With Christine Persaud
MasterChef has aired for ten seasons, each season crowning a different home cook as the big winner. But how do they all rank?
master chefIsone of many reality seriescurrently on television as part of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's growing culinary empire. In this special series, two more judges welcome everyday cooks and invite them to show off their dishes and skills. The chosen ones take part in various challenges and one is eventually crowned the winner.
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Attendees come from all walks of life, some work in the kitchen but most are just passionate home cooks with regular 9-5 jobs. They test their skills, work to improve, learn to work with others and add adventure to their kitchen. So far there have been 10 seasons and 10 winners. How does each rank? Who is the cream of the crop and who deserves Gordon's respect the most? Without further ado, here are all 10 winnersmaster chef,is ranked.
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Jennifer Behm (Season 2)
By winning season two, the sales rep quickly showed that she had a knack for cooking. While you could tell the others not to quit their jobs, it would be a reasonable suggestion for her. Her last dish of scallops, quail and poached pear made the judges drool and declared her the winner.
SoThat is now? Well, she has her own restaurant and catering business and even performed with other previous winners last season. As guests, they came to taste the food of the new participants in one of the challenges.
Whitney Miller (season 1)
Miller won while she was still in college - she hadn't even started a career yet! However, her natural skills as a cook impressed the judges and made her the show's inaugural winner.
Since her win, she has completed her bachelor's degree, published a cookbook about her hometown Southern cuisine, appeared on television and worked as a consultant. He also works as a food stylist. While she certainly deserved her win, there were so many other exciting winners throughout her season.
Courtney Lapresi (Staff 5)
She, along with several other contestants, turned heads, dressing as if she were going out for a cookout, complete with heels and full makeup. And yet this dancer didn't mind that people judged her by her looks.
Courtney showed she had the talent to back that up, wowing the judges every week with her consistently delicious dishes. She won season five and released a cookbook. However, he changed careers and now works in sales.
Claudia Sandoval (Season 6)
Sandoval stays true to her Mexican roots, her bold and spicy taste has always resonated with the judges and matched her bright red hair. That's why she won the sixth season and brought out a cookbook with Mexican-inspired recipes.
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She's also been a brand ambassador, opened her own catering business, hosted cooking classes, and even became a judge at MasterChef Latino. She plans to open her own bakery to dabble in dessertsexcept salty dishes.
Dorian Hunter (Staffel 10)
The most recent winner, Hunter, was a home cook who just loved to cook for her husband and kids after she got home from work. But it was her deep passion, intensity and drive that gave her the win. If she didn't know how to craft or craft something, she would not give up and took on any challenge head on. If it was something he knew how to do, he always knew how to do it! He was the ultimate underdog and proved that you should never be underestimated.
Hunter will train at restaurants owned by all three judges, is working on a cookbook and plans to open his own restaurant soon.
Gerron Hurt (Season 9)
Hurt, a big teddy bear of a man, met someone who just loved making ordinary, everyday meals. not someone with a killer palette. But after participating in the show, he demonstrated a willingness to learn and a desire to listen and improve.
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He followed any advice given to him and made better and better dishes each time. He eventually won the ninth season. He returned as a test subject last season when the teams had to cook for his wedding.
Luca Manfe (season 4)
The Italian accent and his insistence on always squirtinghis Italian talentIn everything he did, he made Manfe an entertaining candidate. Having already worked as a manager in the hospitality industry, it was his cooking skills that really impressed the jury.
He won season four and, like other previous winners, wrote a cookbook before starting his own catering service. He also runs a food truck, gives cooking classes and is a brand ambassador.
Shaun O'Neale (Staffel 7)
A fan favorite from the start, he was an unassuming DJ from Las Vegas who always wore his signature baseball cap while cooking and had an arm covered in tattoos. But O'Neale cooked like a five-star chef and proved he could make sweet music with food just as he could spin records.
Like the others, she published a cookbook and hosted numerous events and cooking classes. However, he remains one of the most memorable winners and has returned to the show a few times.
Dino Angelo Luciano (6 minutes)
Luciano was clearly the show's most memorable contestant of all time, capturing everyone's attention as a dancer with bleached blonde hair, a tattooed body, and a deep voice with a heavy New York accent. He called everyone "doll children". But despite being underestimated for his looks and quirky demeanor, Luciano proved that he really could cook.
His squid paste really impressed the judges and helped him win Season 8. Since then, he has hosted many dinners and pop-up dining experiences and worked as an executive chef at a Phoenix restaurant.
