MasterChef Australia Season 16

Episode Summary The Fun One! Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and the Final Three – Before the semi-final, the judges and the semi-finalists had a fun day in the kitchen, with the previously eliminated contestants watching from the gantry. In the first cook, Andy, Poh and Jean-Christophe swapped with the three semi-finalists and […]

Episode Summary Semi Final: Service Challenge – The semifinalists, Josh P., Nat and Savindri, each prepared a 3-course meal for 20 diners plus the judges, in 4 hours. Curtis Stone joined the contestants to mentor them in the service challenge. Josh P. made “Tassie in a menu”: an entree of abalone with XO sauce, a […]

Episode Summary Nagi Maehashi’s Mega Mystery Box – Guest judge Nagi Maehashi set the contestants a mystery box with dozens of ingredients, but they only had 30 minutes to create a meal using at least one of the ingredients in the box and the under-bench staples. Sumeet wowed the judges with her pork kofta curry, […]

Episode Summary Pressure Test: Hugh Allen’s Banksia Pod – Alex, Josh P. and Savindri were tasked with replicating Hugh Allen’s banksia pod dessert in three-and-a-half hours. Josh P executed all of the elements well, in particular getting the flavours and textures the closest to Hugh’s dish. Savindri was complimented for her flavours and cooking of […]

Episode Summary Bacon and Eggs Invention Test – The contestants were told that the day’s challenge was a surprise elimination. They were presented with a cloche containing a classic Australian dish and 75 minutes to reinvent that dish, which was revealed to be bacon and eggs. In addition, the winner would earn a special prize. […]

Episode Summary Elimination Challenge: Eggs Inspired by a visit from viral sensation Mikiko Terasaki, contestants must creatively use eggs in a dish to avoid elimination. MasterChef All Season MasterChef Australia All Season MasterChef Australia Season 15 MasterChef Australia Season 16 Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | […]

Episode Summary Hong Kong Mystery Box – The contestants (except for Savindri, absent for personal reasons) arrived in Hong Kong and were told there would be no elimination while they were there. The next day at Victoria Harbour they were given a mystery box with locally-sourced Asian ingredients and 75 minutes, with the top 3 […]

Episode Summary Asian Sauces Mystery Box Challenge – The contestants had to create a dish using at least one of a selection of Lee Kum Kee Asian sauces from the mystery box. While the judges liked Mimi’s scallop aguachile, Nat’s kingfish with Japanese-inspired beurre blanc and Sumeet’s soy ice cream, they were amazed by Lachlan’s […]

Episode Summary Vicky Cheng Immunity Challenge – Nat, Mimi and Harry were tasked with re-creating chef Vicky Cheng’s dish from memory. Nat served the best re-creation, netting her immunity from the next elimination. MasterChef All Season MasterChef Australia All Season MasterChef Australia Season 15 MasterChef Australia Season 16 Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode […]

Episode Summary Pressure Test: Darren Purchese’s Cherry Blossom – David, Josh P., Savindri and Sue were tasked with replicating Darren Purchese’s cherry blossom dessert. Although Savindri’s dish looked the most like Darren’s, it had too many flaws and she was eliminated. MasterChef All Season MasterChef Australia All Season MasterChef Australia Season 15 MasterChef Australia Season […]

Episode Summary Dai pai dong Service Challenge – For their last cook in Hong Kong, the contestants travelled to Stanley Street where they paired up and took over dai pai dong stalls focussing on a different cooking technique to compete for immunity (despite already holding immunity, Nat still competed to even out the teams). Darrsh […]

Episode Summary Second Chance Cook – Eight of the previously-eliminated contestants returned to compete for a place back in the competition. With each assigned a herb from the garden, all received praise but Savindri’s Sri Lankan feast won over the judges, returning her to the competition. In addition, she is also immune from Sunday’s Elimination […]

Episode Summary Lucky Dip Immunity Challenge – Savindri reunited with the other contestants in the MasterChef kitchen, where the five without immunity were asked to select two cloches and use the Hong Kong-inspired ingredients underneath to make a dish. Although all five dishes impressed the judges, Mimi’s was deemed the best, earning her immunity. MasterChef […]

Episode Summary Rick Stein’s Seafood Elimination Challenge 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. MasterChef All Season MasterChef Australia All Season MasterChef Australia […]

Episode Summary Pub Food Service Challenge – The judges announced that instead of the usual mystery box, contestants would head to Frankston where they were divided into green (led by Nat) and orange (led by Lachlan) teams and tasked with delivering an entrée and main of elevated pub food in two-and-a-half hours. Both teams delivered […]

Episode Summary Cook with Curtis Elimination Challenge – With Josh P. absent due to illness, Sue, Gillian, Lachlan, Darrsh and Alex had to follow Curtis Stone as he prepared spice-rubbed pork with smoked beetroot and hasselback potato. Darrsh, Gillian and Lachlan received praise for replicating the dish, Alex’s flavours and cooking was praised but she […]

Episode Summary Sauce Immunity Challenge – Curtis returned for the immunity challenge, asking the contestants to cook a dish in 75 minutes with a sauce inspired by two countries. In addition to immunity, the winner would also have their sauce bottled and sold at Coles supermarkets. Mimi tried to impress her idol to the point […]

Episode Summary Plant-Based Elimination Challenge – The remaining contestants except for Sumeet had 75 minutes to create a plant-based dish that tasted and felt like a meat dish. Some contestants succeeded, most notably Darrsh with his ‘fried chicken waffles’ (deep-fried oyster mushrooms with vegan waffles), while others struggled, particularly Josh P.’s beetroot burger; the judges […]

Episode Summary Jelly Mystery Box Challenge – The judges announced that if they cooked the best dish in 3 different challenges, they win immunity from the next elimination and one contestant will be eliminated. Guest judge Adriano Zumbo set the Top 10 a 90-minute challenge to create a dessert that incorporating one of the 7 […]

Episode Summary The Croquembouche Invention Test – The remaining contestants were given two hours to prepare their own version of a croquembouche. Some stumbled through the challenge; Darrsh forgot to add the strawberry jam to his strawberries and cream croquembouche; Nat’s ‘Jenga of life’ croquembouche collapsed before the judges tasted since her caramel was not […]