The BEST episodes of MasterChef (US) season 3
Every episode of MasterChef (US) season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of MasterChef (US) season 3!
Award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez and renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich put a new batch of talented home cooks through a series of challenges and elimination rounds.
#1 - Winner Revealed
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 9/10/2012
The remaining cooks make a final effort to impress the judges; one contestant wins the grand prize.
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#2 - Top 7 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/17/2012
Chef Paula Deen selects items for the mystery box challenge, which includes Southern staples and a surprise for the contestants; the challenge winner pairs the remaining contestants, who must prepare a Japanese dish as a team.
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#3 - Top 8 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/16/2012
The eight finalists must prepare, cook and serve a hearty meal to 101 cowboys; the challenge losers must prepare six eggs four different ways in only 20 minutes.
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#4 - Top 16 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/18/2012
The contestants travel to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where they work in teams to prepare a meal for 200 servicemen and women.
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#5 - Top 15 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/19/2012
The cooks must create a unique dish using unconventional cuts of meat.
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#6 - Top 3 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 9/4/2012
The final three contestants are asked to reflect on their culinary experiences and create a dish that embodies their personality and passion; the top two contestants are chosen.
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#7 - Top 13 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/26/2012
The cooks must prepare a high quality dish using $20 worth of ingredients; during the elimination round the cooks try to recreate their favorite desserts.
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#8 - Auditions (2)
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/5/2012
The judges critique the food and eliminate contestants.
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#9 - Top 4 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 8/28/2012
The cooks split into two teams to prepare a meal for the judges and three respected chefs; the cooks on the losing team compete against each other.
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#10 - Auditions (1)
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/4/2012
The hopefuls prepare their signature dishes for the judges.
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#11 - Top 9 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 7/9/2012
The cooks must incorporate sea urchin into their creations; the winner of the mystery box challenge assigns the others one of eight different types of fish.
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#12 - Top 6 Compete (3)
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/14/2012
The cooks split into two teams to replicate signature dishes at an award-winning restaurant; the contestants must prepare steak three ways.
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#13 - Top 14 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/25/2012
The judges split the cooks into teams to prepare breakfast for hotel guests; the members of the losing team must prove they deserve to stay in the competition.
#14 - Top 11 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/3/2012
Graham Elliot joins the amateur cooks in a mystery box challenge; two contestants are eliminated.
#15 - Top 6 Compete (1)
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/23/2012
Eight previously eliminated contestants return to compete for a chance to rejoin the competition.
#16 - Top 12 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/2/2012
The contestants are divided into three teams for a food truck challenge; the challenge losers face a pressure test.
#17 - Auditions: Top 36 Bootcamp (3)
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/11/2012
The contestants compete in a ground beef challenge.
#18 - Top 5 Complete
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/21/2012
The cooks select mystery box ingredients that represent who they are; the judges surprise the cooks with a twist; the cooks re-create a dish that Graham Elliot served to the president.
#19 - Top 6 Compete (2)
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/24/2012
The cooks face a mystery box challenge featuring shrimp, with the winner choosing a savory item the hopefuls will have to use in a dessert dish.
#20 - Top 18 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/12/2012
The top 18 contestants must create a dish using duck and bananas; the judges challenge the cooks to use unusual ingredients.