The WORST episodes of MasterChef (US)
Every episode of MasterChef (US) ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of MasterChef (US)!
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 - Top 8 Compete (1)
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/1/2011
The remaining contestants try to impress the judges.
#2 - Bring Home the Bacon
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/24/2015
In the next challenge, it's proven that Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day when the home cooks are each tasked to create an elevated breakfast dish in 45 minutes. Not only does the winner have immunity in the next mystery box challenge, but they also receive two additional advantages. Later, in the mystery box challenge, contestants must create TV dinners.
#3 - Home State Heroes
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/6/2018
In the first mystery box challenge of the season, the Top 24 must prep, cook, and plate one dish featuring an ingredient unique to each of their home states.
#4 - Let the Battle Commence: Top 40
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/20/2015
Forty of the best home cooks in America travel to Los Angeles to present their signature dishes to the distinguished judging panel: Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and new judge Christina Tosi.
#5 - Top 15 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/27/2011
The contestants hope to impress the judges and advance to the next round.
#6 - Getting A-Head in the Competition
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/12/2015
In the next team challenge, the remaining home cooks split into teams to prepare vegetarian meals for guests of the MasterChef restaurant. Teams have access to any ingredients that they choose in the MasterChef pantry, as long as the dishes are vegetarian. The winning team is safe from elimination, while the losing team must cook in the next pressure test and create delicious well-composed meals using various cuts from an animal head.
#7 - Top 8 Compete (2)
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/2/2011
After being spared from elimination, the eight remaining cooks again vie for a spot in the next round; two contestants are eliminated.
#8 - Cinnamon Roll-er Coaster
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/3/2015
The remaining 20 home cooks face their first team challenge of the season at an amusement park. Once teams are decided, each team is tasked with creating its version of an amusement park burger and fish & chips dish for thousands of amusement park guests. The winning team is safe from elimination, while the losing team has to face the first pressure test of the season, during which the home cooks make 12 cinnamon rolls.
#9 - Top 16 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/21/2011
The contestants form two teams that must cook a five-course meal for hundreds of diners; one contestant is sent home.
#10 - Auditions (1)
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/27/2010
Cooks share their signature dishes with the judges in hopes of advancing to the next round of the competition.
#11 - Happy Birthday MasterChef
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/1/2015
Each team prepares a two-course menu for the 100th episode celebration, during which VIP guests dine on oyster and caviar appetizers and a duck breast entrée, followed by a special surprise dish by judge Christina Tosi. The losing team faces the next pressure test, in which contestants must create a three-layer birthday cake.
#13 - Waste Not Want Not
Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/29/2018
The 7 remaining contestants face a Mystery Box challenge filled with waste – literally. The home cook who makes the best dish from food scraps will be safe in the elimination challenge, during which they’ll take on another Mystery Box Challenge, but this time with all the best and freshest ingredients. Find out whose time has come to an end.
#14 - Auditions (2)
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/3/2010
Auditions continue as amateur cooks try to impress the judges.
#15 - Top 19 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/29/2013
The top 19 contestants face a mystery box challenge; the contestants face elimination.
#17 - Winner Revealed
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 9/15/2014
The two top chefs compete in a final pressure test and the judges choose a winner.
#18 - 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.
#19 - Clawing to Victory
Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/10/2015
The next mystery box challenge has the home cooks come out of their shells and prepare unique crab dishes for the judges. The home cook who prepares the best crab dish receives a significant advantage before the next elimination challenge. Then the remaining home cooks create their versions of sweet or savory dishes, using the same surprise ingredient of corn.
#20 - The Restaurant Takeover
Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/26/2015
In the next team challenge, the Top 6 home cooks face the wildly popular restaurant takeover. Each team must complete two appetizer and two entree dishes for the dining guests in a downtown Los Angeles restaurant. The winning team is safe from elimination, while the losing team members face the next pressure test, in which they prep, cook, and plate three different pasta dishes. Find out who can't stand the heat of the restaurant kitchen and who moves on to the Top 5.
#21 - Top 18 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/5/2013
The cooks must create a healthy meal for over 300 school children.
#22 - Family Reunion
Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/29/2015
The Top 10 home cooks cook family style when they face their next team challenge and create family style meals for VIP diners. After each team prepares their family style meals, they are greeted by the dinner guests, their family members. Each diner votes for one team's meal and the team with the most votes is safe from the next pressure test. In the pressure test, the losing team home cooks must create a gnocchi-in-brown-sage-butter-sauce dish.
#23 - A Storm's a Brewing
Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/19/2015
In the next mystery box challenge, the remaining home cooks must create a dish using coffee as one of the main ingredients. The winner of the challenge receives a significant advantage in the next pressure test and is safe from elimination. Then, during the pressure test, contestants team up in pairs as they replicate an elaborate party platter.
#25 - Pop-Up Restaurant
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/31/2016
The 6 remaining contestants compete in the series' classic pop-up restaurant challenge.