How to Compete in a Chili Cookoff

Have a great recipe for chili? One that curls the toes and makes grown men cry? Do family and friends encourage the next step to enter a chili cook-off? Chili cook-offs are a great way to have fun, prove a great recipe and in some cases, raise funds for charity. To compete in a chili cook-off, use these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Refine the recipe. Many chili recipes appear online and in cookbooks. Start with those as a beginning and develop an individual spin on it. Try variations and test the recipe on family, friends and co-workers.
2. Attend cook-offs. Cook-offs are fun, but for a future contestant, attending chili cook-offs is a form of homework. Taste other chili recipes; compare them to a possible competition recipe. Learn how a cook-off is run and what makes a winner win.
3. Join if necessary. The two major associations for chili chefs are the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) and the International Chili Society (ICS). ICS requires membership to compete in any of its sanctioned events.
4. Check for area cook-offs. Both ICS and CASI list upcoming cook-offs that are sanctioned by their associations. Look for one nearby and contact the cook-off organizers for rules and registration information.
5. Register and read the rules. Complete registration forms and fees should by a set deadline. Read the cook-off rules regarding arrival, the schedule and definitions.
6. Review the judging criteria. While the criteria may vary from cook-off to cook-off, generally the judges look at flavor, consistency, meat texture, spices, smell and appearance. Make sure the chili recipe succeeds in all those areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Take lawn chairs, lots of drinking water and wear comfortable clothes to the chili cook-off. The cook-off is supposed to be fun; don't ruin the experience by being uncomfortable.
• Most cook-offs require all food to be cooked on site; no food can be pre-cooked. There is a set time in which contestants are given to prepare their chili, usually 3 to 4 hours. Practice preparing the chili recipe under a variety of conditions to make sure the recipe can be prepared in the time allotted.