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    22 Facts All "Chopped" Fans Know To Be True

    Open your baskets!

    1. There will always be nonsensical mystery baskets.

    2. Whenever that one cocky contestant shows off a little too much...

    3. ...one of the judges will definitely set them straight.

    4. Due to copyright, overly descriptive names are used in place of name-brand ingredients.

    5. A contestant's last minute addition of truffle oil will surely be their demise.

    6. It's not a true dessert round if someone doesn't use mascarpone in their dish.

    7. When a contestant gives a tearful and moving life story, we know it's probably because they're about to get kicked off.

    8. Marcus Samuellson screams "sophistication" with every critique and photogenic shot he takes.

    9. The last 15 seconds of each round is easily the most anxiety-producing part of the competition.

    10. You can always depend on Ted Allen and his thick-rimmed glasses to let the contestants down with a straight face.

    11. You know a contestant will make a purée or sorbet out of an ingredient they don't know how to work with.

    12. You can tell who's going home by the horrified and concerned faces the judges make at their mistakes.

    13. Although the contestants act cool and cordial while the judges deliberate, they're actually sitting in panic.

    14. Although Geoffery Zakarian is a silver fox...

    15. ...and Aaron Sanchez raises your blood pressure...

    16. ...there's no question that these beauties run the Chopped kitchen.

    17. Even in a themed episode, there will be an ingredient that just DOESN'T work.

    18. Chris Santos is definitely the Daria of Chopped because he is so consistently unimpressed.

    19. A jittery chef + sharp knives = a latex glove and an instant elimination because of blood in the dish.

    20. And if your dish is excellent enough, Scott Conant will show us all his adorably sweet side.

    21. Nobody wants their food to ever be underneath Ted Allen's hand.

    22. But when Ted yells, "Time's up!" we all let out a HUGE sigh of relief. That is, until the next round...