The eight contestants that did not manage to take down Melbourne’s best chefs have gathered in the MasterChef kitchen to compete in the most cursed of team challenges – the relay.

One cannot help but think back to the legendary relay challenge of 2015 when John Carasig went rogue, casually adding a block of white chocolate to a seafood stew in what has become one of the most iconic moments in MasterChef history. Naturally, we’re all secretly hoping that tonight’s mystery ingredient is a block of white chocolate, but alas, it’s a plate of apples.

Did someone say “Team Relay”? #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/7YZL7OOTCR

— Paul Lenkic (@PaulLenkic) May 23, 2021

Each team must create a dish that “heroes” apples, while also using a random appliance under their bench as part of some sponsorship arrangement.

Please don’t let that appliance be a goddamn ice cream maker #MasterChefAU

— Amanda 🍩 (@tartanthermos) May 23, 2021

As the captain of the turquoise team, Sabina comes up with a clear and concise plan of action. She decides that the team will make a pork chop with apple slaw and relish – simple, classic, and impossible to get wrong (or so we thought).

She grabs three bowls and fills them with the ingredients each contestant will need to make their part of the dish, while also building an apple wall as a visual aid to remind the team to feature apples. Basically, it’s a lesson in leadership and it looks like the turquoise team is well on its way to winning.

Sabina needs to be in charge of the vaccine rollout. #MasterChefAU https://t.co/4ThIhTLldL

— Liz Burke (@LizAgnes) May 23, 2021

Enter Justin. Sabina clearly communicates what the next steps are and then exits to the side room where she watches on as Justin essentially sets fire to her plans, chucking in a bunch of new elements instead. 

It’s not quite apple velouté but it’s certainly stressful to watch, especially if you’ve ever done a group assignment at university before.

Turquoise before “we trust Sabina to set this up perfectly”
Justin “I decide I want to do my own thing” #MasterchefAU

— The Washing Up (@thewashingup) May 23, 2021

Things are not going much better on the green team where Tommy is just standing completely still with a look of horror on his face. So much for a relaxing Sunday night.

It’s the final contestants of each team – Pete and Scott – that save the day, turning the apple-solute mess into two somewhat presentable dishes.

Pete pulls off a legendary effort which ultimately saves the turquoise team from elimination, while the green team head through to round two.

That’s right, there’s round two – you can’t go to bed just yet. For the final challenge, the green team must plate up an apple-inspired dessert.

The producers give us the special family edits for Tommy and Jess, so we know one of them is going home.

Tommy makes an apple “táo’er” of fried pastry and stewed apple, which he says is inspired by a Vietnamese dessert, but looks like a deconstructed Maccas apple pie to us.

I feel like Tommy’s dessert is deeply channeling the Maccas apple pie and I’m here for it #MasterchefAU

— Erin von Krumpet (@erinaree) May 23, 2021

Jess makes a winning German-inspired apple streusel cakes, but gets carried away and adds a bunch of apple “textures” (aka fresh apple cubes) and the judges are not digging it. How do you like them apples? Apparently, not so much, which is why Jess is going home.

Join us Monday night when we find out what the new theme for the week will be.

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