The WORST episodes of MasterChef Australia
Every episode of MasterChef Australia ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of MasterChef Australia!
MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of MasterChef. Chef Andy Allen, restaurateur and chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and food critic Sofia Levin serve as the show's hosts and judges.
#1 - Meet The Contestants!
Season 16 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/22/2024
This year, MasterChef Australia ushers in a new era, with international superstars, 22 incredible home-cooks, and friends old and new joining the family. Andy Allen will carry on Jock Zonfrillo’s legacy alongside three new judges: MasterChef Australia alumnus Poh Ling Yeow, food critic and journalist Sofia Levin, and multi–Michelin Star award-winning chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli. MasterChef Australia has built a family of passionate food-lovers and this year’s contestants will be leaving it all on the plate in the pursuit of exceptional food.
#2 - The First Cut
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/7/2009
The losing team from the sushi train challenge must decide who is their weakest member, and who will be leaving the competition.
#3 - Taste Test Elimination Challenge
Season 2 - Episode 40 - Aired 6/3/2010
Marion, Jake and Joanne face an elimination taste test. They must identify 23 ingredients to stay in the competition. Will this be Marion's one and only chance to use her immunity? The red team goes to Red Lantern for lunch and a impromptu master class. They learn to make a quail entree. The 3 up for elimination have to taste a Thai green curry, naming ingredients that are contained within.
#4 - Immunity Challenge
Season 3 - Episode 69 - Aired 7/19/2011
Can a current contestant out-cook a former Masterchef champion? Find out as Eamon Sullivan returns to stand between the winner of the Dalai Lama challenge and that elusive Immunity Pin.
#5 - All at Sea
Season 1 - Episode 57 - Aired 7/1/2009
The remaining four contestants are shocked by the return of three former competitors, and cater for the crew of HMAS Kanimbla.
#6 - An Emotional Elimination
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/21/2009
The winning team enjoy their victory and an Asian cooking course, the losing team must decide who will be leaving the competition. The blue team’s decision leaves more than one contestant upset.
#7 - Masterclass 7
Season 2 - Episode 41 - Aired 6/4/2010
George cooked up ravioli with potato and leek as well as a quail dolmatha with tahini and yoghurt dressing. Meanwhile guest chef Matt Moran had quesadillias on the menu and a berry and frangipane tart.
#8 - A Blow for Brent
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/14/2009
Team Elimination - The Blue Team, headed by Brent, faced elimination
#9 - Taste Test
Season 1 - Episode 64 - Aired 7/9/2009
Taste Test Elimination - Andre and Chris, had to guess ingredients in a pot of Sri Lankan curry
#10 - 10 More Spots with Matt Moran
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/22/2010
With 10 spots in the Top 24 on the line, the remaining contestants competed in a mise en place challenge. The challenge had 4 stages, with the worst performers in each stage removed by Gary and George. The first stage involved separating egg yolks and whites. The second asked the contestants to julienne carrots. In the third, the first 10 contestants to shuck 12 oysters satisfactorily moved onto the final stage, wherein Marion, Adele, Courtney and Daniel successfully cut 6 fillets of salmon weighing between 170g and 190g first, gaining their places in the Top 24. Following the mise en place challenge, the remaining contestants had to follow a recipe from Matt Moran, with poor performers gradually eliminated in stages. 10 contestants had their dishes tasted, with Jonathan, Peter, Aaron, Adam, Kate B. and Philip impressing the judges the most, winning their spots in the Top 24.
#11 - Taste Test
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/8/2011
There are two dozen contestants remaining and only 12 spots left in the top 24. The next challenge is a formidable taste test - identity the ingredients in Aria's signature dish, peking duck consomme.
#12 - Thyme Out
Season 1 - Episode 58 - Aired 7/2/2009
The bottom two contestants face off in a taste test, and attempt to identify the ingredients in a Moussaka.
#13 - Chef Challenge - Maggie Beer
Season 2 - Episode 38 - Aired 6/1/2010
Aaron cooked off against Maggie Beer, making her pheasant pie.
#14 - Qantas Business Team Challenge
Season 2 - Episode 51 - Aired 6/16/2010
Teams were tasked with creating a 3 course menu suitable for Qantas business class passengers. They were required to prepare the food at the MasterChef Kitchen and reheat it in the galley of a Qantas Airbus A380. The judging panel in addition to Gary and Matt included chef Neil Perry and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.
#15 - Guess that Fish Elimination Challenge
Season 2 - Episode 76 - Aired 7/15/2010
Aaron, Alvin and Jimmy faced a Basic Skills Test in a two-round Elimination Challenge. The first round saw contestants identifying different types of fish, with the two lowest scoring contestants moving into the second round. Jimmy named the most fish correctly, leaving Aaron and Alvin to face off in the second round; to cook the perfect fish and chips.
#16 - Immunity Challenge
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/10/2011
The winner of the first challenge will cook for immunity against apprentice chef, Alex Keen, who works under Allesandro Pavoni. Will a 10 minute headstart be enough to beat the best?
#17 - Julia's Divine Dumplings
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/17/2009
Invention Test 2 - Chinese theme. The contestants face a mystery box challenge that sees them asked to cook with oranges, chocolate, sugar, coconut, and eggs.
#18 - Masterclass 5
Season 2 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/21/2010
Gary cooked braised BBQ’d ribs with homemade sauce and George offered up a Waldorf salad. Guest chef Peter Kuravita from Sydney restaurant Flying Fish, showed the contestants two completely different bug dishes– one with an accompanying shaved fennel and edamame salad and a main dish featuring a spicy ginger and chilli sauce.
#19 - Masterclass
Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/27/2011
In this MasterClass, Gary makes a hearty veal osso bucco with cannellini beans and George teaches the contestants how to cook snapper en papillote. Special guests include Donna Hay and Romeo Baudouin.
#20 - No Judges in Sight
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/9/2011
As our Top 24 enter the MasterChef kitchen for the first time, they are surprised to see no judges. Only a few notice the clock has started ticking down. Has the first challenge already begun?
#21 - Sweet and Sour
Season 1 - Episode 52 - Aired 6/25/2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Justine and Julie landed in the bottom 2 and had to make a sweet and sour duck stir fry
#22 - The Top 20 Revealed
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/3/2009
In the first mystery box challenge, contestants must use their creativity skills to cook a meal from minimal ingredients.
#23 - Macaroon Madness
Season 1 - Episode 61 - Aired 7/6/2009
The bottom four contestants face one of the competition's trickiest pressure tests, and attempt to make a vanilla panacotta with macarons.
#24 - Mystery Box & Invention Test
Season 2 - Episode 48 - Aired 6/13/2010
"Australian Food Icon" theme. The winner of Masterchef Australia 2009, Julie Goodwin, returned as a guest judge for the Mystery Box Challenge, the ingredients of which were also chosen by her. Marion won the challenge and she chose Chiko Rolls as the food icon contestants had to "re-invent". Jonathan's dish was the most impressive while Callum, Matthew and Sharnee were chosen as the Bottom 3 contestants.
#25 - Poh's Advantage
Season 1 - Episode 68 - Aired 7/14/2009
Elimination Challenge 2 - As Poh had won the pie challenge she designated Malaysian as the theme and picked coconut cream and ling fish for the core ingredients. The contestants had 90 minutes to make two courses.