Frequently Asked Questions about Pillsbury Ovens Off Bake-Off® Contest

Q: Why do I have to be 21 to enter?

A: We feel this is the appropriate age based on the great prizes you can win in this Contest.

Q: Can I enter more than one Entry into the contest?

A: No. Limit: One (1) Entry per person throughout the Contest Period. All Entries must be received between July 18, 2022, at 12:00:00 AM CT and August 14, 2022, at 11:59:59 PM CT. Any additional Entries received from any person or email account beyond the first Entry received will be void and will be disqualified.

Q: After I submitted my Entry, I realized that I made a mistake in the recipe. What should I do?

A: Once a recipe is submitted, it can no longer be changed. You can, however, submit a new Entry including the updates with “Corrected Version” added to the title of your recipe.

Q: How do I know that my online entry was accepted?

A: If an online Entry is successfully submitted, entrant will see a message on their screen that includes, “You are officially entered in the Pillsbury Ovens Off Bake-Off® Contest.” Please note, however, that Entry acceptance does not mean that an Entry conforms to the Entry requirements or is eligible for the contest. Entrants will also receive a confirmation email at the email address submitted with the Entry within 24 hours of entry. This email will have an Entry ID. Please check your spam or junk folder if you do not see it in your primary email inbox.
NOTE: If entrants do not receive the email confirmation, the Entry was submitted with an incorrect email address and the entrant should resubmit the Entry with “Corrected Version” added to the original recipe title.

Q: Can I save an Entry that I’m working on and then finish it later?

A: No, entries cannot be saved and submitted at a later time.

Q: Can I enter my Entry in a language other than English?

A: No. Entries must be submitted in English.

Q: How do I print a copy of my recipe submission?

A: The entry form does not provide a way to print your completed submission. However, your computer system may allow you to take screen shots as you move through the entry form or print the page you are on.

Q: When I click on “Submit My Recipe,” I return to the name/address page instead of seeing a confirmation message.

A: This likely means that you have exceeded the maximum connection time allowed and have been disconnected from the web site. Unfortunately, your entry has not been received and you must resubmit. Be sure to complete your Entry within two hours so that your connection is not broken. (Note that some Internet providers may disconnect you if your computer is idle for a shorter period of time.)

Q: How can I find out how my recipe was rated among the entries?

A: The volume of entries we receive does not allow us to provide individual feedback on the scoring of entries.

Q: Can I use a mobile device to submit my Entry?

A: Although you can access the Entry submission pages from your mobile device, we do not recommend it. It may take some time to fill out the entry form completely so a desktop, laptop or tablet device may be easier.

Q: I’d like to offer toppings for my recipe, like sour cream or Parmesan cheese. Do I have to indicate how much of those toppings to use, since each person will add toppings as they like?

A: You should indicate suggested amounts in your recipe. This will allow the test kitchen staff to evaluate the recipe as you intended. Please note that toppings must be included as one of your eight ingredients.

Q: Does a garnish in my recipe count as one of my eight ingredients?

A: Yes, any recipe garnish must be listed as one of your eight ingredients.

Q: Do cooking sprays count as an ingredient?

A: If you use the cooking spray for pan preparation, it does not count as an ingredient but should be mentioned in the method of your recipe. If cooking spray is used on food during recipe preparation, it does count as one of your eight ingredients and should be included in the ingredient list.

Q: If I suggest an accompaniment like rice in my recipe, will the kitchen testers determine that amount?

A: If an ingredient or accompaniment other than salt (table, kosher or sea salt), black pepper, flour for dusting, or water is essential for the finished dish, the recipe Entry should provide the amount of the ingredient needed and it must be listed as one of your eight ingredients.

Q: Can you explain what should be included in preparation time?

A: Any time spent actively preparing your recipe is part of the 30 minute preparation time. This includes chopping, mixing, stirring (frequently or occasionally), or any time that you are actively working on your recipe. This does not include marinating, baking, cooling, or chilling time.

Q: What if I have a cooking and baking step in my recipe and have multiple pans. How should I list this in my recipe?

A: Please describe in detail all pans and other tools used in your “Recipe Steps” and/or the “Pans or Dish Type and Size” Entry form boxes.

