About this season
MasterChef Australia is a Logie Award-winning Australian competitive cooking game show based on the original British MasterChef. It is produced by Shine Australia and screens on Network Ten.
Episodes (72)
1. Sydney Sizzles
Aired 27 April 2009 • 45 min
The auditions begin!
2. Audition 2
Aired 28 April 2009 • 47 min
Brisbane and Perth Deliver.
3. Audition 3
Aired 29 April 2009 • 47 min
Melbourne
4. Top 50 (1) - Taste Test
Aired 30 April 2009 • 47 min
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.
5. Top 50 (2) - Fish Market Frenzy
Aired 1 May 2009 • 25 min
Two seafood dishes in two hours is the elimination challenge
6. The Top 20 Revealed
Aired 3 May 2009 • 71 min
The mystery box challenge gives the judges all the clues they need. Top 20 Revealed
7. 20 Ways with Chicken
Aired 4 May 2009 • 47 min
The contestants cook up a storm in the new MasterChef kitchen. Top 20 Cooking Challenge
8. Sam And The Sausage
Aired 5 May 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 1 - Manu Feildel
9. Sushi Stress
Aired 6 May 2009 • 45 min
Sushi Restaurant Team Challenge
10. The First Cut
Aired 7 May 2009 • 24 min
Team Elimination - Having lost the challenge, the blue team contemplated who to eliminate
11. Cooking With The Masters
Aired 8 May 2009 • 24 min
Masterclass 1 - Cooking with the masters - Lamb Rack with Pomme Puree, Pain Perdu with Chocolate Mousse.
12. Rabbit Season
Aired 10 May 2009 • 47 min
Invention Test 1 - Italian theme
13. The Tarte Tatin Test
Aired 11 May 2009 • 44 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Julie, Aaron and Linda landed in the Bottom 3 for their disasters in the invention test.
14. Brent vs Boetz
Aired 12 May 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 2 - Martin Boetz
15. Banquet Wars
Aired 13 May 2009 • 46 min
The teams each prepare a feast for guest judge, Curtis Stone.
16. A Blow for Brent
Aired 14 May 2009 • 23 min
Team Elimination - The Blue Team, headed by Brent, faced elimination
17. Class Is In
Aired 15 May 2009 • 42 min
Masterclass 2 - Class is in - Poached Egg Salad with Tomato Tea (consume), Roast Saddle of Rabbit with White Bean Puree.
18. Julia's Divine Dumplings
Aired 17 May 2009 • 46 min
Invention Test 2 - Chinese theme
19. Attack of the Killer Squid
Aired 18 May 2009 • 46 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Michelle, Sam and Kate had to cook squid in their challenge.
20. Julia and the Duck
Aired 19 May 2009 • 24 min
The MasterChef contestant takes on the celebrity chef at his own game.
21. Aisle Panic
Aired 20 May 2009 • 45 min
A three course meal for three food critics has the contestants in a tizz.
22. An Emotional Elimination
Aired 21 May 2009 • 23 min
The blue team’s decision leaves more than one contestant upset.
23. Soufflés and Stir-fries
Aired 22 May 2009 • 42 min
Masterclass 3 - Soufflés and stir-fries - Chilli and Fennel Squid, Chinese Mushroom Stir-fry with Tofu, Chocolate and Jaffa Soufflé
24. The Steaks are Raised
Aired 24 May 2009 • 46 min
The contestants impress the judges with their challenge efforts.
25. Sweet Success
Aired 25 May 2009 • 45 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 4 - Alex Herbert
26. Chris vs Alex Herbert
Aired 26 May 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 4 - Alex Herbert
27. Feeding Frenzy
Aired 27 May 2009 • 46 min
The teams race to feed the hungry hordes.
28. Kate's Tough Decision
Aired 28 May 2009 • 24 min
The team captain has the final say as to who should go.
29. The Perfect Chip
Aired 29 May 2009 • 42 min
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
30. Best of British
Aired 31 May 2009 • 46 min
John Torode from the UK MasterChef rates the contestants.
31. Paella Pain
Aired 1 June 2009 • 46 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Aaron, Sandra and Julie faced elimination and had to make paella.
32. Justine vs Guy Grossi
Aired 2 June 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 5 - Guy Grossi
33. Fishy Business
Aired 3 June 2009 • 46 min
Fresh Seafood Team Challenge
34. The Great Bait Debate
Aired 4 June 2009 • 24 min
The blue team decides whether to send their captain home.
35. Lemon Goodness
Aired 5 June 2009 • 45 min
Masterclass 5 - Lemon Goodness - Lobster Bisque, Tuscan Vegetable Soup, Roast Chicken with Buttery Potatoes, Lemon Diva cupcakes.
36. Double Trouble
Aired 7 June 2009 • 46 min
Invention Test 5
37. Not So Sweet
Aired 8 June 2009 • 46 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Tom, Poh, Chris and Julie had to make Croquembouche.
