MasterChef Australia: Season 12
The twelfth season of MasterChef Australia is led by Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong, and Andy Allen, who serve as the judges for the competition celebrating food and the love of food. This iteration of the series features a variety of world-renowned chefs who appear in the kitchen, including Curtis Stone, Heston Blumenthal, and Gordon Ramsay. A significant addition to the traditional format of the show for this season
Season 12 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- MasterChef Australia is a competitive cooking game show.
- The series has completed eleven previous seasons.
- The show features a traditional recipe for competition.
- Past contestants have been identified as the best of the best from previous seasons.
Season overview
The twelfth season of MasterChef Australia is led by Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong, and Andy Allen, who serve as the judges for the competition celebrating food and the love of food. This iteration of the series features a variety of world-renowned chefs who appear in the kitchen, including Curtis Stone, Heston Blumenthal, and Gordon Ramsay. A significant addition to the traditional format of the show for this season is the introduction of MasterChef Australia Back To Win, which brings back a selection of the top contestants from the previous eleven seasons to compete once again in the kitchen.
Episode Guide
Season 12 Progress Shield
Premiere: Immunity Challenge: Finale-Worthy Dish
Apr 13, 2020 · 89 min
The highly anticipated cooking show is back for an incredible 12th season, with a tasty new recipe - and cooking legend Gordon Ramsay will be in the kitchen the ENTIRE first week!R
Team Challenge
Apr 14, 2020 · 77 min
Each team must cook a three-course meal for 120 guests. The judges reveal three ingredients: black garlic, ginger and potatoes. Each team must feature one of the ingredients in eac
Relay Style Team Challenge
Apr 15, 2020 · 60 min
Teams must cook a three-course meal in a relay style cook. Each team member starts a course and after 20 minutes must swap to the next course. The most cohesive menu with the best
Immunity Challenge: Keeping Up with Gordon
Apr 16, 2020 · 58 min
After impressing the judges in the round robin relay challenge, the winning team are back in the kitchen cooking for immunity and a chance to be safe from the next elimination.
Gordon Ramsay's 90-Minute Elimination Challenge
Apr 19, 2020 · 78 min
Every contestant is up for elimination, except the winner of the immunity challenge. The pressure mounts for all contestants to deliver delicious dishes and keep their place in the
Ultimate BBQ Challenge
Apr 20, 2020 · 54 min
The contestants compete in the ultimate barbecue challenge, cooking for a staggering 1200 people. The team who least impresses will find themselves cooking in the pressure test.
Two-Round Pressure Test: Orana
Apr 21, 2020 · 63 min
In the first pressure test of the season, contestants must cook three dishes from judge Jock Zonfrillo's three-hatted, award-winning restaurant, Orana. The least impressive dish wi
Melissa Leong's Mystery Box
Apr 22, 2020 · 56 min
In the first mystery box challenge of the season, the 22 remaining contestants discover the ingredients have been chosen from all corners of the globe, by judge Melissa Leong.
Immunity Challenge: Judges' Taste Test / MasterClass
Apr 23, 2020 · 99 min
The five contestants with the most impressive dishes from yesterday's challenge find themselves back in the kitchen ready to cook off in an immunity challenge. Plus, MasterClass wi
Judges' Ingredients Elimination Challenge
Apr 26, 2020 · 74 min
In this episode's elimination challenge, every contestant bar one, the winner of the immunity challenge, is up for elimination. The contestant with the least impressive dish will b
3-Round Team Showdown
Apr 27, 2020 · 73 min
The contestants are split into three teams of seven and compete in a three-round cook-off. After the third round, the bottom six contestants are revealed and will cook off in the n
Self Pressure Test
Apr 28, 2020 · 62 min
It's a pressure test with a difference. Each contestant has written their own pressure test recipe and has to create a dish to wow the judges. The least impressive dish will send i
Barter Mystery Box
Apr 29, 2020 · 71 min
The judges reveal that each contestant's mystery box contains four ingredients which they can barter with one another for. The top four dishes will see their makers cook for immuni
Curtis Stone's Time Auction Immunity Challenge
Apr 30, 2020 · 57 min
Today's immunity challenge with Curtis Stone sees four contestants compete in a MasterChef time auction. The more time they spend on buying ingredients, the less time they have to
Textures Elimination Challenge
May 3, 2020 · 78 min
This challenge is all about texture. In round one, contestants must cook a dish with the best crunch. Round two is all about a gooey texture. The least impressive gooey dish will s
Thai Team Challenge
May 4, 2020 · 55 min
The contestants leave the kitchen for a week of off-site challenges. Teams must make two entrees and three mains for 50 diners. The least impressive team faces a pressure test.
