MasterChef Australia (2009 - 2026)

The auditions begin!

Melbourne

In the first ever Masterchef Australia elimination challenge, 12 contestants fighting for their place in the competition choose from a large variety of fresh ingredients and have just 45 minutes to be as creative as possible to impress the judges.

Two seafood dishes in two hours is the elimination challenge

The mystery box challenge gives the judges all the clues they need. Top 20 Revealed

The contestants cook up a storm in the new MasterChef kitchen. Top 20 Cooking Challenge

Celebrity Chef Challenge 1 - Manu Feildel

Sushi Restaurant Team Challenge

Team Elimination - Having lost the challenge, the blue team contemplated who to eliminate

Masterclass 1 - Cooking with the masters - Lamb Rack with Pomme Puree, Pain Perdu with Chocolate Mousse.

Invention Test 1 - Italian theme

Pressure Test Elimination - Julie, Aaron and Linda landed in the Bottom 3 for their disasters in the invention test.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 2 - Martin Boetz

The teams each prepare a feast for guest judge, Curtis Stone.

Team Elimination - The Blue Team, headed by Brent, faced elimination

Masterclass 2 - Class is in - Poached Egg Salad with Tomato Tea (consume), Roast Saddle of Rabbit with White Bean Puree.

Invention Test 2 - Chinese theme

Pressure Test Elimination - Michelle, Sam and Kate had to cook squid in their challenge.

The MasterChef contestant takes on the celebrity chef at his own game.

A three course meal for three food critics has the contestants in a tizz.

The blue team’s decision leaves more than one contestant upset.

Masterclass 3 - Soufflés and stir-fries - Chilli and Fennel Squid, Chinese Mushroom Stir-fry with Tofu, Chocolate and Jaffa Soufflé

The contestants impress the judges with their challenge efforts.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 4 - Alex Herbert

Celebrity Chef Challenge 4 - Alex Herbert

The teams race to feed the hungry hordes.

The team captain has the final say as to who should go.

Masterclass 4 - The perfect chip - Snapper in a Bag and Chunky Chips, Risotto with Pumpkin and Goat’s Cheese, Rib Eye Steak with Red Wine Sauce and Spinach

John Torode from the UK MasterChef rates the contestants.

Pressure Test Elimination - Aaron, Sandra and Julie faced elimination and had to make paella.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 5 - Guy Grossi

Fresh Seafood Team Challenge

The blue team decides whether to send their captain home.

Masterclass 5 - Lemon Goodness - Lobster Bisque, Tuscan Vegetable Soup, Roast Chicken with Buttery Potatoes, Lemon Diva cupcakes.

Invention Test 5

Pressure Test Elimination - Tom, Poh, Chris and Julie had to make Croquembouche.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 6 with Ben O'Donoghue

Martini Club Team Challenge

The blue team say goodbye to another contestant.

Masterclass 6 - Sweet treats - Fetta Blini with Smoked Beetroot, John Dory on the Bone with Vvegetables, Coffee éclairs with Vanilla Cream Filling

Invention Test 6 - Two course meal

Pressure Test Elimination - Geni, Poh and Andre were in the bottom three and had to make salmon terrine.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 7 - Matt Moran

The contestants cater a wedding on water.

Taste Test Elimination - Poh and Sam named ingredients in a pot of minestrone.

Masterclass 7 - Cocktail hour - Kingfish Skewers with Zucchini Salad, Piña Colada, Prawn Saganaki, Raspberry Tart

Hong Kong - Arrival/Dim Sum Challenge

Hong Kong - High Tea/Rainbow Fish Challenge

Celebrity Chef Challenge 8 - Tam Kin Pak

Hong Kong - Mystery Steamer Challenge and Super Challengee.

Pressure Test Elimination - Justine and Julie landed in the bottom 2 and had to make a sweet and sour duck stir fry

Masterclass 8 - Fried Rice, Hot Salami Pizza, Seared Scallops with Braised Pork Belly, Lemon and Date Scones

Invention Test 7 - Three course meal, 'Romance' theme

The contestants cook their dream menu for the judges.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 9 - Emmanuel Stroobant

HMAS Kanimbla Challenge - Poh, Justine and Tom returned to the competition

Taste Test Elimination - Tom and Sam had to guess ingredients

Masterclass 9 - Crepes Suzette, Twice Baked Cheese Souffle, Braised Lamb Shanks, Open Beef Kofta

The contestants deliver some festive cheer.

Pressure Test Elimination - Sam, Poh, Chris and Andre had to cook a combination of panna cotta, passionfruit emulsion ("passionfruit slick") and filled macaroon biscuits.

Celebrity Chef Challenge 10 - Adrian Richardson

Matt Preston's Formal Dinner Challenge - The contestants had to cook for a dinner party hosted by Matt Preston for four leaders of the Australian food industry, Armando Percuoco, Margaret Fulton, Jacques Reymond and Cheong Liew. The five of them assessed the contestants' dishes, with the two worst performers being nominated for elimination

Taste Test Elimination - Andre and Chris, had to guess ingredients in a pot of Sri Lankan curry

Master Class 10 - Pork and Fennel Sausages with Baked Beans, Roast Salmon and Artichokes with Red Wine Sauce, Chocolate Cigar with Sabayon

Invention Test 9 - In the first challenge of the Finals Week, the contestants were asked to cook a meal under ten dollars using ingredients bought from the pantry that was converted into a supermarket

Elimination Challenge 1 - The contestants had to make two pies - one sweet and one savoury, making their own pastry.

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.

Elimination Challenge 3 - The third elimination challenge emulated the pressure test challenge where the contestants had to make a several layered 'Chocolate Mousse' cake.

Elimination Challenge 4 - The final elimination round before the final saw the contestants cooking the dishes they would include in self-authored recipe books with cookbook writer Donna Hay acting as the guest judge

Masterclass Reunion - The Top 20 contestants were reunited in the final Masterclass and revealed what they have been up to since leaving the show. Poh and Julie also challenged George and Gary to a Mystery Box Challenge.

Finale Night - Poh and Julie competed against each other in three rounds consisting of a Taste Test, an Invention Test and a Pressure Test. Points would be earned for each test, with the winner decided based on the final tally after the three tests.