To date, only 11 MasterChefs have been crowned, but there were just as many runner-ups and even more third and fourth place home cooks who came close, but just didn’t make the cut. Twenty of those had another chance to win an apron to get back cooking in the kitchen—as did two contestants from MasterChef Junior competing alongside the adults.
Who won MasterChef season 12?
After several complicated cooks, 20-year-old Dara Yu from Culver City, Calif., was awarded the $250,000 grand prize and a complete state-of-the-art kitchen from Viking! “I’m so grateful for this experience and my MasterChef family,” said Dara. “It’s given me incredible opportunities over the past 8 years and I’m excited to see what the future holds. I hope that I can continue to inspire young people to follow their passion and believe in themselves!” Returning as host and judge was Gordon Ramsay, who was joined on the judging panel by acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez and renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich. This season’s challenges included feeding hungry members of the Coast Guard, demonstrating their skills in a vegan dish challenge, traveling to Horsetown USA (Norco, Calif.) to feed cowboys, and competing in the fan-favorite restaurant takeover challenge at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. Read on for everything we know about MasterChef season 12 so far:
When does MasterChef Season 12 premiere?
Mark your calendars. MasterChef season 12 premiered May 25, 2022.
What time is MasterChef Season 12 on?
MasterChef aired Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.
Who are the MasterChef Season 12 judges?
Gordon Ramsay
Ramsay is one of the best-known chefs in the world from his numerous TV series, including MasterChef, MasterChef Jr.,Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, Hotel Hell and Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, which was featured in Season 10 of MasterChef, was the first of his many restaurants, which over the years have been awarded 16 Michelin stars in total. In addition, the Scot has as written more than 20 books. To honor his impressive achievements, Ramsay was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2006, and inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame in 2013.
Aarón Sánchez
In 2017, Sánchez joined Season 8 of MasterChef as a judge. His other TV credits include multiple Food Network shows, including Chopped, Guilty Pleasures, Best Ever, Heat Seekers, Chefs vs. City, Best Thing I Ever Ate and Next Iron Chef. The El Paso, Texas-born chef has written two cookbooks: La Comida del Barrio and Simple Food, Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours, and the memoir, Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef. He is the executive chef and part-owner of the Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans and has appeared at the White House as a guest chef.
Joe Bastianich
Bastianich joined MasterChef in 2010 for the series’ premiere and first five seasons, leaving in 2014, and then returning for Season 9 in 2018. The Queens, N.Y.-native discovered his love of food from his mother, famed chef Lidia Bastianich, and grew up working in her Italian restaurants. The two are also business partners and together own numerous restaurants in several countries. Unlike Ramsay and Sanchez, Bastianich is not a chef, but he definitely can cook. He has received numerous awards from the James Beard Foundation as a restaurateur.
How many MasterChef contestants are there for season 12?
Forty chefs got called back to audition, but only 20 claimed a coveted white apron and got the chance to get back cooking in the kitchen—as did two contestants from MasterChef Junior competing alongside the adults.
Who are the MasterChef contestants for season 12?
ALEJANDRO
Age: 40City: Atlanta, GAOccupation: Private Chef and Animal TrainerSeason: 11
AMANDA
Age: 32City: Dearborn, MIOccupation: Small Business DirectorSeason: 6
BOWEN
Age: 29City: West Lafayette, INOccupation: RestaurateurSeason: 9
BRANDI
Age: 33City: Hardinsburg, KYOccupation: Private Chef and CatererSeason: 7
BRI
Age: 27City: Dallas, TXOccupation: Culinary EntrepreneurSeason: 10
CATE
Age: 30City: Chicago, ILOccupation: Private ChefSeason: 8
CHRISTIAN
Age: 36City: New Orleans, LAOccupation: Private Chef & Culinary EntrepreneurSeason: 5
DARA
Age: 20City: Culver City, CAOccupation: Culinary Student & Part Time ChefMasterChef Junior Season: 1
DERRICK
Age: 35City: Los Angeles, CAOccupation: Private ChefSeason: 6
EMILY
Age: 31City: Chicago, ILOccupation: Consumer Insights ManagerSeason: 9
FRED
Age: 26City: Redondo Beach, CAOccupation: Recipe DeveloperSeason: 10
GABRIEL
Age: 24City: Midwest City, OKOccupation: Private ChefSeason: 8
MICHAEL
Age: 34City: Austin, TXOccupation: Cookbook Author and Private ChefSeason: 10
SAMANTHA
Age: 23City: West Des Moines, IAOccupation: Pastry ChefSeason: 9
SHANIKA
Age: 38City: San Antonio, TXOccupation: Culinary Student and CatererSeason: 9
SHAYNE
Age: 18City: Spring, TXOccupation: Line Cook and ServerMasterChef Junior Season: 5
SHELLY
Age: 38City: Brooklyn, NYOccupation: Pop-up Kitchen OwnerSeason: 6
STEPHEN
Age: 54City: Palm Springs, CAOccupation: Private Chef and Food Truck OwnerSeason: 6
TOMMY
Age: 59City: Chicago, ILOccupation: Fashion DesignerSeason: 6
WILLIE
Age: 33City: Houston, TXOccupation: CatererSeason: 5
What challenges did the contestants face in season 12?
In the first elimination round of the season, all 20 chefs cooked something inspired by the dish that sent them home in previous seasons. Then as the season progresses, they were tasked with feeding hungry members of the Coast Guard; demonstrating their skills in a vegan dish challenge; traveling to Horsetown, USA (Norco, CA), to feed cowboys; and competing in the fan-favorite restaurant takeover challenge at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.
What does the MasterChef winner get for Season 12?
The prize for season 12 was the coveted title, $250,000 in prize money, and a complete state-of-the-art kitchen from VIKING.
Where can I watch or stream MasterChef on TV or online?
All 11 seasons are available on Hulu, or on the Fox Now app and several seasons are available for purchase on Prime Video.
Where is MasterChef filmed?
The kitchen set for MasterChef is located in a studio facility in the San Fernando Valley in California.
Can the home cooks on MasterChef use recipes?
That is a no. What they can do is ask questions before cooking begins if there is a food with which they are unfamiliar, but no recipes are allowed in the kitchen.
Who won MasterChef Season 11?
Kelsey Murphy won MasterChef season 11 in a first all-women finale against Autumn Moretti and Suu Khin. Kelsey took home the title, the $250,000 prize money, and the new Viking kitchen. “I was up against such stiff competition with Suu and Autumn, both who have very strong viewpoints and strong cultural backgrounds within their food,” Kelsey told Parade.com in an exclusive interview at that time. “Suu, obviously, cooks Burmese food. And then Autumn cooks Japanese food. I definitely felt like I had to make myself stand out with other tactics, my technique and my plating, because I don’t have one cultural background that I cook from.” And her winning strategy? “My strategy was to stick with what I did all season and really focus my food, on strong technique and simplicity in the presentation, and the beauty of presentation, but a lot of complexity behind each of those components,” Kelsey said. “Really letting the main ingredients shine and highlighting them with beautiful sauce work, great technique, and just focusing on beautiful plating, too, since that’s really where I was able to stand out throughout the season.” Next, Gordon Ramsay Has Plenty of Help in the Kitchen! Get To Know His 5 Kids