Pressure Test: Guess The Ingredients & Replicate The Dish
May 5, 2020 · 59 min
Helly Raichura, of Enter Via Laundry, bases this taste test on her popular dish, 'pasta not pasta'. Contestants who guess the least ingredients correctly must replicate the dish in
Locally Sourced Mystery Box
May 6, 2020 · 58 min
This episode's ingredients are sourced by locals who grow fruit and vegetables in their backyards. The three most impressive dishes from the mystery box challenge will cook in an i
Sushi Train 100 Plate Immunity Challenge
May 7, 2020 · 56 min
Three contestants are told they must prepare 100 small plates each, consisting of five different dishes. All dishes will be served on the sushi train and will be colour-coded in th
Take-Away Elimination Challenge
May 10, 2020 · 65 min
In today's take-away elimination challenge contestants must make a dish that will stand the home delivery test. Contestants have 90 minutes from the start of the cook to completed
Double Twist Team Challenge
May 11, 2020 · 61 min
Contestants learn that there will be a twist with every challenge this week, so they must think on their feet to survive another week in the MasterChef kitchen. Tonight two twists
Pressure Test: Darren Purchese's Passionfruit Pavlova
May 12, 2020 · 62 min
Contestants have three hours to complete a simply stunning Darren Purchese dish, but in the final hour of the cook, a twist that no one could anticipate is thrown at the contestant
Mystery Box - with a twist!
May 13, 2020 · 59 min
Contestants have 75 minutes to cook a dish using one or more of the eight ingredients in the mystery box. The contestants are pushed to the limit when a twist is delivered to their
Katy Perry Immunity Challenge & Masterclass
May 14, 2020 · 116 min
Katy Perry guest judges a very special Hot 'N' Cold challenge to honour the iconic MasterChef theme song. The contestant with the best dish will find themselves safe from the elimi
Elimination Cook-Off Challenge
May 17, 2020 · 76 min
Contestants are cooking off against the other contestant on their bench. The best dish from each bench will be safe, while the remaining contestants must cook in the elimination ro
Sweet or Savoury Service Challenge
May 18, 2020 · 59 min
Jo Barrett and Matt Stone from Oakridge Wines mentor this service challenge, with each team cooking a sweet or savoury menu. The team with the least impressive menu faces the press
Peter Gunn's Black Box Elimination
May 19, 2020 · 58 min
Contestants must replicate chef Peter Gunn's 'Black Box' from his restaurant Ides. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be going home.
Vegan Mystery Box
May 20, 2020 · 52 min
Contestants must create a vegan dish using at least one ingredient from the mystery box set by vegan chef Shannon Martinez. The top four dishes will cook off in the next immunity c
Instant Noodle Immunity Challenge
May 21, 2020 · 63 min
This episode's immunity challenge is fought in two rounds. In one round, contestants must create a delicious dish using instant noodles. The top two from round one must make a nost
Kingfish Elimination Challenge
May 24, 2020 · 71 min
Josh Niland of The Fish Butchery breaks down a kingfish for each of the contestants to choose a cut to cook with. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be going home.
Two Dish Relay Challenge
May 25, 2020 · 49 min
Each team must cook two dishes: one main and one dessert. Each contestant has 20 minutes to cook and they have just 45 seconds to hand over the dish to the next contestant in the r
Kirsten Tibballs' Meljito Dessert Pressure Test
May 26, 2020 · 57 min
Queen of chocolate and guest chef Kirsten Tibballs reveals that, for the pressure test, the contestants must create her wow-factor dessert the meljito.
Family Photo Mystery Box
May 27, 2020 · 69 min
The contestants lift the lids of their mystery box to find a photo sent by their loved ones. The contestants have 60 minutes to create a dish inspired by the memory in their family
Fairytale Immunity Challenge
May 28, 2020 · 59 min
Contestants must create a dish inspired by one of seven classic fairytales. With an open pantry and garden, the contestant with the best dish and the strongest concept will win imm
Ice cream Elimination Challenge
May 31, 2020 · 74 min
Contestants must make a dish that has two different flavoured ice-creams that only work when they are eaten together. In round two, they must make a dish using one of five unusual
Citrus Challenge
Jun 1, 2020 · 49 min
Contestants cook a sweet or savoury style dish championing a citrus fruit of their choice. In round two, they use the same fruit, but their dish must be in the opposite style.
Coskun Uysal's Meat/Protein Dessert Pressure Test
Jun 2, 2020 · 55 min
Contestants discover they must create a dish inspired by chef Coskun Uysal's chicken rice pudding dessert. With this in mind, they must create their own dessert featuring a meat or
Luck Of The Draw Mystery Box
Jun 3, 2020 · 55 min
This episode's mystery box ingredients are decided entirely by the luck of the draw, with numbered lottery balls corresponding to 25 ingredients on display.
