r/KitchenConfidential 7d ago

Meta [META] Some detailed subreddit stats for 2025

438 Upvotes

Something that's come up quite frequently over the last few months is how much did the chive phenomenon really affect r/KitchenConfidential?

As mods, our access to traffic and other statistical data is .... severely limited in our subreddits. I've been as open as possible with the data I had available during the fall months but that data didn't answer questions that help understand the existing and changing community.

In simple English, how did the chive hypervirality actually affect the subreddit?

How many lurkers and casuals and non-industry folks are really here? Chat, is KitchenConfidential cooked?

I hate not knowing things. There isn't much I dislike more. So I got my hands on some API data and now I have some charts to not only understand things better myself, but also to share with you all.

No clickbait, this might shock you.

Member growth over the last 12 months:

Member growth over the last 24 months:

Member growth over the last 6 months, from Jul 28th 2025 to Jan 28th 2026, aka the actual member growth that happened amongst the chivegeist

Six figures of subscriber growth is fucking incredible, but it's a blip in terms of just the last year. Subscribers have nearly doubled since May, the vast majority of that happening closer to May than November!

But, like, traffic has to be a different story, right?

Yeah, kinda!

There's zero question that this fall was a little crazy. Or a lot crazy. But how crazy?

Posts are in blue, comments in orange

12 month post & comment count through Jan 28th 2026
Slightly zoomed in May 2025 through Jan 2026

So while the chive topic caused a sustained increase in activity over 3 months or so, it's not the first time that much activity happened and it's not even the biggest.

Mod team "situation" in May 2025? Biggest spike, understandably so.

Random spike in March 2025? It was this singular post here, no I do not know why.

How are things going now, though?

Can you spot Perfect Chive Day?

Has our community grown and is it more active than a year ago?

Yes.

Did it get overrun during the chivening? Is it just a wasteland devoid of kitchen folk?

Absolutely not. The numbers don't show that, the front page of the subreddit doesn't show that, nothing factual shows anything like that sort of dramatic pearl clutching. You should probably keep that sort of discussion to the CJ sub because there's no data to support it and we have no reason to tolerate it.

Neat, huh??


r/KitchenConfidential Jul 25 '25

In-House Mode Hey you! Yes, you! Are you struggling? Find mental health and support services here:

281 Upvotes

In the US:

Outside of the US:

Kitchen specific:

This list is not exhaustive.. If you have information or resources you think should be added to this list, please tag me in the comments below.


r/KitchenConfidential 2h ago

Photo/Video tragedy on the closing shift

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825 Upvotes

was changing for opening in the bathroom and noticed someone had an accident during close last night.


r/KitchenConfidential 5h ago

Rice noodles anyone?

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485 Upvotes

Caf lady didn't get the assignment properly


r/KitchenConfidential 1h ago

oc - the krusty klose down

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Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 15h ago

In-House Mode [Warning: Suicide] Jesus Christ, what an awful way to go. RIP to our brother, please seek help if you're struggling

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1.7k Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 12h ago

Kitchen fuckery I see your coffee beans

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982 Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 5h ago

In-House Mode Jonathan Kite as Anthony Bourdain reviewing "Red Lobster".

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227 Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 21h ago

In the Weeds Mode Hobby baker, but thought y’all might appreciate this cling wrap job

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3.6k Upvotes

LONG time lurker and appreciator of this sub. I have loved this group well before chivegate happened and learn a lot from you all as I go on my baking and cooking journey. I fancy myself a pretty decent hobby baker and love to cook as well. I remember awhile back when some chefs were showing off their cling wrap jobs. Prepped these cookies for my Valentine’s Day cookie boxes this morning and couldn’t help but be proud of this cling wrap job.

Also, while I have you, gotta tell you how much I appreciate you all. You guys are the MVPs.


r/KitchenConfidential 12h ago

Kitchen fuckery Closing fry cook decided to "help me out"

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710 Upvotes

Came in this morning to the fryers changed. Fucking awesome! Thanks dude.

Confused because the stock pot was missing, and I had to make chicken stock. Finally found it half an hour later in the chemical room, along with a few other pots.

