The Cooking Show Craze
BY ADI RAMAN '22
Nowadays, sizzling pans and beeping timers have become familiar sounds from the living room television. Somehow, watching others cook and eat has become an integral part of daily life. This obsession with cooking shows may appear to stem from their entertainment value or recipe inspiration, but other factors subconsciously drive the popularity of this widespread genre. Cooking shows have grown globally popular because they display idealistic elements that viewers want to replicate in their own lives.
Limited technology originally prevented cooking shows from making it to television; as such, radio stations broadcasted them until the 1940s. At this time, cooking shows expanded from the United Kingdom to all corners of the globe. The United States, France, Germany, Australia, and Japan were among the first countries to establish strong cooking show industry foundations. These shows often had simplistic formats that focused on recipes. Yet, the novelty of listening to others making dishes for their friends and families was captivating.
Regardless, radio cooking shows inevitably plateaued because of their lack of visuals. On a subconscious level, visual stimulation enhances a person’s perception. Thus, cooking shows’ transition from radio to television allowed the genre’s popularity to boom. Watching food preparation inspires the human mind, encouraging one to change pieces of their lifestyle to fit what they see on the screen. This desire manifests itself differently depending on the subgenre of cooking show someone is watching.
In Chopped, a fast-paced show where seasoned chefs quickly prepare dishes given unorthodox ingredient combinations, the viewer sees a myriad of creative ways to meld ingredients into something special. Many home cooks who lead busy lives might wish to replicate Chopped chefs’ spontaneity, ingenuity, and quick thinking.
Even a show with a relaxing setting, such as The Great British Bake Off, appeals to its audience. The contestants typically treat each other like friends rather than competitors as they bake in a tent surrounded by animals and meadows that feed into the relaxing atmosphere. The show’s viewers are captivated by its serenity and subconsciously desire that tranquility in their own lives. It is in this way that the program becomes addictive.
Home cooking shows such as Barefoot Contessa with Ina Garten bring their audiences into the chef’s home where they are preparing meals to share with friends and family. Additionally, Garten, who once worked in the White House as a nuclear budget planner, was able to excel in both her work life and in domestic activities. Viewers strive to achieve Garten’s versatile success in their own lives, as well as the idealistic image of a bustling home and kitchen she presents on screen. The combination of Garten’s recipes and her own experiences create a refreshing and compelling experience.
The aforementioned shows and many others have all contributed to the rise of this television subgenre. In other words, cooking shows have become popular on a surface level because they are simply a variety of entertainment forms. However, the genre has expanded upon its novelty after being adapted from radio to become something much more interesting—the suspenseful action, life experiences, and ability to simply see the chef behind the food lead to a more exhilarating and personal experience.
Limited technology originally prevented cooking shows from making it to television; as such, radio stations broadcasted them until the 1940s. At this time, cooking shows expanded from the United Kingdom to all corners of the globe. The United States, France, Germany, Australia, and Japan were among the first countries to establish strong cooking show industry foundations. These shows often had simplistic formats that focused on recipes. Yet, the novelty of listening to others making dishes for their friends and families was captivating.
Regardless, radio cooking shows inevitably plateaued because of their lack of visuals. On a subconscious level, visual stimulation enhances a person’s perception. Thus, cooking shows’ transition from radio to television allowed the genre’s popularity to boom. Watching food preparation inspires the human mind, encouraging one to change pieces of their lifestyle to fit what they see on the screen. This desire manifests itself differently depending on the subgenre of cooking show someone is watching.
In Chopped, a fast-paced show where seasoned chefs quickly prepare dishes given unorthodox ingredient combinations, the viewer sees a myriad of creative ways to meld ingredients into something special. Many home cooks who lead busy lives might wish to replicate Chopped chefs’ spontaneity, ingenuity, and quick thinking.
Even a show with a relaxing setting, such as The Great British Bake Off, appeals to its audience. The contestants typically treat each other like friends rather than competitors as they bake in a tent surrounded by animals and meadows that feed into the relaxing atmosphere. The show’s viewers are captivated by its serenity and subconsciously desire that tranquility in their own lives. It is in this way that the program becomes addictive.
Home cooking shows such as Barefoot Contessa with Ina Garten bring their audiences into the chef’s home where they are preparing meals to share with friends and family. Additionally, Garten, who once worked in the White House as a nuclear budget planner, was able to excel in both her work life and in domestic activities. Viewers strive to achieve Garten’s versatile success in their own lives, as well as the idealistic image of a bustling home and kitchen she presents on screen. The combination of Garten’s recipes and her own experiences create a refreshing and compelling experience.
The aforementioned shows and many others have all contributed to the rise of this television subgenre. In other words, cooking shows have become popular on a surface level because they are simply a variety of entertainment forms. However, the genre has expanded upon its novelty after being adapted from radio to become something much more interesting—the suspenseful action, life experiences, and ability to simply see the chef behind the food lead to a more exhilarating and personal experience.