Christine Ha (Season 3)
Ha remains the most formidable winner in the show's history due to her incredible skills, despite having limited abilities: Ha is blind, but she still navigates the kitchen as if she had 20/20 vision. He created dishes that most people would never even dream of and managed to bring bold flavors and beautiful presentation to each dish.
After winning the third season of the show, Hapublished a cookbookwith Asian and American comfort food recipes. She offers private cooking and has her own restaurant in Houston. She is also a brand ambassador, food blogger and works for a cooking show for the visually impaired. Ha remains an inspiration to any self-doubting home cook and was awarded the Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award in 2014 to recognize her many accomplishments.
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FAQs
How much do MasterChef contestants get paid per episode? ›
Others have said that contestants get anywhere from $35 to $50 per day, which would still not be ideal. Contestants don't have to pay for lodging while they're on the show, although they might be purposefully roomed with their exact opposite.
Who is the most successful MasterChef winner? ›MasterChef season 3 winner Christine Hà is arguably one of the most successful in the franchise. With over 150k followers on Instagram, the Vietnamese-American MasterChef is the most followed contestant of all time. She was the first blind contestant in the show's history.
Do MasterChef contestants clean up? ›ONE MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLEAN-UP
Dishwasher Leigh Dowling is one of over 200 crew that make the MasterChef dream a reality. "Leigh washes everything you see," executive producer Margaret Bashfield reveals. "He's the happiest bloke on the team, even when he gets pots that are horribly burnt on the bottom."
Upon her elimination, Gordon offered Katrina a full-paid trip to France. She is the first contestant in her season to receive a consolatory prize upon being sent home.
Who pays for the food cooked on MasterChef? ›Contestants have to buy any ingredients they require to practice dishes to make at home and aren't given any money towards it - but ingredients and a full pantry are provided in the MasterChef kitchens.
How much do MasterChef judges get paid? ›With the judges rumoured to be taking home around $500,000 a year with Ten, the show's rampant popularity and critical acclaim could see bigger fees negotiated for future seasons.
Who is the most unlikable MasterChef contestants? ›Personality. Krissi is unarguably the most hated contestant in the history of the show despite her resilience and strong cooking abilities.
Has a MasterChef winner got a Michelin star? ›No, a masterchef contestant has never won a Michelin star. The Michelin star is the most prestigious award in the culinary world and is only awarded to restaurants and chefs who have achieved the highest levels of culinary excellence.
Who is the youngest person to win MasterChef? ›The first season premiered on September 27, 2013, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich acting as the judges. The winner of MasterChef Junior season 1 was Alexander Weiss, a thirteen-year-old from New York City.
What happens to uneaten food on MasterChef? ›MasterChef US and UK
Of course, we're all curious where that veritable smorgasbord of delights ends up after filming is over. As it turns out, the crew gets first dibs, Marketplace reported. All leftovers and unused pantry items are then donated to MEND – a support service charity based in LA.
Do they eat the leftover food in MasterChef? ›
You'll be pleased to know that nothing in the 'MasterChef' kitchen goes to waste, with the excess food heading straight to some very worthy causes. The program has an arrangement with Second Bite -- an organisation that works towards curbing two growing problems in Australia -- food waste and food insecurity.
Do they taste all the dishes in MasterChef? ›But if you're wondering just how John Torode and Gregg Wallace are able to fairly critique the contestants' dishes without allowing heat or a lack thereof to mar their final judgements, then you'll be pleased to find out that they actually taste the food as it's being cooked.
What was the biggest MasterChef scandal? ›In 2013, "MasterChef" judges and producers were accused of sexual, mental, and physical harassment by former contestants. Many accusations came from a blog post by former contestant Marie Porter, where she describes how friends she met on the show were allegedly sexually and physically harassed by judges and producers.
Is the food cold when they taste it on MasterChef? ›You may have noticed that the judges never make any comment on how hot the dishes are when they are served. This is due to the fact that it's nearly always cold by the time it makes its way up to the judging table, so it would be a bit unfair to critique temperatures.
Who is the homeless guy on MasterChef? ›The late MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo will be remembered for his stellar career as an award-winning chef but much of his formative years saw him struggle with drug addiction and homelessness.
How long are MasterChef contestants away from home? ›If you are selected to be on the show, you must be available to commit yourself to the competition and taping of this show anywhere between 8-10 weeks from Mid October 2023 to Mid December 2023, depending on how far you advance in the competition. Dates are subject to change at the Producer's sole discretion.
What do MasterChef contestants do when not filming? ›Production staff takes each cook's phone before they come on set and hold on to them for the duration of filming. When not filming, the contestants are allowed contact with their family but aren't allowed to discuss any details of the filming, or broadcast where they are on social media.
