The WORST episodes of Junior MasterChef Australia
Every episode of Junior MasterChef Australia ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Junior MasterChef Australia!
No longer satisfied with putting mere amateurs and so-called celebrities to the test, the makers of the hit TV series MasterChef are now looking to crown Australia's best Junior MasterChefs. A bunch of brave Aussie kids aged between 8 and 12 years old, get ready to face the judges praise and possible criticism and compete in the ultimate cooking challenge.
#1 - Grand Finale
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/9/2020
Today's Grand Finale will see one exceptional cook crowned Australia's Junior MasterChef 2020, taking home a huge $25,000 in prize money.
#2 - Signature Dish
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/2020
The Top 14 mini cooks have an open pantry to create their signature dish. The top two dishes will win the chance to use the immunity gong and save themselves from elimination during the competition.
#3 - Honey Immunity Challenge
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/12/2020
Collecting their own honey from a beehive, contestants must create a sweet or savoury dish that heroes honey. The best two dishes win immunity from the first elimination.
#4 - 1st Elimination
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/2020
The first elimination starts out with a blindfold taste test. Those who move into the second round must cook a dish that the judges can eat using only a spoon, chopsticks, or a real life human hand.
#5 - Giant Mystery Box
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2020
The contestants enter the kitchen and scream with delight as they notice a giant-sized mystery box but no judges in sight.
#6 - Cook Along Immunity Challenge
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2020
Contestants in this challenge must cook along with judge Andy, but with no recipe. The two cooks with the dishes closest to Andy's will win immunity from the next elimination.
#7 - 2nd Elimination
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/20/2020
Morgan Hipworth from Bistro Morgan reveals that in this challenge, contestants will be creating their own doughnut topping and fillings. The two least impressive dishes will send their makers home.
#8 - Hand Pulled Noodle Elimination Challenge
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/27/2020
Contestants will have 60 minutes to make a dish using hand-pulled noodles made by master Mr X. The best two noodle dishes will keep their makers safe from the next elimination.
#9 - Snowy Elimination Challenge
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/1/2020
Our juniors enter the MasterChef Kitchen and discover a winter wonderland - it's snowing! The Junior MasterChefs will be braving the cold of a two-round elimination challenge.
#10 - Curtis Stone Mystery Box
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/2/2020
Curtis Stone sets this mystery box which is all about the humble potato. Contestants are vying for a place in the semifinal by creating a sweet or savoury dish featuring delicious spuds.
#11 - Fruit & Veg
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/3/2020
Contestants must hero a fruit or a vegetable in their dish. If they select a fruit, they need to produce a savoury dish, and if they select a vegetable, they need to create a sweet dish.
#12 - Semi Final Pressure Test: Kirsten Tibballs
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/8/2020
in tonight's pressure test contestants must recreate Kirsten Tibballs' lemon meringue tart. the top three dishes will send their mini-makers into the Grand Finale, the others will be heading home.
#13 - Emelia Jackson Mystery Box
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/2020
The contestants arrive at the MasterChef kitchen for a mystery box challenge set by none other than MasterChef Australia: Back To Win winner Emelia Jackson.
#14 - Top 50 - Round 1
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2011
The warehouse welcomed Australia’s Top 50 junior chefs ready to cook like champions for a spot in the Top 20. Heat 1 featured all 50 cooking at the same time, with the contestants given 90 minutes to prepare and plate their dishes. Divided into five teams, each was given a mentor who revealed their core ingredient. Peter Gilmore unveiled poultry and game, Kylie Kwong vegetarian ingredients, Justin North red meat, Shaun Presland seafood and Adriano Zumbo desserts. The mentors selected the three best performers from their group, whose dishes were then tasted by the judges and the best five sent through to the Top 20. After tasting their way through an incredible array of recipes, the judges gave Harry, Tom, Greta, Steven and Keiren the first of this series’ Top 20 aprons.
#15 - Pressure Test & The Perfect Roast
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/16/2011
Eight contestants faced a Pressure Test over two rounds to stay in the competition. The first round challenged them to make the 'Perfect Roast', with the best two performers safe to cook another day. The mouthwatering flavour combinations on display were incredible, but Tom's roast chicken with potato gratin and Alysha's balsamic glazed chicken went that extra mile and sent them through to the next stage of the competition. With six contestants battling for the final two spots, round two welcomed Tony Bilson to the Junior MasterChef kitchen. The contestants had to try and recreate Bilson's lobster risotto, with the cheflings all attacking the task without an ounce of fear. The standard was so high that Tony and the judges struggled to pick their favourites, but it was Marcus and Zac that edged out their peers, sending them into the Top 16.
