MASTERCHEF SECRETS
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Masterchef Australia 2020 debuted to its highest ratings in five years, with 1.23 million viewers tuning in.
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There was no Masterchef house this year. Instead, contestants were given the five-star treatment, staying in individual apartments during filming.
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Yes, the food is cold when the judges taste it!
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By the time judges start tasting, it’s two to three hours after the dishes have been cooked.
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The one thing the judges are not allowed to do is mention the temperature of the food when critiquing.
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The judges have already picked their favourite dishes before they’re served to them. “When you see us tasting at the end … I’ve already made the decision,” former judge George Calombaris previously revealed.
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Nothing is wasted. Leftover produce is often donated to food charity Secondbite and delivered to people in need.
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Contestants arrive at the set by bus, not in a fancy car.
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The contestants are told about challenges ahead of time.
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During challenges, contestants are allowed to use recipes only if instructed.
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Filming days are very long, lasting up to 17 hours, with days starting as early as 5am.
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Contestants generally have evenings and weekends off. The rest of the time they are filming.
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Contestants are said to be given an allowance of $500 to spend outside of the competition during filming.
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Contestants sometimes have to pretend to cook so that cameramen can get the shot.
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While the judges are dressed by stylists, the contestants are free to wear what they like.
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There is a psychologist on hand to ensure all of the contestants are coping with the stress of the show.
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About 70 per cent of the show’s contestants have gone on to have a career in the food industry after the competition.
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There is no such thing as extra cooking time.
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Garlic has been the main ingredient used this season.
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Ninety-nine per cent of the produce is sourced from Coles.
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A mystery box challenge this season, which saw contestants cooking with chicken feet, proved to be a fan favourite.
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Since the episode featuring the chicken feet aired, Deliveroo Australia reported a 5272 per cent increase in searches for the Asian delicacy.
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It’s not just the contestants who need to look good in front of the camera, but the produce, too. “A lot of produce isn’t the right quality for TV,” Jai Di Marco, who worked for Coles, revealed in 2011.
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The pantry is stocked on a daily basis.
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Masterchef Australia has been viewed in 36 countries worldwide.
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Producers create drama. “They do what they need to do to get a tear out of you,” former contestant Diana Chan told New Idea.
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Two endings of the finale are filmed.
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Contestants have to wait up to three months to find out who wins.
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Filming takes about seven months in total. “Not seeing your family for that long, you definitely miss them,” Diana said.
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There is an on-set cleaner to mop up the mess.
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Contestants can take home any leftovers.
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Each contestant has a helper to ensure they get their dish out on time. “Every single one of those contestants had a cooking helper,” an audience member told Yahoo Lifestyle.
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According to judge Andy Allen, cooking over coals and fire has been the main trend this season.
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Contestants are forced to sign non-disclosure agreements: “You can’t talk about the competition, so it’s tough,” Diana said.
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Filming for Masterchef 2021 is set to run from October this year until June next year for approximately 30 weeks.
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Those who wish to apply must be amateurs. Any previous experience could be deemed an unfair advantage.
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You also have to fill out a very detailed application form.
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There’s not much actual cooking going on, and “it has taken up to three or four days to shoot one challenge before”, former contestant Alice Zaslavsky revealed in 2018.
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No phones are allowed on set, so forget about googling recipes.
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Poh Ling Yeow was paid about $40,000 to return for Back to Win because producers knew
“they couldn’t have done it without her”, says a source.
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Guest judge Katy Perry was paid about $100,000 to appear on the show this year.
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Judge Jock Zonfrillo struggled with a crippling drug addiction as a teenager and was homeless. “I’m not proud of it at all. It’s embarrassing,” he said.
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Prior to becoming a celebrity chef, judge Andy worked as an electrician.
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Before returning to the Masterchef kitchen, contestant Reece Hignell shed 35kg. “The show was so stressful, I didn’t see my health as a priority,” he told the Daily Telegraph of his stint on Masterchef in 2018.
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Mel has secretly signed on to host the next Junior Masterchef.
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According to an on-set insider, there was tension between judge Mel and contestant Tessa Boersma. “Producers had to step in to calm them both down.”
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It’s all fake! “People must remember that while they’re watching real people, reality TV is there to entertain. Producers know what works,” dished Diana.
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Jock loves tasting time. “Jock is the biggest eater I’ve ever met … He’ll have three helpings at lunch and then taste our dishes all afternoon,” contestant Callum Hann reveals.
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This season, contestant Ben Ungermann was kicked out of the competition after he was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault.
DELICIOUS GOSSIP SERVED STRAIGHT FROM THE SET