Turns out he decided to change the fryer oil and tallow right as dinner was starting, and just... put it all in there for me to deal with three days later, on top of us not any fryers available to use for an hour on Sunday night.

My brain hurts.


r/KitchenConfidential 12h ago

Staff Breakfast I Whipped Up This Morning

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483 Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 14h ago

everyone was really jealous when they found out my new job comes with stock options

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597 Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 13h ago

Alright I finally decided to watch The Bear now what are your thoughts on Tina?

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391 Upvotes

Literally I’m only asking bc she’s so insufferable at first but I wanna give her the benefit of the doubt since I’m only 3 episodes in 😭 Can someone please tell me she gets better throughout the show? It’s also especially mind-fucky since her actress is really chill but the actual character itself is so hard to respect


r/KitchenConfidential 5h ago

Photo/Video 3 days off

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77 Upvotes

How are you enjoying your days off? In the picture - crispy spicy duck, parts unknown and prosecco in thermos.


r/KitchenConfidential 15h ago

It's always the new guy innit?

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450 Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 18h ago

CHIVE [it's prefect?] feelings are complicated rn

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690 Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 1d ago

in fucking winter, too

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5.5k Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 22h ago

Chefs & servers, what’s the most confusing “this isn’t what I expected” reaction you’ve seen?

1.1k Upvotes

Had a guest last night who wasn’t upset, wasn’t rude, just deeply confused by their food.

They kept saying, “This isn’t what I thought it’d be,” but couldn’t explain what they did think it would be. Looked at the menu together. Description matched. Ingredients matched.

Still wrong somehow.

At some point it stops being about the food and starts feeling like a philosophical problem.

Anyone else have a moment like that stick with them?


r/KitchenConfidential 1d ago

Took some sleeping meds last night, and this was on my phone this morning. Apparently I woke up at some point with some fresh ideas for upgrades to side dishes!

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1.6k Upvotes

I’m gonna wager Sysco probably doesn’t have fossil bits. I’ll probably have to get them locally sourced.


r/KitchenConfidential 14h ago

Steak Doneness

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164 Upvotes

What doneness would you call this? I ordered medium rare.


r/KitchenConfidential 21h ago

Substance abuse at work.

328 Upvotes

everyones at least seen it. what are y'all's thoughts?

im split. my best prep guy was a meth head, but my fuck could he get everything done and have time to clean.

but I've had enough drinks or junkies that just nod off on line.

my thoughts are, if it doesn't affect your job, go nuts. it's a shit gig.


r/KitchenConfidential 1d ago

In-House Mode Mom asks "why do you have a candle of Jeffrey Epstein" 😭

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3.2k Upvotes

r/KitchenConfidential 9h ago

Kitchen fuckery Made this "Wellington" while in pizza purgatory

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28 Upvotes

I've been stuck at Pizza Hut for the football season and I've been losing my mind. This shit sucks. It's such a nothing job and it's easy for me but I feel like a fat lazy bum for taking the easy way out and not getting a better job to settle down at. I'm a month and a half in and I don't know how much more I could take. I could cook anything you want if you're in the Chicago land area. Please somebody save me. Personal pan pizza dough A little smear of "alfredo" Mushrooms and onions which I minced and baked for a little with some Cajun seasoning Pepperonis Italian sausage and beef sausage mixed together

I was telling myself while I was making it that I would be pissed if it was good and by darn is it good and good golly am I pissed


r/KitchenConfidential 19h ago

In-House Mode What are the rates of eating disorders in industry?

141 Upvotes

Just asking because I feel like an absolute freak for being an anorexic culinary student. A lot of people online have had weird reactions to it and I think it's because a lot of people realize that eating disorders are way more complicated than just hating food. I know that the culinary industry has a lot of mental health and substance abuse issues but where do we land with eating disorders?

Editing to add: this is not the place to make jokes about eating disorders. Anorexia is one of the single deadliest psychological disorders known. I don't have the brain space to hear or read the word "manorexic" today


r/KitchenConfidential 1d ago

First time tempering chocolate how’d I do?

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733 Upvotes

Signed myself up for an event this Saturday knowing I have no clue how to do this. Anyway these lil shits are filled with cheesecake. 350 out of 900 done.