Highest Score Immunity Challenge
Jun 4, 2020 · 70 min
Each round in this immunity challenge is worth 10 points and the contestant with the highest score at the end of round three will win immunity and be free from the upcoming elimina
The Aussie Pressure Test
Jun 7, 2020 · 72 min
It's an Australia-themed pressure test. First up contestants must cook a delicious savoury pie and sauce. The bottom four must then create a dish celebrating what Australia means t
Teams Of Two Communication Challenge
Jun 8, 2020 · 49 min
Teams of two must create two dishes using a chosen ingredient. Dishes must be identical in taste and appearance, but they will not be able to see each other while they cook, so com
Benjamin Cooper Jungle CurryPressure Test
Jun 9, 2020 · 58 min
Benjamin Cooper, Executive Chef of Chin Chin Melbourne, sets tonight's pressure test where contestants must recreate his jungle curry with rice and roti without a recipe.
Smokin' Mystery Box
Jun 10, 2020 · 56 min
Today's mystery box is all about smoke. Contestants can use any method of smoking as long as one element has been smoked with a smoking gun. The top four will cook in tomorrow's im
Pumpkin Immunity Challenge
Jun 11, 2020 · 58 min
Today's immunity challenge is all about resourcefulness. The contestants are each presented with a pumpkin and have 90 minutes to cook three dishes that feature the pumpkin in some
Atlas Elimination Challenge
Jun 14, 2020 · 73 min
Charlie Carrington of Melbourne restaurant Atlas sets this elimination challenge, focusing on food from different countries. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be s
The Golden Mystery Box
Jun 15, 2020 · 50 min
With new rules this week, a contestant will be going home every three days! Today, the chefs use the contents of a very shiny Mystery Box to create a dish that makes them stand out
5 Minute Ingredient Immunity Challenge
Jun 16, 2020 · 52 min
Every five minutes an ingredient that can be used in their cook is revealed to our contestants. They can start cooking at any time but only have access to the ingredients revealed
Blind Taste Test Elimination
Jun 21, 2020 · 75 min
This elimination will take place over two rounds, the first of which is the classic blind taste test. The first four contestants who guess incorrectly will go into round two.
Use Everything Mystery Box!
Jun 22, 2020 · 50 min
The judges reveal that the contestants need to use all the ingredients in their mystery box to create two dishes - a sweet and savoury dish - in 75 minutes.
Immunity Challenge
Jun 23, 2020 · 53 min
Three heavy hitters of the competition go head-to-head. Who will make top six?
Elimination Challenge - Top 6
Jun 28, 2020 · 74 min
In today's elimination contestants are challenged to cook a classic dish. Could this be Reynold's final cook in the MasterChef kitchen?
Colour Inspired Mystery Box
Jun 29, 2020 · 51 min
Today's mystery box is inspired by colour. The dish can be sweet or savoury and contestants can access the pantry with the garden also in play. So why is Melissa so emotional?
Cloche Choice Immunity Challenge
Jun 30, 2020 · 56 min
In the battle for top five, contestants must choose two cloches and cook with the ingredients underneath. They can give up one cloche and select a third, however they must cook wit
Phil Wood Pressure Test
Jul 5, 2020 · 71 min
Phil Wood, from two of Victoria's finest restaurants, reveals that round one is a pressure test. Contestants have 75 minutes to replicate his dish: potatoes duchess with shiitake m
Last Chance For Immunity Challenge
Jul 6, 2020 · 50 min
The race to finals week is on! The makers of the top three dishes from the mystery box challenge will battle it out for one last chance at winning immunity this season.
No Rules Challenge
Jul 7, 2020 · 53 min
Who will make the finals? With no set rules in place, the contestants must mutually decide the cook time to create a dish, sweet or savoury, that best proves to the judges they hav
Mammoth Elimination Challenge
Jul 12, 2020 · 73 min
In this mammoth elimination challenge, the contestants discover not only will they be cooking a four-course meal for the MasterChef judges, but for six of the hottest chefs in the
The Union Jack Mystery Box
Jul 13, 2020 · 55 min
The contestants discover the mystery box, covered in a Union Jack flag, has been set by guest chef Gordon Ramsay.
Ordinary or Extraordinary Elimination Challenge
Jul 14, 2020 · 63 min
In this elimination challenge, contestants must choose to use either ingredients from an ordinary pantry or an extraordinary pantry.
SemiFinal - Three Becomes Two
Jul 19, 2020 · 84 min
In the semifinal challenge, our top three contestants compete for a place in the Grand Final. At the end of this challenge, three become two.
Grand Final
Jul 20, 2020 · 85 min
After a long culinary journey the two finalists are competing for a $250,000 cash prize and the title of MasterChef Australia 2020.