The Next Iron Chef is a limited-run series on the Food Network that aired its fifth season in 2012. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program Iron Chef America. In Season 1, eight chefs from around the United States battled to be the next Iron Chef. The show debuted Sunday, October 7, 2007, and the hosts were Alton Brown and "The Chairman", Mark Dacascos. Challenges one through five of the competition were held at the Culinary Institute of America. Challenges six and seven took place in Munich and Paris, respectively. The final challenge took place at the Food Network studios in New York City, on the Iron Chef America set. The winner of The Next Iron Chef was Cleveland restaurant chef Michael Symon. Season 2 premiered on October 4, 2009, and featured ten chefs battling to be the newest Iron Chef. The show was based in Los Angeles before traveling to Tokyo for two episodes, and again hosted by Alton Brown and "The Chairman" Mark Dacascos. Following a final battle in Kitchen Stadium, Chicago-born Ecuadorian-American chef Jose Garces, was selected the newest Iron Chef. Garces debuted as an Iron Chef on January 17, 2010, when he squared off against Seattle chef Rachel Yang. Food Network began airing commercials for the third season of The Next Iron Chef in July 2010. It was later announced in an internet press release that Alton Brown and judge Donatella Arpaia would return for season 3. Completing the judges panel are food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar and current Iron Chef Michael Symon. Season 3 began airing on October 3, 2010 on Food Network. The winner of season 3 was Marc Forgione. Chef Forgione engaged in his first battle on November 28, 2010. By November 30, 2010, Next Iron Chef's music composer Craig Marks released the soundtrack "Iron Chef America & The Next Iron Chef", which contains themes from all seasons of both shows. During Season 4, the eliminated chefs were interviewed during the week following the episode airdate on ABC's The Chew. The first castoff was interviewed on November 1, 2011. Season 5 aired from November 4, 2012 to December 23, 2012 and was called The Next Iron Chef: Redemption. In 2017, the series was revived as Iron Chef Gauntlet.

Judges

Season 1: 2007

Contestants

Judges

The contest was judged by food writer Michael Ruhlman, Bon Appétit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton, and restaurateur Donatella Arpaia.

Contestant progress

Results

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Season 2: 2009

Contestants

Judges

The judges are restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, food author and long-time Iron Chef America judge Jeffrey Steingarten and sustainable food expert Anya Fernald.

Contestant progress

Results

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Season 3: 2010

Contestants

Judges

The judges are restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar and current Iron Chef Michael Symon, winner of the Season 1 competition.

Contestant progress

Results

Episode 1: Ingenuity

As the winner of the Secret Ingredient Challenge, Chef Estes was able to have a five-minute advantage to grab ingredients from the "pantry" and start cooking.

Episode 2: Innovation

As the winner of the previous challenge, Maneet Chauhan was able to assign the dishes to prepare to each chef. Mary Dumont, having come in last, received a one-minute penalty assessed at the beginning.

Episode 3: Resourcefulness

As the winner of the previous challenge, Marc Forgione was able to replace one of his caught fishes with someone else. He replaced one of his scorpion fishes with Celina Tio's caught snapper as a result. Duskie Estes, having come in last, received a one-minute penalty assessed at the beginning.

Episode 4: Transformation

As the winner of the previous challenge, Celina Tio had a five-minute head start in the 30-minute hunt for ingredients on the fair grounds. Maneet Chauhan, having come in last, received a one-minute penalty assessed at the beginning of cooking.

Episode 5: Respect

Note: In this episode, Iron Chef Jose Garces served as a guest judge, substituting for fellow Iron Chef Michael Symon.

Episode 6: Inspiration

(This episode was originally intended to be a double elimination. However, because there was a three-way tie for the second chef to be eliminated, the remaining four chefs were allowed to continue to the next round.)

Episode 7: Seduction

Episode 8: Honor

Secret Ingredient: Thanksgiving Feast (heritage turkey, white pekin duck, venison, lobster)

Season 4: 2011: Super Chefs

Contestants

Judges

The judges for season four were current Iron Chef Michael Symon, food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar, and Iron Chef Judy Joo from Iron Chef UK.

Contestant progress

Results

Episode 1: Resourcefulness

Episode 2: Transformation

Episode 3: Ingenuity

Ingredient Order:

Episode 4: Improvisation

Episode 5: Storytelling

Landmark Order:

Episode 6: Risk

Ingredient Order:

Episode 7: Passion

Episode 8: Pressure

Season 5: 2012: Redemption

Contestants

Judges

The judges for this season are: Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, and food writer Simon Majumdar.

Contestant progress

Results

Episode 1: Resourcefulness

Episode 2: Innovation

Episode 3: Simplicity

Episode 4: Transformation

Episode 5: Risk

Episode 6: Fusion

Episode 7: Transcendence

Episode 8: Passion and Respect

Vietnamese version

A Vietnamese version of The Next Iron Chef premiered on November 18, 2012 on VTV3 which also broadcasts Iron Chef Vietnam. It premiered a week after Iron Chef Vietnam ended the first series.

Thai version

A Thai version of The Next Iron Chef premiered on June 23, 2019 on Channel 7 (Thailand) During The Iron Chef Season 8