Jim Mullan -- the CEO of Second Bite -- -- told 10 daily that items from the cooking competition's larder always end up heading to a good home. "The 'MasterChef' pantry is replenished on an almost daily basis while the program is shooting and we collect daily from the MasterChef studios," he said.
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 the MasterChef contestants have to buy their own ingredients? 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While former MasterChef: The Professionals star Rosanna Moseley told the Birmingham Mail: "The food stays there for a bit after you've finished so they can get good shots of it. "So it can be cold by the time the judges get to it - especially if you're last to be judged - but they take that into consideration."
Yep, reports on the show have revealed that contestants are actually only paid slightly more than the legal minimum wage.
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.
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.
But the reason behind the 'mysterious' hand-wear is much less dramatic than the imaginations of those speculating on their sofas. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Jimmy said: "One, I done a lot of filleting with fish and it helps ya grip the fish, and two, ya nice and clean."
Leftover produce and perishables from MasterChef's ginormous pantry are donated to SecondBite, a not-for-profit food rescue organisation that helps end food waste and food insecurity in Australia.
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.
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.
Indian-origin pastor Justin Narayan has won the title of MasterChef Australia 13 which includes a cash prize of $250,000 dollars. Kishwar Chowdhury, who originally hails from Bangladesh, was the second runner-up and won $20,000, and Pete Campbell from New South Wales went home with $30,000 as the first runner-up.
When it comes to contestants who've owned the most restaurants, Thomasina Miers sits in first place. After her win in the MasterChef kitchen back in 2005, she opened her first Wahaca restaurant in London in 2007.
Krissi is unarguably the most hated contestant in the history of the show despite her resilience and strong cooking abilities.
"They do most of the time [eat the food cold], but after everyone's finished cooking and time is called, the judges come around to the benches and try everything.
"What happens is that it gets ground down and cooked into compost, and that goes back into the gardens at Masterchef because that's a huge part of the show, the fact that we grow fruits and vegetables and herbs that the contestants can use," she told The Design Files.
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.
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.
MasterChef contestants are given cooking classes
Those home chefs clearly know what they're doing, but according to the blog of one runner-up (via The Daily Mail), that's not always the case. They say contestants were given cooking classes on challenges where there was a level of technique required.
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.