Show Guide: '24 In 24: Last Chef Standing'

Synopsis: Chefs often describe their jobs as being an unending grind that occupies their mind, body, and soul for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No cooking competition has ever captured that knock down drag out intensity -- until now! Michael Symon and Esther Choi are back to host the second season of the world's toughest cooking competition that’s part culinary marathon and part social experiment where 24 chefs take on 24 challenges over 24 real, non-stop hours. The challenges are divided into 8 shifts, each testing a different culinary skill like speed, resourcefulness, artistry and adaptability. The chefs must conquer all sorts of twists and turns, all while battling fatigue and each other. The 24-hour clock never stops until there is only one true master left to take home their biggest single-day payday ever, $75,000. (Courtesy Food Network, 2025)

The Cast:

Production Credits:

The Episodes:
Season One Episode Guide (Food)

Season Two Episode Guide (Food)
2-01 Shift One: Speed--04/27/2025
In the first shift, the chefs must endure three challenges testing speed. Whoever can impress expert judge Antonia Lofaso will survive. Whoever doesn’t, will be forced to clock out. When Michael and Esther introduce the all-important golden knife, the chefs learn that this epic day of cooking will be full of twists and turns. Whoever can adjust on the fly has a chance to be the last chef standing.

2-02 Simplicity & Resourcefulness--05/04/2025
Co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi begin the second shift with two chefs in a head-to-head elimination battle that tests simplicity. After judge Graham Elliot decides which chef will clock out, the remaining chefs take on a tricky taste test. Then, after seven straight hours of cooking, the chefs are asked to be resourceful with both time and ingredients as they create a three-course meal worthy of a black-tie event in only 60 minutes for judge Jet Tila.

2-03 Artistry & Adaptability--05/11/2025
Co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi assign the fatigued chefs famous works of art to use for inspiration as they cook for judge Fariyal Abdullahi. Then, the unrelenting twists and turns continue into hour 13 as the chefs must turn ingredients for a lumberjack breakfast into an entirely different meal for judge Brooke Williamson.

2-03 Teamwork & Risk Taking--05/18/2025
Frustration and fatigue mounts in hour 16 as co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi ask the eight remaining chefs to work in teams to make a soup and sandwich all while handling three culinary curveballs for judges Carlos Anthony and Brian Malarkey. Then, in shift number seven, after the competitors have been up for 19 hours, they'll have to take some risks while making a finale-worthy fish dish for judge Andrew Zimmern to earn a spot in the final shift and have a chance at winning $75,000.

2-04 The Final Shift--05/25/2025
In the final shift featuring elevation, co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi ask the exhausted finalists to dig deep and create an elevated breakfast, lunch and dinner. But as these chefs have come to learn, these last challenges will not quite be what they expected! Judges Antonia Lofaso, Graham Elliot and Jet Tila decide which chef will walk away with $75,000 and the title of Last Chef Standing.