# Worst Cooks in America season 30
**Worst Cooks in America season 30**, subtitled *Reality Check*, is the thirtieth season of the [Food Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/food-network) reality competition series, which premiered on January 4, 2026 and ran for seven episodes through February 1, 2026. It was the first season produced after the death of longtime host [Anne Burrell](https://www.edgepedia.org/anne-burrell), with chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry serving as mentors to a cast of celebrity recruits competing for a $25,000 charity prize.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/1237199/worst-cooks-in-america-season-30-premiere-anne-burrell-food-network/) • [2](https://www.thewrap.com/worst-cooks-in-america-food-network-premiere-date-cast/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | *Reality Check*[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/1237199/worst-cooks-in-america-season-30-premiere-anne-burrell-food-network/) |
| Network and run | Food Network, January 4 to February 1, 2026, 7 episodes of about 54 minutes[3](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/worst-cooks-in-america/season-30) |
| Chef mentors | Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry[2](https://www.thewrap.com/worst-cooks-in-america-food-network-premiere-date-cast/) |
| Context | First season without Anne Burrell, who mentored on the series for 28 of its 29 previous seasons[2](https://www.thewrap.com/worst-cooks-in-america-food-network-premiere-date-cast/) |
| Prize | $25,000 for the winner's charity of choice, plus bragging rights for the winning mentor[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed_Bh87YvFE) |
| Winner | Reza Farahan, mentored by Tiffany Derry[5](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america/who-won-works-cooks-in-america-reality-check) |
| Finale judges | Judy Joo, Viet Pham, and Justin Sutherland[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/worst_cooks_in_america/s30) |
## Format and cast
The season followed the series' established boot-camp structure: two celebrated chefs each lead a team of recruits with poor cooking skills through training in basic techniques, and the final challenge is to cook a restaurant-quality, three-course meal for food critics.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/worst_cooks_in_america/s30) Season 30 cast celebrity recruits rather than ordinary home cooks, and the challenges carried an entertainment-industry theme, including Blockbuster Bites, The Worst Lotus, and Agents of Flavor.[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed_Bh87YvFE) • [3](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/worst-cooks-in-america/season-30)
The premiere on Sunday, January 4 featured reality television personalities competing head-to-head, including Lisa Barlow, Julie Brown, Val Chmerkovskiy, Reza Farahan, Amara La Negra, Ryan Lochte, Manila Luzon, Romeo Miller, Beverley Mitchell, and Chris "CT" Tamburello.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/1237199/worst-cooks-in-america-season-30-premiere-anne-burrell-food-network/) IMDb's cast listing for the season also names [Robin Givens](https://www.edgepedia.org/robin-givens), Dave Coulier, Brian Posehn, Sonja Morgan, Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio, [Bridget Everett](https://www.edgepedia.org/bridget-everett), Asaf Goren, and [Wells Adams](https://www.edgepedia.org/wells-adams) among the competitors.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570957/episodes/?season=30)
## Episodes
The seven episodes, with their Food Network air dates, were:[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/worst_cooks_in_america/s30)
1. **Reality Check: Lights, Camera, Boot Camp** (January 4, 2026). The celebrity recruits cook red-carpet-worthy dishes, then learn spicy piri piri chicken.
2. **Reality Check: Hollywood's Next Culinary Star** (January 11, 2026). A soup and sandwich combo, then eggplant Parmesan and handmade pasta; the bottom two recruits face a blind elimination appetizer cook-off.
3. **Reality Check: The Worst Lotus** (January 18, 2026). A head-to-head relay race through a faux-luxury resort for poolside platters, then crab cakes and seafood curry.
4. **Reality Check: Culinary Outlaws** (January 25, 2026). Tex-Mex tacos, then cowboy rib-eye steaks with potato and vegetable sides.
5. **Reality Check: Glitz, Glam and Gourmet** (January 25, 2026). An after-party event challenge, then brunch burgers with fries and a Bloody Mary.
6. **Reality Check: Agents of Flavor** (February 1, 2026). A [scavenger hunt](https://www.edgepedia.org/scavenger-hunt) for mystery-dish ingredients, then elevated proteins and luxury desserts.
7. **Reality Check: Bite Club** (February 1, 2026). The final three-course restaurant-quality meal, judged by Judy Joo, Viet Pham, and Justin Sutherland.
## First season after Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell, the chef who had mentored on the series for 28 of its 29 previous seasons, died in June 2025 at age 55.[2](https://www.thewrap.com/worst-cooks-in-america-food-network-premiere-date-cast/) • [8](https://apnews.com/article/0689944f991c7958a70c2cf37aa5f93d) Her final season as host, season 29, aired beginning in July 2025, and season 30 was the first produced without her.[9](https://www.aol.com/articles/worst-cooks-america-premieres-first-025035445.html) Food Network framed the season around Mauro and Derry turning the celebrity recruits "from culinary flops into kitchen champs."
## Outcome
Reza Farahan, known from *Shahs of Sunset* and *[The Valley: Persian Style](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-valley-persian-style)*, won the season with the help of chef Tiffany Derry, taking home the $25,000 charity prize.[5](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america/who-won-works-cooks-in-america-reality-check) The finale aired February 1, 2026.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/worst_cooks_in_america/s30)
## Availability
In the United States, the season streams on Hulu, HBO Max, Philo, Discovery+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, and Food Network, with free ad-supported viewing on Food Network, and can be purchased on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.[3](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/worst-cooks-in-america/season-30)
## References
1. [Did the 'Worst Cooks in America' Season 30 Premiere Address Anne Burrell's Death?, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1237199/worst-cooks-in-america-season-30-premiere-anne-burrell-food-network/)
2. [Worst Cooks in America to Return in January for Season 30, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/worst-cooks-in-america-food-network-premiere-date-cast/)
3. [Worst Cooks in America Season 30 - episodes streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/worst-cooks-in-america/season-30)
4. [Worst of the Worst Cooks in America | Season 30 | Food Network, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed_Bh87YvFE)
5. [Find Out Who Won 'Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check', Food Network](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america/who-won-works-cooks-in-america-reality-check)
6. [Worst Cooks in America: Season 30, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/worst_cooks_in_america/s30)
7. [Worst Cooks in America (TV Series 2010– ) - Episode list, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570957/episodes/?season=30)
8. [Anne Burrell, TV chef who coached the 'Worst Cooks in America,' dies at 55, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/0689944f991c7958a70c2cf37aa5f93d)
9. ["Worst Cooks in America" Premieres First Season Without Anne Burrell, AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/worst-cooks-america-premieres-first-025035445.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › Culinary, physical, and other skill competition seasons › Cooking competition seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license