#16 - Mystery Box & Family Desserts
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/17/2011
Sprinting into the Junior MasterChef kitchen for their first Top 16 task, the contestants faced a Mystery Box Challenge. Lifting the lids, the eager cheflings found they had pork loin, scallops, a whole pineapple, chillies, pears, limes, vanilla beans and mint with which to create a spectacular dish in 50 minutes. Making the most of all her ingredients, Greta’s vanilla scallops and ginger pork delighted the judges, securing her third place. Harry’s upside down pineapple pudding was runner-up, but no one was able to top the taste sensation delivered by Alysha’s six point-winning lime and honey pudding. For the second challenge the kitchen welcomed mothers and nanas as guest judges, with each contestant cooking their family recipe apple pie. In a two-way tie for third were Lily and Steven; second place was Zac; and thanks to her perfect pastry Indigo took the win, sending her to the top of the leaderboard.
#17 - Perfect Pavlova
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 11/20/2011
The judges explained that after the next challenge the top four contestants on the leader board would be safe, while the bottom four would go into a Pressure Test to stay in the game. The contestants had 80 minutes to create the ‘Perfect Pavlova’, producing results likely to satisfy even the biggest dessert lover. Indigo scored two points for third place, Greta took second and with a dish the judges simply couldn’t get enough of and Harry placed first. His six point haul unfortunately wasn’t enough to keep him out of the Pressure Test, joined by Alysha, Chandler and Lily. Guillame Brahimi was then welcomed to present a dish for the cheflings to create – a spectacular looking turban of scampi with spaghettini and caviar sauce. Despite the complexity of the recipe the kids took to the task admirably, but it was Harry and Alysha whose dishes were judged to be superior, leaving an emotional Chandler and Lily to say their goodbyes.
#18 - Food Deception & Christmas Dinner
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 11/15/2011
Master chocolatier Max Brenner was welcomed to the kitchen for the Savoury but Sweet Challenge. Unveiling two of his dishes – biscuit tuile nachos and an incredible chocolate burger – he explained that the cheflings had 80 minutes to follow his lead by creating dishes that look savoury but tasted sweet. The kids really pulled out all the stops, letting their culinary creativity shine; Jack came third with his spaghetti and meatballs dish, Zac second for his sweet pie and Indigo first with a mesmerising take on the traditional meat and three veg. The kids then enjoyed a MasterChef first – a slumber party - and were awoken the following morning by the booming laugh of Santa (who looked suspiciously like George). Unwrapping presents from under the tree, the kids found their core ingredients for a Christmas-themed Invention Test Challenge. Lily picked up two points for placing third in the challenge, Zac continued his impressive run by taking the runner-up spot, but once again Greta left the competition for dust as her peppered mushroom tarts secured another six points to maintain her lead in the competition.
#19 - Double Mystery Box
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 11/14/2011
Junior MasterChef 2011’s Top 8 arrived back in the MasterChef kitchen to be greeted with a Mystery Box Challenge – with a twist. Beneath their main containers was a beautiful assortment of fresh ingredients, but also a smaller box containing a further collection of produce. Those brave enough to lift the lid would have to cook with at least one of the ingredients before them. Although most of the contestants opted to play it safe, those who gambled impressively utilised the unfamiliar ingredients, particularly Zac, whose lamb’s liver dish took second place in the challenge. Greta’s beetroot salad was third, while Lily’s melt-in-the-mouth lemon delicious dessert was a deserving winner of six points. The second challenge was a Tag-Team cook-off set within a boxing ring. The boys were captained by guest chef Colin Fassnidge, the girls by Miguel Maestre. Both teams had an hour to make George’s barramundi and fettuccine dish, each contestant having to cook for 15 minutes, with the team captains allowed to tag in for 90 seconds to help overcome any snags. A pasta disaster for the boys threatened to destroy their chances, but in the all-important matter of taste Anna and Matt awarded them winning marks.
