Where is airing: FOX
How many episodes in 9 season: 23 episodes
The three judges each choose eight home cooks to mentor throughout the competition.
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.
In the first mystery box challenge of the season, the Top 24 must prep, cook, and plate one dish featuring an ingredient unique to each of their home states.
In the first shugs test of the season, Gordon teaches the home cooks how to properly break down a crab before the contestants must replicate his work. Those whose shugs don't cut it face an elimination challenge during which Gordon will show them how to make his signature Crab Benedict dish. It is then up to the judges to decide who stays and who goes home.
The Top 20 chefs face the first team challenge of the season at the Anheuser Busch brewery. Teams must cook a beer-infused lunch for more than 100 employees. The team that receives the least amount of votes will head back to the kitchen for a banana cream pie pressure test that will determine who will be eliminated.
The contestants face a mystery box challenge where they must create a dish using one common ingredient - walnuts. The winner will receive 3 huge advantages. Later, the MasterChef kitchen welcomes American soccer legend, Alexi Lalas, who will introduce a street-food themed elimination challenge that involves popular food among soccer fans in various countries. Then, it is up to the judges to decide who will head home.
The contestants head to Malibu, California, and cook for Season 7 winner Shaun O'Neale's wedding - with Gordon Ramsay officiating! After splitting into 2 teams, the home cooks have limited time to prepare and cook 51 appetizers and 51 entrees for guests in attendance. Then, it is up to the judges to decide who will stay and who will head home.
The contestants face a mystery box filled with fresh seafood and must create a dish using 2 items from it. The chefs who fail to impress the judges face an elimination challenge and are asked to upgrade one of the most popular frozen dinner dishes, Salisbury Steak. Then, it is up to the judges to decide who heads home.
The remaining home cooks pair up for a shugs test to create a restaurant-quality dish featuring five ingredients, with the 15th contestant being paired up with their mentor and receiving an advantage in the challenge. The chefs who fail to impress the judges face an elimination challenge to create a cheese soufflé in just 40 minutes. Then, it is up to the judges to decide who heads home.
The Top 14 contestants are split into 2 teams to compete in a fine-dining challenge to cook 39 dishes for a group of very discerning judges. Contestants are surprised when the diners are revealed, forcing them to scramble and alter their dishes to accommodate the guests. Ultimately the winning team's recipe will be printed in Family Circle Magazine. The losing team competes in a cupcake pressure test with special guest Christina Tosi. The judges then decide who stays and who is sent home.
The Top 13 contestants face a mystery box challenge with a stockpot and cooking oil and are tasked with making a dish that features a deep-fried element. An extra layer of pressure is put on the contestants as the judges cook alongside them. The winner of the challenge receives an advantage in the elimination challenge to create a citrus-centered dish. The judges then decide who stays and who is sent home.
The Top 12 face their third shugs test in the MasterChef kitchen and replicate the proper way to break down a halibut. Those who fail to impress the judges are then tasked with creating a stunning original dish using their broken-down fish. Some contestants yield a bountiful filet, while others offer up a poor portion of protein. Ultimately, the judges decide who is left floundering and sent home.
The remaining home cooks take on their 5th Mystery Box challenge, using "Ingredients America Was Built On". In the elimination challenge, the contestants split into teams and recreate a Mediterranean platter. The top 2 winners are rewarded as team captains for their next Field Challenge, and someone is sent home.
The 8 remaining home cooks divide into 2 teams and race against the clock to serve restaurant-quality dishes to 25 California firefighters. Ultimately, the firefighters will decide the winning team, while the losing team will face a pasta-themed pressure test where someone is sent home.
The 8 remaining home cooks divide into 2 teams and race against the clock to serve restaurant-quality dishes to 25 California firefighters. Ultimately, the firefighters will decide the winning team, while the losing team will face a pasta-themed pressure test where someone is sent home.
The 7 remaining contestants face a Mystery Box challenge filled with waste - literally. The home cook who makes the best dish from food scraps will be safe in the elimination challenge, during which they'll take on another Mystery Box Challenge, but this time with all the best and freshest ingredients. Find out whose time has come to an end.
The Top 6 face the Restaurant Takeover Challenge at Providence in Los Angeles. The home cooks split into 2 teams and must feed a dining room filled with 48 guests. The judges will evaluate each team's performance and the losing team will face the challenging pressure test, after which someone will be sent home.
The remaining 5 cooks receive a heart-warming mystery box challenge in which contestants create a dish inspired by their loved ones.
The Top 5 home cooks face a series of pressure-filled shugs tests using an incredibly common protein - beef. The judges decide which contestant claims a safe spot on the balcony and who faces another culinary test. The 2 weakest home cooks go head-to-head to claim the final spot in the Top 4, while the other is cut.
The final 4 are split into 2 teams, and need to cook one incredible entrée for the judges' mentors: Chefs Daniel Boulud, Jonathan Waxman, and Lidia Bastianich. The judges choose which winning team moves on, leaving the final 2 to battle it out in a do-or-die pressure test. Find out which 3 make it to the finale.
The 3 remaining home cooks face their final challenge when they are each asked to prepare a 3-course menu for the judges.
The home cook with the best overall menu is crowned the winner wih a prize of a quarter of a million dollars and the coveted title of MasterChef.