Have any MasterChef contestants dated? ›Fellow season one star Poh Ling Yeow met her husband Jono Bennett through the show too: She was a contestant while he was working behind the scenes as a runner. They started dating after the show's finale, and married five years later in 2014.
Does MasterChef pay for travel? ›All of your living expenses are paid for by production.
Contestants on the show are put up in a hotel for the duration of filming. Additionally, their transportation and food expenses are paid for by the show.
But it turns out contestants are actually told about the challenges beforehand. “Contestants are given the heads-up on the challenges, themes [and] recipes the night before filming, so they can research techniques and recipes,” an unnamed source told New Idea.
Who owns the MasterChef franchise? ›
Created by Franc Roddam, the show is a super brand known and enjoyed around the world. The MasterChef format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Banijay Rights.
Has anyone been disqualified from MasterChef? ›He was a decent cook, but was infamous for serving food from another home cook that wasn't cooked by himself. Despite the understanding that the incident was an accident, he made history for being the first contestant ever to be disqualified from MasterChef, although he took his elimination gracefully.
What mental illness does Josh have on MasterChef? ›Marks battled against bipolar disorder and was diagnozed with schizophrenia before he took his own life last summer.
Who was the autistic contestant on MasterChef? ›Vanessa D'Souza The Autistic Chef ™
Why did Gordon lose his Michelin stars? ›According to Michael Ellis, the director of Michelin's Guide, the reason behind Chef Ramsay's loss of his Michelin Stars is inconsistency. What is this? “The inspectors were disappointed with the consistency of the food,” he said.
Which chef lost his Michelin star? ›French chef Guy Savoy, frequently named the best chef in the world was reduced to tears after the Michelin guide downgraded his restaurant. The Michelin Guide has taken a star away from French chef Guy Savoy's Paris restaurant.
How much does the MasterChef winner get? ›The title winner of the Season 7 will be awarded Rs 25 lakh. Let's wait and watch the show until the finale. Usually, MasterChef India runs for over 2 months every season. So, if the current season has the same duration then we can expect the finale in March last week or April first week.
Do MasterChef contestants study? ›As far as the US series is concerned, Yes, the contestants are given a huge amount of tuition and access to resources. As it turns out, the MasterChef-testants do get a bit of training behind the scenes, and everyone has access to “a full library of pretty much every cookbook in the world” between challenges to study.
Do MasterChef judges eat the food hot? ›Promoted Stories. Food is central to MasterChef, yet it's essentially impossible for Gregg and John and the guest judges to taste everything while it's still hot – even warm. Usually, contestants' dishes are room temperature. The flavours remain and judges always know whether dishes are pleasing or not.
Who eats all the food in MasterChef? ›The crew usually eat the leftovers
The food cooked is very rarely thrown away and they are usually eaten by the crew after each round.
How much does it cost to stock the MasterChef pantry? ›
If the contestants wish to practice cooking up their food masterpieces at home, then they are expected to foot the bill for the ingredients, and they aren't reimbursed. However, during filming the MasterChef kitchens and pantries are stocked up, free of charge.
Do MasterChef judges have to eat cold food? ›Do the judges REALLY eat the food cold? It's the question that perplexes MasterChef Australia fans year after year: by the time the contestants bring up their dishes for the three judges to taste, aren't they cold? The answer is yes.
Do MasterChef contestants get time to think of a dish? ›If you're asking whether they have recipes to follow during challenges, then the answer is no. The time constraints are real, and contestants never get to use a recipe or get to use their phones during a challenge.
Do MasterChef contestants get to keep their aprons? ›And they don't get to keep the aprons they wear on the show. But they are sent nice new ones in the post later. This is so no one is spotted with a MasterChef apron before the series goes out on TV.
Where do MasterChef contestants sleep? ›The LA-based "MasterChef" puts competitors in an undisclosed hotel during the duration of their stay. Distractify explains that this is necessary as they can be summoned to the show as early as 3:00 a.m. and can work up to 12 hours per day.
Is MasterChef fixed? ›It's All Engineered Fiction
MasterChef is, at the end of the day, a reality TV Show and its main purpose is to be entertaining. While the cooking and the judging might be real, a lot of the things in the show are over-dramatized or done in certain ways to keep the series entertaining.
As it turns out, "Masterchef" contestants do indeed get to use cookbooks to get their inspiration going but there is a catch: They aren't allowed to use them during the challenges.
What famous chef went to jail? ›In 2004, Stewart was convicted of felony charges related to the ImClone stock trading case; she served five months in federal prison and was released in March 2005.