#20 - The Perfect Curry & Cheesecake Pressure Test
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/30/2011
Fighting to stay in the competition, the bottom 8 cheflings first competed in a Perfect Curry Challenge, guest judged by master Kumar Mahadevan. With 80 minutes to prepare their dishes there was no time to spare, with some contestants a little too eager with their spices. Tom’s dish in particular, dubbed the ‘Thaiferno’ by its maker, was such a firecracker it left George numb for words. Steven ‘s golden seafood curry and Jack’s chicken Massaman won top honours, sending them up to the balcony to watch round two safe from elimination. The second round was an Invention Test, with the six remaining contestants recreating a Matt Moran mango cheesecake with coconut tapioca. Failing to follow the recipe as exactly as their fellow hopefuls, Gracie and Tom struggled to get their desserts to set properly. Competition was fierce between the others for the remaining two safe spots, but Harry and Kieren’s practically flawless efforts sent them through, leaving Tom, Gracie, Marcus and Dee to say their goodbyes. Gary then revealed that the Top 12 were headed on the adventure of a lifetime to Los Angeles.
#21 - Prawn Invention Test & 5 Star Breakfast Challenge
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/24/2011
For their first challenge the Top 16 had to create 5-star breakfasts for the judges, with an amazing spread of fresh ingredients to draw from. With safe passage through to the next round of the competition on the line, points were more precious than ever. The results were a treat for the senses, with Zac truly excelling himself with his first place-winning tasting plate. Dee came second with his brioche, while Keiren’s honey doughnuts secured him third. As winner Zac got to choose the core ingredient for the seafood-themed Invention Test, to be judged by Luke Nguyen. He selected prawns, much to the relief of his fellow cheflings. Zac again put in an impressive performance, this time getting two points for third. Greta was runner-up, but it was Alysha’s spicy prawn curry that was the clear standout winning her the round and six points. The leader board’s Top 8 were safe, but the bottom 8 would face a cook-off to stay in the game.
#22 - Top 20 arrive at the MC kitchen
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/3/2011
The excited members of the Top 20 arrived for their first day in the MasterChef kitchen. Their first task: a Mystery Box Challenge. Each box contained 12 eggs, which all had to be used to create up to two dishes in 80 minutes. Gary revealed that the best six dishes would be tasted and points awarded to the best three. Lily won the challenge with her frittata and pavlova, Jack placed second with his Victoria sponge, with Gracie taking third with a chocolate cake and salmon crepes. George made a spectacular return to introduce the second, Greek-themed challenge. The contestants had 50 minutes to prepare a Greek dish using spatchcock, lamb or squid as the main ingredient. Madi’s fabulous lamb dish took the win, Jack again placed second with his stuffed squid hoods and Indigo secured third place points with her Skordalia spatchcock. At the end of day one Jack was sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard.
#23 - Top 50 - Round 2
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/2011
The second heat of Junior MasterChef’s Top 50 was revealed to be a healthy fast food challenge, with the contestants having 80 minutes to serve up guilt-free goodies. Providing them with their ingredients was Matt Moran, serving from behind the counter in Junior MasterChef’s version of a fast food palace. Once again the kids cooked out of their skins, but it was Alysha, Jade, Marcus and Miraede that got their eager hands on precious Top 20 aprons. To introduce heat 3 an ice-cream van rolled into the warehouse carrying none other than Gary, who informed the contestants that they would be making ice-cream based desserts, with 80 minutes cooking time. Sweet treats galore followed as the kids cooked with maturity well beyond their years, as Caroline, Chandler, Dee and Indigo became the next crop of cheflings to make the Top 20 phase of the competition.
#24 - Special Masterclass
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 11/12/2010
The final Masterclass is a special one with Stephanie Alexander doing a class for Celebrity Chefs and their kids. The Celebrity Chefs are Matt Moran, Guillaume Brahimi, Kylie Kwong, Christine Mansfield and Giovanni Pilu. All the visitors will be making three dishes – one by Stephanie and two by George. Added to this is a special cook-along with George where people at home can cook the same dish George makes – and all in real time to the show.
#25 - Offsite Challenge
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/2010
The Junior MasterChefs faced their first Team Challenge – running a high school tuck-shop. Both teams had to create a menu with a hot dish, a cold dish and a dessert. Ultimately it was the blue team who pipped the red team at the post with their menu of sushi, honey soy chicken and noodles and custard tarts. The red team returned to the kitchen full of positivity and excitement to do a very posh dessert Pressure Test.