Transylvania graduate brings scientific approach to Food Network's 'Pitmasters'
Jeremy Yoder, a Transylvania University graduate, is making his television debut on Food Network's "Pitmasters," which premiered Monday at 9 p.m. ET.
The new barbecue competition series challenges nine two-person teams to compete in a nonstop week-long battle for up to $50,000 in prize money, with teams cooking continuously while battling fatigue, elements and demanding live-fire challenges.
Yoder, who is based in Louisville, Kentucky, brings an unconventional background to the competition. A former biology and chemistry teacher, Yoder now operates the YouTube channel Mad Scientist BBQ, which has more than 767,000 subscribers. He named the channel as a nod to his former career in education.
Raised in Western Kentucky and born to an Amish family that eschewed technology, Yoder has transformed his early appreciation for traditional cooking into a science-based approach to barbecue. He is partnered with Al Frugoni, a native Argentinian and current Boerne, Texas resident who has his own seasoning company.
The premiere episode, titled "Meat Your Competition," features a "Big Burn" challenge where teams have nine hours to create a family-style barbecue platter featuring two proteins and at least one side. Judges are tasked with evaluating each team's flavor, technique and culinary perspective, with Andrew Zimmern hosting the competition alongside judges Jess Pryles, Moe Cason and Ernest Servantes.
The premiere also includes a surprise "Flash Burn" challenge, where teams must create a perfectly balanced one-bite barbecue dish in just 60 minutes while still working on their main course. New episodes stream the next day on HBO Max and Discovery+.