Who left MasterChef because of mental health? ›On Sunday night, tears were flowing across the nation when boilermaker Brent Draper decided to quit MasterChef due to concerns over his mental health.
Who is the best Top Chef contestant ever? ›Stephanie Izard was not only crowned the Top Chef champ in season 4 but was also voted the Fan Favorite by viewers of the show. The first woman to win the series, Izard also won a prestigious James Beard award for her menu at one of her three Chicago restaurants.
Why can t Mel taste the food on MasterChef? ›
About five years ago Melanie was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease where ingesting gluten can damage the small intestine.
How do the MasterChef judges not get full? ›They eat maybe two or three bites from each plate. From there, they just kin of move around the remains food until the is a cut or break in the filming. In this break someone comes by and brings in a new plate that is near empty or someone comes in and just removes a good deal of food.
Do MasterChef contestants read recipes? ›But some skeptical fans have long wondered how realistic of a portrayal the show provides since not everything that takes place in the studio makes it to the edits. Nonetheless, the contestants are highly unlikely to receive a copy of the recipes in advance.
Who is the most famous person from MasterChef? ›MasterChef season 3 winner Christine Hà is arguably one of the most successful in the franchise. With over 150k followers on Instagram, the Vietnamese-American MasterChef is the most followed contestant of all time. She was the first blind contestant in the show's history.
Was there a blind woman on MasterChef? ›Christine Ha was the first blind contestant to win “MasterChef.” Ha is speaking out about neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), the condition that caused her vision loss.
Do the contestants on MasterChef have to clean up? ›ONE MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLEAN-UP
Dishwasher Leigh Dowling is one of over 200 crew that make the MasterChef dream a reality. "Leigh washes everything you see," executive producer Margaret Bashfield reveals. "He's the happiest bloke on the team, even when he gets pots that are horribly burnt on the bottom."
While there isn't actually a prize per se, winners of this prestigious competition are often catapulted into stardom. Winners often go on to work in top restaurants, write cookbooks or even open their own restaurants. So, read on to get your fill.
Do contestants on MasterChef USA get paid? ›All of your living expenses are paid for by production.
Contestants on the show are put up in a hotel for the duration of filming. Additionally, their transportation and food expenses are paid for by the show.
The contestants put their lives on hold, but that doesn't mean their responsibilities freeze and bills don't have to be paid. The contestants on MasterChef do get some money, but it's probably nowhere near what you think and in some aspects, contestants actually pay the show.
Do MasterChef contestants get a budget? ›If the contestants wish to practice cooking up their food masterpieces at home, then they are expected to foot the bill for the ingredients, and they aren't reimbursed. However, during filming the MasterChef kitchens and pantries are stocked up, free of charge.
Do the judges eat cold food on MasterChef? ›
You may have noticed that the judges never make any comment on how hot the dishes are when they are served. This is due to the fact that it's nearly always cold by the time it makes its way up to the judging table, so it would be a bit unfair to critique temperatures.
Has anyone from MasterChef won a Michelin star? ›Elizabeth "Liz" Haigh (née Allen, born May 1988) is a Singaporean-born chef who competed on MasterChef in 2011, and went on to win a Michelin star at the Hackney-based restaurant Pidgin. Haigh currently operates the kopitiam Mei Mei at Borough Market.
Do MasterChef contestants eat their food? ›The raw ingredients (think groceries, uncooked meats, etc.) are given to the younger crew who may not be earning as much, and the completed dishes are divvied up amongst the filming crew. Nothing is wasted!
Do the MasterChef contestants get to keep their aprons? ›And they don't get to keep the aprons they wear on the show. But they are sent nice new ones in the post later. This is so no one is spotted with a MasterChef apron before the series goes out on TV.
What do MasterChef contestants do all week? ›For the time they're on the show, they have a 6-day workweek - they get Sundays off to do what they want. The other six days, they're either filming for the show, or they're taking cooking classes. That's why you see their cooking improve from week to week. They're getting a lot of instruction.
Where do MasterChef contestants stay? ›Hailing from across the country, MasterChef contestants travel to Melbourne for filming, where they are put up in serviced apartment accommodation. A reliable source close to production tells Refinery29 Australia that usually two contestants share an apartment, but each has their own bedroom within the unit.
How are MasterChef contestants chosen? ›“First you cook for the crew, then if they like you, that's when you cook for the judges” “The application process for MasterChef starts with an online application form, followed by a phone interview. If they like you, they invite you to a face-to-face interview where you bring a dish to impress the crew.
What are the benefits of winning MasterChef? ›The winner of each season wins $250,000, a MasterChef trophy, and the title of MasterChef. Some seasons have also added other prizes such as a cookbook deal.