38. Lucas vs Ben O’Donoghue
Aired 9 June 2009 • 23 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 6 with Ben O'Donoghue
39. Canape Frenzy
Aired 10 June 2009 • 45 min
Martini Club Team Challenge
40. And Then There Were Seven
Aired 11 June 2009 • 24 min
The blue team say goodbye to another contestant.
41. Sweet Treats
Aired 12 June 2009 • 46 min
Masterclass 6 - Sweet treats - Fetta Blini with Smoked Beetroot, John Dory on the Bone with Vvegetables, Coffee éclairs with Vanilla Cream Filling
42. Hits and Misses
Aired 14 June 2009 • 46 min
Invention Test 6 - Two course meal
43. Terrine Trauma
Aired 15 June 2009 • 46 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Geni, Poh and Andre were in the bottom three and had to make salmon terrine.
44. Justine vs Matt Moran
Aired 16 June 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 7 - Matt Moran
45. Here Comes the Bride
Aired 17 June 2009 • 69 min
The contestants cater a wedding on water.
46. Grain Pain
Aired 18 June 2009 • 23 min
Taste Test Elimination - Poh and Sam named ingredients in a pot of minestrone.
47. Cocktail Hour
Aired 19 June 2009 • 45 min
Masterclass 7 - Cocktail hour - Kingfish Skewers with Zucchini Salad, Piña Colada, Prawn Saganaki, Raspberry Tart
48. Hello Hong Kong!
Aired 21 June 2009 • 46 min
Hong Kong - Arrival/Dim Sum Challenge
49. Old Faces Return
Aired 22 June 2009 • 45 min
Hong Kong - High Tea/Rainbow Fish Challenge
50. Truffletastic!
Aired 23 June 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 8 - Tam Kin Pak
51. Battle of the Sexes
Aired 24 June 2009 • 69 min
Hong Kong - Mystery Steamer Challenge and Super Challengee.
52. Sweet and Sour
Aired 25 June 2009 • 24 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Justine and Julie landed in the bottom 2 and had to make a sweet and sour duck stir fry
53. Show and Tell
Aired 26 June 2009 • 45 min
Masterclass 8 - Fried Rice, Hot Salami Pizza, Seared Scallops with Braised Pork Belly, Lemon and Date Scones
54. Love is in the Air
Aired 28 June 2009 • 46 min
Invention Test 7 - Three course meal, 'Romance' theme
55. Vision Quest
Aired 29 June 2009 • 46 min
The contestants cook their dream menu for the judges.
56. Andre vs Emmanuel Stroobant
Aired 30 June 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 9 - Emmanuel Stroobant
57. All at Sea
Aired 1 July 2009 • 45 min
HMAS Kanimbla Challenge - Poh, Justine and Tom returned to the competition
58. Thyme Out
Aired 2 July 2009 • 23 min
Taste Test Elimination - Tom and Sam had to guess ingredients
59. Shanks and Soufflés
Aired 3 July 2009 • 45 min
Masterclass 9 - Crepes Suzette, Twice Baked Cheese Souffle, Braised Lamb Shanks, Open Beef Kofta
60. Christmas in July
Aired 5 July 2009 • 47 min
The contestants deliver some festive cheer.
61. Macaroon Madness
Aired 6 July 2009 • 47 min
Pressure Test Elimination - Sam, Poh, Chris and Andre had to cook a combination of panna cotta, passionfruit emulsion ("passionfruit slick") and filled macaroon biscuits.
62. Julie vs Adrian Richardson
Aired 7 July 2009 • 24 min
Celebrity Chef Challenge 10 - Adrian Richardson
63. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Aired 8 July 2009 • 48 min
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
64. Taste Test
Aired 9 July 2009 • 23 min
Taste Test Elimination - Andre and Chris, had to guess ingredients in a pot of Sri Lankan curry
65. Winter Warmers
Aired 10 July 2009 • 46 min
Master Class 10 - Pork and Fennel Sausages with Baked Beans, Roast Salmon and Artichokes with Red Wine Sauce, Chocolate Cigar with Sabayon
66. Finals Fever
Aired 12 July 2009 • 49 min
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
67. Pie Wars
Aired 13 July 2009 • 47 min
Elimination Challenge 1 - The contestants had to make two pies - one sweet and one savoury, making their own pastry.
68. Poh's Advantage
Aired 14 July 2009 • 48 min
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.
69. No Piece of Cake
Aired 15 July 2009 • 47 min
Elimination Challenge 3 - The third elimination challenge emulated the pressure test challenge where the contestants had to make a several layered 'Chocolate Mousse' cake.
70. And Then There Were Two
Aired 16 July 2009 • 75 min
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
71. The Tables Are Turned
Aired 17 July 2009 • 45 min
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.
72. The Grand Finale
Aired 19 July 2009 • 91 min
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.