Worst Cooks in America: Culinary Avengers (Food Network, Sunday, January 12, 2025)

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The culinary carnage continues on Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, as another batch of kitchen klutzes attempts to transform themselves from microwave maestros into something resembling actual chefs. This week, the recruits face the daunting task of mastering mussels and the treacherous terrain of sweet and sour pork.

Chefs Jeff Mauro and Antonia Lofaso are back to guide these culinary neophytes, their patience no doubt tested by the inevitable burnt offerings and flavor faux pas. The skill level, or lack thereof, is always a source of amusement, but one hopes for some genuine progress, even if it’s just someone managing to boil water without setting off the smoke alarm.

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The mussels challenge is designed to have the recruits “flex their culinary muscles,” which, given their track record, might result in more pulled hamstrings than perfectly steamed shellfish. Sweet and sour pork, with its delicate balance of flavors, could equally end in a cloying, sticky mess.

Ultimately, Worst Cooks in America is a guilty pleasure, a reminder that no matter how bad you are in the kitchen, there’s always someone worse. And that, sometimes, the greatest culinary achievement is simply not burning the house down.

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Worst Cooks in America airs Sundays at 8/7c on Food Network.

Mia Silva is a talented entertainment reporter whose passion for storytelling and diverse background (half Mexican, half English) adds a unique perspective to her coverage. With a keen eye for detail and an accessible, direct and witty style, she brings the latest features, news and previews to our avid readers.