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The Chopped Judges' Most-Hated Ingredients

The Chopped judges have come in contact with all kinds of wacky ingredients in the show's baskets, but even professionals shy away from some foods. Read on as the judges reveal what ingredients they won't touch.

Photo: Susan Magnano

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Aarón Sánchez: Stinky Cheese

“Really old, fermented cheeses, like an aged goat or sheep cheese. It dominates and saturates your palate and it’s hard to get past.”

Judge Alex Guarnaschelli, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 28.

Photo: Jason DeCrow ©

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Alex Guarnaschelli: The Simple Things

"Hot dogs are tough! Simple, but a real killer. And chicken feet."

Judge Marc Murphy, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 28.

Photo: Jason DeCrow ©

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Marc Murphy: His Fruity Foe

"The durian fruit! It’s just a very strange ingredient to work with."

Photo: Susan Magnano

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Maneet Chauhan: Traumatic Pineapple Problems

"I personally hate to work with pineapple, the reason being that that was the one ingredient that played a critical role in me (and all my predecessors) being eliminated on my season of The Next Iron Chef."

Judge Marcus Samuelsson, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 28.

Photo: Jason DeCrow ©

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Marcus Samuelsson: Allergy Aversion

"Buckwheat — I’m allergic!"

Judge Scott Conant, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 28.

Photo: Jason DeCrow ©

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Scott Conant: Pretentious Patrons

"One time, people gave me a bunch of mood boards and wanted me to create a menu based on a series of pictures. I have no patience for that."

Judge Amanda Freitag, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 28.

Photo: Jason DeCrow ©

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Amanda Freitag: Sea-urchin' for a New Dish

"I would have to say sea urchin. Unlike many other chefs, I am not a fan. I am not skilled at cleaning it or cooking it."

Photo: Susan Magnano

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Chris Santos: Crustaceans Make Him Crabby

"I’d say shellfish. I’m allergic, so I rarely touch the stuff, so having to deal with live crabs or something like that would be challenging."

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Geoffrey Zakarian judges, as seen on Food Network’s Chopped All Stars, Season 14.

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Geoffrey Zakarian: Trouble with Truffles

"White truffle oil."

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Ted Allen: Almost Anything Except Liver

"I’m not interested in eating beef liver. If somebody really talented cooked it, I would definitely eat it. ... I’ll try almost anything. I’m very open to food now. I’ve been for a long time."

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