Ep 2. Wheel of Misfortune

In this episode of Worst Cooks in America season 16, titled "Wheel of Misfortune," the remaining recruits are faced with the challenge of cooking a meal with the help of a wheel that determines the ingredients they must use. Each contestant must spin the wheel to determine their protein, vegetable, and starch, and then create a dish that incorporates all three.

The recruits are visibly nervous as they spin the wheel, not knowing what they will get. Some land on less-than-ideal combinations, such as lamb, cauliflower, and rice, while others get luckier with shrimp, asparagus, and potatoes. Once the ingredients are selected, the contestants have just 30 minutes to prepare their dishes.

As expected, chaos reigns in the kitchen as the recruits struggle to figure out what to do with their random selection of ingredients. Some resort to the tried-and-true method of stir-frying everything together, while others attempt more ambitious recipes that don't always turn out well.

Mentors Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli watch closely as the recruits work, stopping to offer advice and constructive criticism. Many of the dishes end up being over-seasoned or undercooked, and some are simply unappetizing. The mentors do their best to salvage what they can, but they can only do so much.

Once the cooking time is up, the recruits present their dishes to Anne and Alex for tasting. As always, there are some clear winners and losers. The judges are impressed by the creativity of some of the dishes, while others are deemed inedible.

In the end, one recruit is sent home and the others move on to the next challenge, which promises to be just as difficult. The competition is heating up, and the contestants have a long way to go before they can be considered anything but the worst cooks in America.