Q: I want to use flavored salts and lemon pepper in my recipe. Can they be used as salt and pepper in my recipe and not count as one of my eight ingredients?

A: No, salt (table, kosher or sea salt) and black pepper are the only salt and pepper ingredients that do not count as one of your eight ingredients.

Q: Can I enter a recipe that uses a preparation method like marinating overnight or cooking for 8 to 10 hours in a slow cooker?

A: Yes. The only time limitation for your recipe is 30 minutes of active prep time. There is no limitation on total recipe time.

Q: Can I enter a recipe that uses grilling as a preparation method?

A: Yes. Grilling is an acceptable preparation method for a recipe.

Q: Can I enter a recipe that uses a stove top as a preparation method?

A: Yes. A stove top is an acceptable preparation method for a recipe.

Q: Many recipes online and in cookbooks use raw ingredients like eggs and flour without cooking or baking them. Can I submit a recipe using raw ingredients without a baking or cooking step?

A: No. Recipes that contain eggs, baking mixes, flour, or other fresh dough products require a baking or cooking step.

Q: An ingredient I like to cook with was an eligible product for the last contest, but it is not listed for this contest. Is that an error?

A: Eligible products are selected for each Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest. Many products that were eligible in the last contest are not included in this contest and some new ones have been added. Find the list of eligible product ingredients here.

Q: I can't find an eligible product in my local grocery store? Can you help me locate the product in my area?

A: If you’re looking for a Pillsbury refrigerated dough product, please use the online General Mills Product Locator. Otherwise, we suggest that you ask your grocery store manager if the store can order the product, purchase the product from an online retailer, or select another eligible product that is available in your area.

Q: How do I know what different varieties or flavors are available of an eligible product?

A: Please check the Eligible Product list in the Official Rules. All eligible flavors and varieties are listed there.

Q: I’m using refrigerated sweet rolls with icing as my eligible product ingredient. Do I need to use both the icing and dough in my recipe?

A: You are not required to use the icing, but you must use the entire can of sweet roll dough.

Q: My recipe cuts shapes out of the Pillsbury™ dough. Is it okay to have scraps of dough left over?

A: Yes, it is okay to have small amounts of dough left over and not used.

Q: For Eligibility Questions other than what is shown below.

A: Due to the volume of questions we receive, we’re not able to respond to individual eligibility questions during this phase of the contest.

Q: Can I have further clarification on eligibility for food professionals?

A: Our interpretation of the food professional rule means generally that if someone is paid for work related to their original recipes, then they are not eligible. This includes selling food made using your original recipes, no matter how much (or how little) money you make and whether it is your sole or primary source of income. “Food professional” may also be defined by a career, for example: chefs, food writers, culinary specialists or food educators or someone who creates recipes for pay would not be eligible.

You are not eligible if you graduated from a culinary school/program or are enrolled in a culinary school/program.

Q: I work in a restaurant; does that disqualify me?

A: Some people who work in a restaurant (or for a caterer) are food professionals and some are not. Contest officials will consider your job responsibilities and training when determining whether you are a food professional, but you are not automatically disqualified because you work in a restaurant.

Q: I get paid to decorate cakes; does that disqualify me?

A: Contest officials will consider all relevant circumstances, but if you are not using your own recipes to make the cakes or the decorations, you are not automatically disqualified.

Q: I write a food blog; does that disqualify me?

A: Some blog writers are food professionals and some are not. Contest officials will consider your blog when determining whether you are a food professional, but you are not automatically disqualified because you write a food blog.

Q: I wrote a cookbook; does that disqualify me?

A: Contest officials consider selling a cookbook as being paid for your original recipes. However, some activities, such as contributing recipes to a family or charitable cookbook or self-publishing a cookbook that is given away for free, may not make you a food professional, depending on the situation.

Q: I have taken some cooking classes; does that disqualify me?

A: Contest officials will consider the circumstances of your classes. Enrolling in a formal culinary degree or certificate program would disqualify you, while taking a community education class would not. You are not automatically disqualified because you have taken some cooking classes.

Q: I worked on a recipe with another person. Can we enter the contest as a team?

A: No. Because our contest rules are based on an individual person entering and participating, partners cannot enter recipes together.

