Food Detectives Episodes

Change Season

Season 1, Episode 1

The 5-Second Rule

Can I really eat something off the floor if I pick it up in less than 5 seconds? How do I stop my mouth from burning after I've eaten spicy food? Is the baking soda in my fridge doing anything? Ted Allen and his culinary sleuths set out to prove the answers to these questions, once and for all!

Season 1, Episode 2

Double Dippers

Ted Allen and the Food Techs set out to make your next party a much more sanitary affair when they discover the truth about "double dipping." Then they take a dizzying joyride to find out if an old wives' tale has any truth -- can ginger really help with motion sickness? Back at the lab, Ted has the Food Techs ready their knives to find the most effective technique to quell the tears while chopping onions.

Season 1, Episode 3

Brain Freeze

Ted Allen and his Food Techs have a real headache of an experiment on their hands as they investigate how to prevent brain freeze. They also discover why aged beef from your butcher is gourmet and aged beef on your kitchen counter is contaminated and find out what can be done about unwanted freezer burn.

Season 1, Episode 4

Swallowing Gum

Ted Allen and the Food Techs set out to tackle one of those questions that has haunted you from childhood; will that piece of gum you swallowed stay in your stomach for seven years? Things will also get a little hot under the collar when they discover which items and foods should never be put into your microwave.

Season 1, Episode 5

Sleepy Turkey

Ted Allen and the Food Techs investigate whether it's turkey from your Thanksgiving feast that actually makes you sleepy...or just your uncle's boring stories. Also on the agenda - what is the best way to get gum out of your hair? Lastly - just how unsanitary are public water fountains? The team will not rest until they find the dirty truth.

Season 1, Episode 6

The Poppy Seed Drug Test

Ted Allen and the Food Techs expose the truth behind whether or not eating a poppy seed bagel will actually cause someone to test positive for opiates. The fun continues as the Food Techs also sacrifice themselves to see if they really need to wait an hour after eating to get in the pool. Finally ... is it possible to eat six Saltine crackers in one minute? We put this classic classroom challenge to the test.

Season 1, Episode 7

Hangover Cures

Ted Allen and the Food Techs investigate the best game plan for dealing with the ugly aftermath of an indulgent night. Could there really be any remedies for the alcohol induced hangover? And what types of alcohol lead to the worst hangovers? You might have heard that cola can dissolve a penny or even a tooth. Ted puts this myth to the test. Finally, you've seen those buckets of lemon wedges at your favorite restaurant...but just how sanitary are they?

Season 1, Episode 8

Dirty Bar Snacks

Everyone loves the bowls of peanuts, jars of pickles or even buckets of popcorn that sit out on the bar at the local watering hole. Nice gesture, but could munching on those treats make you sicker than the drinks you're paying for? We'll find out as Ted and the Food Techs conduct an experiment with bar snacks to see if they are unsanitary. Then, Ted and the food techs put energy drinks to the test to see if they can really improve physical endurance. We'll also find out if a glass of wine can deter food poisoning, and explore the science behind using liquid nitrogen in the kitchen.

Season 1, Episode 9

Heartburn Remedies

Ted Allen and the Food Techs investigate the best home remedy for heartburn. Could relief be sitting in your kitchen cabinet? And you might have heard that the "last sip" of a bottle is mostly backwash. But is it true? Ted puts this urban legend to the test. Finally, we'll find out if it's really possible to poach salmon in your dishwasher, and fry an egg on your car's engine block.

Season 1, Episode 10

Spicy Food & Sleepless Nights

Many people love spicy foods. But does that five-alarm chili lead to a long sleepless night? We'll find out as Ted checks the food techs into a sleep lab to determine if spicy foods impact how well you sleep. Then, Ted puts the food techs on a garlic diet to find out if eating certain foods really makes you smell. And finally, you might have heard that it's important to consume 8 glasses of water each day, but how much of your daily water requirement is satisfied just from eating food? We'll find out on Food Detectives.

On TV

What's Hot