Season 1
All Episodes
Episode 4
Top 50 (1) - Taste Test
April 30, 2009
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.
Episode 5
Top 50 (2) - Fish Market Frenzy
May 1, 2009
Two seafood dishes in two hours is the elimination challenge
Episode 6
The Top 20 Revealed
May 3, 2009
The mystery box challenge gives the judges all the clues they need. Top 20 Revealed
Episode 7
20 Ways with Chicken
May 4, 2009
The contestants cook up a storm in the new MasterChef kitchen. Top 20 Cooking Challenge
Episode 10
The First Cut
May 7, 2009
Team Elimination - Having lost the challenge, the blue team contemplated who to eliminate
Episode 11
Cooking With The Masters
May 8, 2009
Masterclass 1 - Cooking with the masters - Lamb Rack with Pomme Puree, Pain Perdu with Chocolate Mousse.
Episode 13
The Tarte Tatin Test
May 11, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Julie, Aaron and Linda landed in the Bottom 3 for their disasters in the invention test.
Episode 16
A Blow for Brent
May 14, 2009
Team Elimination - The Blue Team, headed by Brent, faced elimination
Episode 17
Class Is In
May 15, 2009
Masterclass 2 - Class is in - Poached Egg Salad with Tomato Tea (consume), Roast Saddle of Rabbit with White Bean Puree.
Episode 19
Attack of the Killer Squid
May 18, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Michelle, Sam and Kate had to cook squid in their challenge.
Episode 20
Julia and the Duck
May 19, 2009
The MasterChef contestant takes on the celebrity chef at his own game.
Episode 21
Aisle Panic
May 20, 2009
A three course meal for three food critics has the contestants in a tizz.
Episode 22
An Emotional Elimination
May 21, 2009
The blue team’s decision leaves more than one contestant upset.
Episode 23
Soufflés and Stir-fries
May 22, 2009
Masterclass 3 - Soufflés and stir-fries - Chilli and Fennel Squid, Chinese Mushroom Stir-fry with Tofu, Chocolate and Jaffa Soufflé
Episode 24
The Steaks are Raised
May 24, 2009
The contestants impress the judges with their challenge efforts.
Episode 28
Kate's Tough Decision
May 28, 2009
The team captain has the final say as to who should go.
Episode 29
The Perfect Chip
May 29, 2009
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
Episode 31
Paella Pain
June 1, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Aaron, Sandra and Julie faced elimination and had to make paella.
Episode 34
The Great Bait Debate
June 4, 2009
The blue team decides whether to send their captain home.
Episode 35
Lemon Goodness
June 5, 2009
Masterclass 5 - Lemon Goodness - Lobster Bisque, Tuscan Vegetable Soup, Roast Chicken with Buttery Potatoes, Lemon Diva cupcakes.
Episode 37
Not So Sweet
June 8, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Tom, Poh, Chris and Julie had to make Croquembouche.
Episode 40
And Then There Were Seven
June 11, 2009
The blue team say goodbye to another contestant.
Episode 41
Sweet Treats
June 12, 2009
Masterclass 6 - Sweet treats - Fetta Blini with Smoked Beetroot, John Dory on the Bone with Vvegetables, Coffee éclairs with Vanilla Cream Filling
Episode 43
Terrine Trauma
June 15, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Geni, Poh and Andre were in the bottom three and had to make salmon terrine.
Episode 46
Grain Pain
June 18, 2009
Taste Test Elimination - Poh and Sam named ingredients in a pot of minestrone.
Episode 47
Cocktail Hour
June 19, 2009
Masterclass 7 - Cocktail hour - Kingfish Skewers with Zucchini Salad, Piña Colada, Prawn Saganaki, Raspberry Tart
Episode 51
Battle of the Sexes
June 24, 2009
Hong Kong - Mystery Steamer Challenge and Super Challengee.
Episode 52
Sweet and Sour
June 25, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Justine and Julie landed in the bottom 2 and had to make a sweet and sour duck stir fry
Episode 53
Show and Tell
June 26, 2009
Masterclass 8 - Fried Rice, Hot Salami Pizza, Seared Scallops with Braised Pork Belly, Lemon and Date Scones
Episode 56
Andre vs Emmanuel Stroobant
June 30, 2009
Celebrity Chef Challenge 9 - Emmanuel Stroobant
Episode 57
All at Sea
July 1, 2009
HMAS Kanimbla Challenge - Poh, Justine and Tom returned to the competition
Episode 59
Shanks and Soufflés
July 3, 2009
Masterclass 9 - Crepes Suzette, Twice Baked Cheese Souffle, Braised Lamb Shanks, Open Beef Kofta
Episode 61
Macaroon Madness
July 6, 2009
Pressure Test Elimination - Sam, Poh, Chris and Andre had to cook a combination of panna cotta, passionfruit emulsion ("passionfruit slick") and filled macaroon biscuits.
Episode 63
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
July 8, 2009
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
Episode 64
Taste Test
July 9, 2009
Taste Test Elimination - Andre and Chris, had to guess ingredients in a pot of Sri Lankan curry
Episode 65
Winter Warmers
July 10, 2009
Master Class 10 - Pork and Fennel Sausages with Baked Beans, Roast Salmon and Artichokes with Red Wine Sauce, Chocolate Cigar with Sabayon
Episode 66
Finals Fever
July 12, 2009
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
Episode 67
Pie Wars
July 13, 2009
Elimination Challenge 1 - The contestants had to make two pies - one sweet and one savoury, making their own pastry.
Episode 68
Poh's Advantage
July 14, 2009
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.
Episode 69
No Piece of Cake
July 15, 2009
Elimination Challenge 3 - The third elimination challenge emulated the pressure test challenge where the contestants had to make a several layered 'Chocolate Mousse' cake.
Episode 70
And Then There Were Two
July 16, 2009
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
Episode 71
The Tables Are Turned
July 17, 2009
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.
Episode 72
The Grand Finale
July 19, 2009
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.