12 relaxing cooking shows to lull you to sleep while social distancing

Nothing says “comfort” like comfort food. 

As we continue the practice of social distancing, many are utilizing the soothing power of streaming. If you’re anything like this writer, that means queueing up half a dozen episodes of your favorite cooking show and immediately falling asleep on the couch. 

The familiar hum of cooking instructions, paired with tantalizing descriptions of luxurious food, feels like a warm blanket begging to be dozed on. It’s a strategy I’ve used to get through breakups, family emergencies, and the closing of my local bakery. Now, it might just help get us through this. 

Ranked from least to most relaxing, here are the 12 comforting cooking shows for you to fall asleep during, wake up to, rinse, and repeat. Enjoy! 

Hosted by cooking connoisseur Alton Brown, Cutthroat Kitchen isn’t the most relaxing item on this list — but its good-hearted nature and reliable formula make for a perfect marathon during an on-and-off snooze. In this series, four talented chefs face off to win a cash prize in three rounds. The twist? At the top of each round, the contestants bid on hysterical “sabotages” to hinder their competitors. Think cooking with one hand, making all your utensils out of foil, boiling pasta in an espresso machine. It’s awesome.

How to watch: Cutthroat Kitchen is now streaming on Hulu. 

Hosted by Hunter March and judged by sweets experts Candace Nelson and Adriano Zumbo, Sugar Rush tasks challengers with creating a cupcake, a confection, and one show-stopping cake. Unlike other bake-offs, however, these participants can allocate their total time as they see fit. Think your cupcake will only take you 15 minutes? Go for it! But if your creation is eclipsed by those who took more time, you’ll get cut off mid-round. 

How to watch: Sugar Rush is now streaming on Netflix.

Comedian Nicole Byer is joined by famed pastry chef Jacques Torres in judging this bake-off for amateurs. Each episode, unskilled competitors go head-to-head for a $10,000 cash prize and the prestigious Nailed It! trophy. With no experience and incredibly difficult assignments, this chaotic mess is more about what doesn’t work out than what does. You’ll smile at the winners, and laugh hysterically at the losers. It’s like a failed Pinterest projects collection, but on Netflix and with food.

How to watch: Nailed It! is now streaming on Netflix. 

Who doesn’t want to watch nice Australian people make fancy desserts? Hosted by Rachel Khoo and Willy Wonka stand-in Adriano Zumbo, Zumbo’s Just Desserts puts its talented participants through two challenges an episode. The “Sweet Sensations Task” allows all contenders to flex their creativity and shine for the judges. But fail to impress, and they could end up as one of two patisseries in “The Zumbo Test.” The elimination challenge forces competitors to recreate a famed Zumbo creation — a task far harder than it looks. 

How to watch: Zumbo’s Just Desserts is now streaming on Netflix.  

Fans of Buddy Valastro and Carlo’s Bake Shop, rejoice in this hunt for the next cake icon! In Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, Valastro tests wannabe baking greats with three challenges per episode. At the end of each ~40-minute installment, one competitor is sent home and the race towards the grand prize continues. Some seasons, that means cash. Other seasons, that means a coveted spot in Buddy’s bakery. If you’re looking for the original series, Cake Boss is also streaming on Hulu.

How to watch: Cake Boss: Next Great Baker is now streaming on Hulu. 

Who among us hasn’t watched 20+ Tasty videos in one sitting? Now, you can do it with ease on Amazon Prime Video. The streaming service offers tons of your Tasty favorites — like “12 Ways To Drink Wine For Girls Night” and “6 Scrumptious Hot Dog Recipes” — queued up in two seasons for your convenience. The instructional format isn’t always the most engaging, but a soothing voice and pretty pictures will definitely keep you feeling calm. 

How to watch: Tasty is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. 

Bon Appétit’s Back-to-Back Chef combines the gentle lull of teaching with the spicy joy of celebrity interview. Chef Carla Lalli Music guides her famous guests, including stars like Natalie Portman, Padma Lakshmi, and Eric Stonestreet, through complex recipes using her voice only. Unable to see what they are doing (and vice versa) the result is charismatic chaos you’ll love. 

How to watch: Back-to-Back Chef is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. 

Chef and writer Samin Nosrat wants to know what makes good food great. Based on her book of the same name, Salt Fat Acid Heat chronicles Nosrat’s adventures across the globe to hunt down the elements that makes flavor sing. Beautifully shot and paced, this docuseries is like Planet Earth but for cooking. Really, really, really good cooking.

How to watch: Salt Fat Acid Heat is now streaming on Netflix. 

For the most ambitious culinary experts, excellence in cooking is a lifelong pursuit. Chef’s Table gives viewers a chance to meet the artists perfecting the craft of cuisine the world over. In this anthology series, documentarians interview and film gourmet chefs about their experiences while they craft a dish for the camera. As fascinating as food is delicious, Chef’s Table is a sublime watch.

How to watch: Chef’s Table is now streaming on Netflix. 

Hosted by Jonathan Bennett (aka Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls), Cake Wars revitalizes the tone perfected by Cupcake Wars in a bigger, bolder, cake-ier format. Judges Waylynn Lucas, Ron Ben-Israel, and Richard Ruskell evaluate participating bakers through two challenging rounds. The final winner gets the honor of presenting their cake creations at an high-profile event. 

How to watch: Cake Wars is now streaming on Hulu. 

Bon Appétit editor and internet sweetheart Claire Saffitz knows how to elevate junk food. In her web series Gourmet Makes, Saffitz recreates all kinds of childhood favorites, from Jelly Bellies and Starbursts to Pocky and Bagel Bites. Set in the famed BA Test Kitchen, this series is the perfect introduction to Bon Appétit’s online presence that values perseverance above all else.

How to watch: Gourmet Makes is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. 

It’s the crème de la crème of cooking shows. The Great British Baking Show (also known as The Great British Bake Off) has weathered network changes, recasting, and Baked Alaska scandals. Still, through it all, the heartwarming spirit of Brits baking up a storm has shined through. Join amateur bakers in the legendary “Tent” for a shot at dessert glory. 

How to watch: The Great British Baking Show is now streaming on Netflix.