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 - Elimination Challenge: 2 Round Challenge with Julie and Nat
Season 17 - Episode 52 - Aired 7/27/2025
A two-round elimination featuring previous winners Julie Goodwin & Nat Thaipun.
#2 - Immunity Challenge: Heartfelt Letters
Season 17 - Episode 51 - Aired 7/23/2025
Today, the contestants receive heartfelt letters from their loved ones, a source of inspiration as they strive to cook an immunity-winning dish and claim a coveted spot in this year's Top 5.
#3 - Mystery Box: Hong Kong
Season 16 - Episode 37 - Aired 6/23/2024
MasterChef Australia is in Hong Kong! The first challenge is a Hong Kong style Mystery Box. Today the judges are looking for the top three cooks to progress into tomorrow's immunity challenge.
#4 - Elimination Challenge: Bacon & Eggs
Season 16 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/19/2024
The contestants battle it out to reinvent the classic bacon and eggs. The stakes are high today, the top dish will win an epic mystery prize, but the bottom dish will be eliminated.
#5 - Mystery Box Challenge: Wobbly Jelly
Season 16 - Episode 30 - Aired 6/10/2024
Sweet Week has arrived! Adriano Zumbo is here as a guest judge and kicks things off with a wobbly jelly Mystery Box. contestants compete to make a perfect shaky sweet to win precious immunity.
#6 - Elimination Challenge: Rick Stein
Season 16 - Episode 25 - Aired 6/2/2024
King of the sea, Rick Stein is here, and the contestants are excited cooking for such an icon. Over two rounds, seafood is on the menu but for one cook, it will be their last time in the kitchen.
#7 - Mystery Box: Wok
Season 16 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/20/2024
Vincent Yeow Lim or DimSimLim is today's Mystery Box special guest. Contestants must create a dish using a wok, needing to impress to avoid tomorrow's Pressure Test.
#8 - Team Challenge: Queen Vic Night Market
Season 16 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/1/2024
The contestants cook for Immunity in a Team Challenge at the iconic Queen Victoria Night Market.
#9 - Elimination Challenge: Keeping Up With Jamie
Season 16 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/30/2024
In this elimination cook the contestants are challenged to 'Keeping Up With Jamie' on an Oliver Family recipe in order to keep their place in the competition.
#10 - 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.
#11 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#13 - 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.
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
#16 - 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.
#17 - A Blow for Brent
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/14/2009
Team Elimination - The Blue Team, headed by Brent, faced elimination
#18 - 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
#19 - 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.
#20 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - Chef Challenge - Maggie Beer
Season 2 - Episode 38 - Aired 6/1/2010
Aaron cooked off against Maggie Beer, making her pheasant pie.
#23 - 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.
#24 - 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.
#25 - 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?