The Trick Hell's Kitchen Producers Use To Make Chefs Look Bad On Camera

In an interview with EW, no-nonsense "Hell's Kitchen" host Gordon Ramsay admitted he gets "heartburn" and "indigestion" and frequently pops either Pepto-Bismol or Xantac to alleviate the intensity of both when faced with a contestant who seemingly can't cook basic meals — something which consistently happens despite the show's long run. As Ramsay explained, "The biggest problem from a chef point of view is everybody thinks they can cook because they hosted a dinner party. They think they can transfer that skill ... to running a restaurant." However, according to a damning report by the New York Post, many of the biggest shock moments on the show are engineered by producers. 

Season 6 contestant Tek Moore revealed ingredients were swapped out, to make participants look foolish. For example, salt and sugar would be switched around to make it seem like the amateur chef in question simply didn't know the difference. This would explain why, year after year, people show up on "Hell's Kitchen" who appear to have no clue how to cook. According to Reality Blurred, it takes just 18 days to film a season but post-production can last up to six months, suggesting much of the story is created in the edit. 

Ramsay himself told EW the secret to his success is keeping it real, noting, "It's drama but unscripted" and comparing the pressure he's under to that of the contestants themselves.