Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Famous chefs teach Selena Gomez how to cook.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Selena + Chef
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Singer/actor Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place, Love You Like a Love Song) is quarantined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, so she's learning how to cook via video calls from celebrity chefs. In each episode of SELENA AND CHEF, a different expert chef coaches Gomez step-by-step through cooking two dishes. The chef cooks along in his or her own home, and the two talk to each other over a video call. Some dishes turn out great, and others ... not so much. At the end of the episode, Gomez shares her culinary creations with her in-person family and her virtual chef coach.
Is It Any Good?
Kids who are into food (or who like Selena Gomez) will enjoy this lighthearted cooking show. Selena and Chef is especially great for kids who really want to learn tips about how to cook. While Gomez is a multitalented singer and actress, she's a pretty inexperienced cook. So, the chefs have to coach her through basic cooking techniques like how to use a knife, and have to explain cooking terms like "mise en place." While other reality cooking shows popular with kids gloss over how to actually cook the meal, viewers can learn vicariously through Selena.
Selena has a growth-mindset attitude toward cooking: She has no idea what she's doing but believes she can learn. She's a great example for not feeling embarrassed that she's pretty bad at something that's new for her. She laughs at herself when she makes mistakes, and celebrates when she does something right. Selena and Chef is a fun show that cooking enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Selena is learning something new even though she's a grown-up. Do you think people ever stop learning new things?
Do you want to make any of the foods Selena is learning to cook in Selena and Chef? Do you know how to cook the foods you like?
In this show, you can see the logos on a lot of the products in the kitchen. Why do you think the TV producers wanted to include the logos in the show?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 13, 2020
- Cast : Selena Gomez
- Network : Max
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Cooking
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 10, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate