Aarti Sequeira and Curtis Stone. Then, in round two, the cooks and cons try to play "anice" in a battle of licorice.

In round one, the cooks and cons try to get on the gravy train by creating chicken fried steak dishes with peas. Then, in round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Beau MacMillan and Daphne Oz go nuts attempting to grind out the pros and cons after they are challenged with using pecans in their dishes.

In the first round, meatball subs sound easy enough, but it takes some pro moves to make them with unusual buns. In round two, things get juiced up when host Geoffrey Zakarian tasks the cooks and cons with incorporating pomegranates. It'll be up to judges Aarti Sequeira and Justin Warner to decide who enjoys the fruits of victory!

In round one, the cooks and cons must create their best enchilada dishes incorporating cereal to win over host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Gail Simmons. In the second round, the judges continue to stalk out the contestants' true identities when choosing who made the best dish using celery.

In round one, host Geoffrey Zakarian has the pros and amateurs create spins on the American classic, meatloaf, by adding a little citrus to the mix. Then, the heat is on in round two when the cooks and cons must infuse their dishes with jalapenos to impress judges Carla Hall and Daphne Oz and take home the win.

The cooks and cons all vie to be the top seed in round one as host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Beau MacMillan and Aarti Sequeira try and determine who best fused sesame into the New Orleans classic po' boy. In round two, the remaining contestants aren't too sad about cooking their best with blue cheese for a $10,000 prize.

Iron Chefs Jose Garces and Alex Guarnaschelli judge round one as the cooks and cons make stuffed mushrooms that incorporate vanilla. In round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian and the Iron Chefs continue to figure out the pros and amateurs while watching the contestants make un-fig-ettable masterpieces with figs.

The pros and amateurs go nuts as they create empanadas with hazelnuts in round one. Then, in round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Josh Capon and Aarti Sequeira are in despair trying to separate the remaining contestants into cooks and cons while they prepare masterpieces with pears.

In round one, the cooks and cons have to put the ice in spice when they are tasked with incorporating flavored ice pops into curry. Then, in round two, the remaining contestants hit the gas using beans in their dishes as host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Amanda Freitag and Alex Guarnaschelli suss out the pros and amateurs.

The pros and amateurs freshen things up when host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Katie Lee and Aarti Sequeira task them with incorporating peppermint into a breakfast hash. Then, in round two, the remaining contestants must melt the judges' hearts with their best dish using nachos.

The cooks and cons have host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Jose Garces and Justin Warner raving about their chip-infused ravioli dishes in round one. In the second round, the contestants must make peace with the surprise ingredient and incorporate chickpeas into their dishes.

In round one, the cooks and cons must prove that they're the cream of the crop to judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Alison Roman when they incorporate ranch into their pizza dishes. Then in round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian has the remaining contestants get ripe into it as they cook their best avocado-infused dish.