Chopped is a reality based cooking show that changed the way we view cooking competitions altogether. The pressure and tension on the show can literally be cut with a knife! The premise is to have 4 chefs compete against one another through 3 rounds of competitive cooking-tests all while using ingredients that are selected for them.

This sounds pretty straightforward, and we thought the show really was clear and easy to understand like most other programs on the Food Network. However, we've recently discovered a few fun facts that don't quite add up. Chopped may seem straightforward, but finding out what goes on behind the scenes changes everything.

15 The Non Disclosure Agreement Carries A Possible $75 k Fine If Broken

Chopped
Via TVGuide

We were shocked to learn that some episodes air up to a year after they were filmed. In order to protect the integrity of the outcome of each episode, contestants are obligated to sign a non-disclosure agreement. That makes good sense... and it makes good sense to adhere to the terms as well since the penalty for breaking this deal can cost as much as $75,000.

14 The Judges Aren’t Given Palate-Cleansing Food

Chopped
Via FoodRepublic

We can't keep up with all the things that happen on this show that make us shake our heads. It seems like a no brainer for a show that's focused on a cooking contest would have some palette cleansers on-hand for the judges. This is not the case for Chopped. There are no palette cleansers available or in use at all. They go from one plate to an entirely different flavor experience with merely water in between.

RELATED: 15 Things Every Food Network Superfan Is Guilty Of

13 The 40 Minute Show Takes A Grueling 18 Hours To Film

Chopped
Via YouTube

This seems insanely stressful, and it really is. A 40-minute episode of Chopped takes well over 18 hours to film. It takes a long time to position everyone, prep everything, and the judging process takes way longer in real-life than it does on television. There are so many moving parts required to put this show together. Watching Chopped gives a false illusion of a fast paced environment that simply doesn't exist.

12 Producers Meddle And Try To Create Drama

Chopped
Via TheRecipe

Producers have a hand in the intensity created on Chopped. Like any other reality based television show or game show, the drama drives the ratings, and the producers of Chopped are well aware of this. They've been known to meddle on set and are often credited as being drama inducers in order to make the competition more entertaining for viewers.

11 There Is Always A Chef On Standby

Chopped
Via Berkshireeagle

Now that we're aware there's an understudy chef on-site, it seems like a perfectly valid concept, but viewers of the show definitely have no idea that there is actually a 5-chef line up. The extra chef is on-site to ensure there's no lag-time if one of the main chefs were to bow-out or suffer some sort of injury. This is a prime example of how the producers are prepared; the show must go on!

10 Contestants Can Bring Their Own Knives To The Set

Chopped
Via Sunsentinental

We've learned that contestants can bring their own knives to the set and this eliminates a key aspect of the competition being an "unfamiliar cooking environment". The idea that the chefs are cooking with ingredients that are not their own, and using a pantry and knife set that they aren't familiar with... well, that sounds more entertaining. Bringing their own knives adds a layer of comfort and familiarity that makes the competition seem less stressful and far less real.

9 One Of The Plates Created Is Just For Photo Purposes

Chopped
Via Mashable

Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that there are 3 judges, but for some reason each contestant is obligated to create 4 plates. We're happy to explain this! The fourth plate is strictly for photographic purposes and never gets eaten. It's designed to capture the best photos possible of each plate, however it's often left out for over 2.5 hours, meaning nobody ever eats it!

8 Contestants Get A Boost With Pre-Boiled Water And A Preheated Oven

Chopped
Via LATimes

The show makes it seem as though the contestants are really struggling on their own with a huge task list and a quick-ticking clock. That's not entirely true. There's actually someone on set that attends each station and pre-boils all the water and pre-heats all the ovens. We know this may not seem like a big deal, but it really is when we're made to believe every second counts.

7 There’s Only One Ice Cream Machine Because They’re Trying To Increase Stress & Drama

Chopped
Via Twitter

We told you the producers were involved in manufacturing drama for this show and we weren't joking. They have gone so far as to refuse to stock the show with more than one ice cream machine. Insider reports that they refuse to add a second machine because they want to encourage the stress to build up. Judge Marcus Samuelsson went as far as saying, "It’s really for creating that level of semi-chaos. It’s really like cooking on a treadmill. It’s not easy at all."

RELATED: 10 Of The Worst Cooking Fails That Make Us Order Takeout Fast

6 The Producers Rely On Each Contestant’s “Story” To Draw Fans In

Chopped
Via ABCChicago

It would be less entertaining if a bunch of people we know nothing about just started cooking on a show. The producers cast chefs based not only on their talents but also on the storyline they can bring to add texture to the show. Sister Alicia Torres is a 30-year old that did just that! Her soft spoken demeanor and dedication to serving her religion were unique twists which added unexpected interest to the show.

5 The Judges Inspect Food Stations And Don’t Just Sit At Their Panel The Whole Time

Chopped
Via FoodNetwork

This was a shocking revelation. The judging process on the set of the show is far different from what viewers see on TV. For one thing, the judges get up from the panel's judging seats and they inspect each station. Credit is awarded to stations that are clean and well maintained. The Recipe also reports that judging time at each station can take up to 90 minutes! That's not at all the experience that viewers are accustomed to.

4 It Takes A Whopping 37 Days To Edit A Single Episode

Chopped
Via EaterMontreal

Yes, you read that right, it takes a jaw-dropping 37 days to edit one episode of Chopped. The Recipe reveals that there are 13 to 14 cameras capturing footage from every angle, all of which has to be sifted through to obtain the best quality video coverage. Of course, it also takes time to locate and edit the most dramatic and captivating moments selected for the final cut.

3 Some Contestants Are Put On Hold For An Entire Year

Chopped
Via Delish

Some applicants become contestants very quickly, and Kathy Fang, featured here, is one of them. Within a couple of months of submitting her application for the show, she was cast and had flown to New York for the taping of the show. Other contestants are unfortunately not as lucky, and have been known to wait for years to find a spot on the show, even when their application status is "active".

RELATED: 15 Confessions and Secrets From Producers Of Reality TV Shows That Will Actually Make Your Jaw Drop

2 Tension And Stress Are A Bigger Focus Than The Actual Food

via wellesley.edu

In spite of this being a show about food and cooking under pressure in a new environment, producers never lose sight of the fact that drama makes for better TV. Creating tension and stress on the show is of utmost importance and remains a key element for the producers. Everything we've learned suggests that without the drama, the show wouldn't be able to carry itself at all.

1 Contestants Get A Tour Of The Pantry Before The Clock Starts

Chopped
Via Pinterest

We've discovered that the contestants actually get to tour their pantry before taping, and now we can never look at this show the same way again. The intrigue and stress components are derived from our assumption that the contestants are under a lot of pressure in a new and unfamiliar environment, and this revelation actually changes everything!

NEXT: 15 Memes Only Those Who Can't Cook Understand