I don’t cook. But like an increasing number of Americans, I’m fascinated by TV’s endless schedule of culinary competitions. We’re captivated by the challenges of the Chopped basket, the crazy grocery game, the descending ingredient platform or the spinning randomizer—each presenting competitors with an added layer of complication to the already formidable goal of brainstorming and executing a mouth-watering recipe under the pressure of time. How do they do it?...