The essential episodes of MasterChef
Watch these 15 in order and you've got MasterChef — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Famed chef Gordon Ramsay conducted a nationwide search for the best home cooks in America, and through a series of exciting elimination rounds, will turn one of them into a culinary master. Joining Ramsay on the judging panel are restaurateur and wine maker Joe Bastianich, owner of some of the most-celebrated Italian restaurants across the country; and Graham Elliot, the youngest four-star chef in the U.S. and mastermind behind Chicago's first "bistronomic" restaurant. In the series premiere episode, home cooks from all over the country present their signature dishes to the three judges in the hopes of being awarded the coveted MASTERCHEF apron, which guarantees them a spot in the next round of competition.
- 02
After impressing the judges with their signature dishes, the hopefuls will have to prove that they have mastered basic kitchen techniques, including chopping apples and cooking a chicken to perfection. Find out whose skills are sharp enough to advance to the next round and who cracks under pressure.
- 03
Amateur cooks from across the country compete during the first day of auditions to win a place as a masterchef contestant.
- 04
Home cooks present dishes to the judges in the season premiere. 100 homecooks from around the country compete for a Masterchef apron and their chance of winning $250,000.00.
- 05
The Top Five home cooks must create a dish using pear, blue cheese, tomato, portabella mushroom and chocolate.
- 06
The Top 8 remaining contenders must battle through a 3-part potato proficiency challenge. Guest judge Kevin Sbraga.
- 07
This week on MASTERCHEF, the home cooks head to Beverly Hills, CA, to take over the dining room breakfast service for The Belvedere restaurant at the iconic five-star Peninsula Hotel. After splitting into two teams, the cooks will make a variety of dishes for diners. The team that fails the challenge will have to face a pressure test and cook a perfectly battered fish and chips dish. It is then up to the judges to decide who will leave the kitchen.
- 08
Forty-three of America's finest home cooks compete in the MASTERCHEF Battle of the Apron challenge, during which they will face off against each other to earn a spot in the Top 24.
- 09
The top four chefs travel to the historic Hatfield House, where they must cook a venison dish.
- 10
Roy Choi - Elevated Street Food
The pioneering king of the food truck revolution, Roy Choi, tasks the home cooks with making a street food dish worthy of a Michelin star restaurant. This week, the home cooks are fighting for immunity in the next challenge.
- 11
The top five chefs are faced with two separate elimination challenges in the semifinals: a baked Alaska and an intricate lobster tortellini.
- 12
Regional Auditions - The Northeast
Daphne Oz guest judges; chefs from the Northeast prepare their signature dishes.
- 13
Gen Z chefs prepare a signature dish.
- 14
The Top 11 duos must combine two boxes of ingredients to make a harmonious dish.
- 15
The MasterChef kitchen is transformed into a backyard barbeque. Trading in their aprons for jerseys, the home cooks must step up and prove that they can take their country's game time cravings to the next level. In a challenge channeling family, culture, and pride, the stakes have never been higher.
Shows like MasterChef
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Food·Drama·ComedyThe essential episodes of The Bear2022–present·Hulu
Carmy, a young fine-dining chef, comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop. - 02FoodThe essential episodes of Hell's Kitchen2005–presentGordon Ramsay also stars·Same network — FOX
- 03FoodThe essential episodes of Top Chef2006–present·Bravo
Top Chef is a competition show in which chefs competing against each other in various culinary challenges, judged by the team of professional chefs and notable people from food industry. - 04FoodThe essential episodes of MasterChef Australia2009–present·Network 10
MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking game show consisting of a group of hopeful contestants that cook and present food to judges in order to win the title of MasterChef Australia. - 05FoodThe essential episodes of Bar Rescue2011–present·Paramount Network
Bar Rescue follows Jon Taffer, one of the country's top restaurant and bar consultants, will give failing establishments one last chance to succeed. - 06FoodThe essential episodes of Kitchen Nightmares2007–presentGordon Ramsay also stars·Same network — FOX
