MasterChef: Episode 3

It's the first quarter-final, where this week’s six most talented amateurs gather to face off against each other for the first time. It’s now all to play for, as just two challenges stand between them and a place in knockout week. It’s time to up the ante and deliver some knockout-worthy food.

Grace and Anna are kicking things off with an invention test, one of MasterChef’s most feared challenges, and they would like all six contestants to make a dish centred around pancakes. Whether they pick soufflé pancakes from Japan, crepes from France, or classic fluffy American pancakes, the world is their oyster. To aid the amateurs in this endeavour, the MasterChef market is back open for business with a real treasure trove of fresh produce, including meat, fish, fruit, nuts and seasonings that could take their dish to the next level. The cooks have ten minutes to prepare and a generous 70 minutes to cook, before the judges pick their perfect pancake from the plates provided.

The quarter-final ends with the toughest task yet – the critic's brief. Renowned critic, broadcaster and author Jay Rayner has set the next task, and all he’s asking for is a salad! Sounds simple, but he’s not after a limp bowl of lettuce with chopped tomatoes. This salad must be MasterChef worthy and needs structure, texture, a killer dressing, and enough technique and flavour to dazzle all three judges.

Taking Jay’s feedback on board, the judges will pick their favourite three cooks of the night who will live to fight another day and storm into knockout week. They might think the competition is tough already, but just wait to see what Anna and Grace have in store!