Q: Can I enter on behalf of someone who is unable to enter themselves?

A: No, you must personally enter your own original entry. If you know someone with a great recipe and story, please encourage them to enter themselves.

Q: What are the awards for this year’s Pillsbury Ovens Off Bake-Off® Contest?

A: This year there will be four (4) finalist winners, one (1) Grand-Prize Winner for a total of 5 winning entries. The awards for each are as follows:

A. Grand Prize

1 Winner will be awarded the Grand Prize, which includes:

1. A check for $50,000;

2. A fifty-thousand-dollar ($50,000) charity donation made by General Mills on Grand Prize Winner’s behalf to a mutually agreed upon 501(c)(3) charity.

Grand Prize Winner will be able to choose a charity from the predetermined list of charities listed below:

• Feeding America
• Operation Homefront
• National Parks Foundation
• NAACP
• No Kid Hungry
• American Red Cross
• St. Jude’s
• The Nature Conservatory
• YMCA
• American Cancer Society
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Meals on Wheels

B. Runner Up Finalist Prizes

Each runner up will receive One (1) case of the Pillsbury™ Product used in the Runner-Up’s recipe.

Q: Are all Entries submitted to the contest read and judged, or do you select just some of the Entries to review?

A: Judges will review all eligible Entries and select a limited number to become potential finalists (each, a “Potential Finalist”). All Potential Finalist entries are judged by our food professionals, and their recipes are thoroughly tested to arrive at a score.

Q: Why am I being asked to submit a story? How will it affect my chances of winning?

A: We know that people value making memories together, and often food and well-loved recipes are at the center of those memories. Pillsbury wanted to celebrate those special memories and the stories behind them. The story will be judged to determine the final score.

Q: What do you want in a story? What if I don’t have a story about my recipe?

A: We want to learn about the story behind your original recipe and how you created it using a method other than the oven. For example, you could tell us about your recipe’s inspiration, a favorite memory behind the recipe or created when you were making the recipe, a special ingredient, the story of how the recipe came to be, how it brings people together, or how it has become a family tradition.

Q: How will Entries be judged?

A: Judges will review all eligible entries and select a limited number to become potential finalists (each, a “Potential Finalist”).

A. Grand prize and Finalists Judging

Potential Finalists’ Entries will be scored taking into consideration the recipe and story criteria and weighting outlined below (the “Initial Score”).

1. Recipe Judging

a. Taste (25%)

b. Appearance (25%)

c. Creativity (25%)

d. Crowd Appeal (25%)

2. Story Judging

a. How the recipe ties to the story (40%)

b. How the story brings to life a family value, tradition, or memory (40%)

c. Demonstration of passion (20%)

The Potential Finalist whose Entry has the highest Initial Score in each Category will become a Potential Category Winner for that Category. Once the Potential Category Winners are confirmed as Winners, as described in Section VI of the rules, the Category Winner who is awarded the highest initial score will become the Grand Prize Winner.

General Judging Conditions

At any point in the Contest, in the event of a tied score, the Entry with the highest score for taste will be declared the Entry with the higher score. General Mills reserves the right to not award any or all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries.

Q: How is the Grand-Prize Winner determined?

A: Judges will review all Entries and select a limited number to become finalists. The top five (5) Entries that receive the highest total score based on the judging criteria will each be deemed a potential finalist (each, a “Finalist Entry,” collectively “Finalist Entries”). All Finalist Entries will then be judged in a second round of judging by a panel of judges appointed by the Sponsor using the judging criteria above. The Finalist Entry that receives the highest total score based on the judging criteria in the second round of judging will be deemed the potential Grand Prize winner (the “Grand Prize Winner”). The four (4) remaining Finalist Entries will be deemed a potential Runner-Up Prize winner (each, a “Runner-Up Prize Winner”). Grand Prize Winner and Runner-Up Prize Winners collectively may be referred to herein as “Winner” or “Winners”.

Q: How will the Grand-Prize Winner be announced?

A: The potential Grand Prize Winner will be notified via the email address and/or phone number provided with the entry form on or around August 31, 2022, and will be required to sign and return, within seven (7) days of notification, an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Waiver, a Confidentiality Agreement and where allowable, a Publicity Release (collectively, the “Releases").