After 60 episodes and 72,583 ad breaks, the MasterChef Australia Grand Finale for 2021 is finally here. Enjoy these precious moments folks, because this time next week, you’ll be watching dates and rose petals, and not the kind that you can eat. 

But don’t worry, tonight is not the end. The judges explain that this year, the Grand Finale will be spread over two days to help boost the ratings.  It’s not like we had plans anyway.

So actually it’s tomorrow night, not tonight, that we find out whether Kishwar, Pete or Justin (yes, he’s still here) will be named MasterChef Australia 2021.

The first 10/10 score of the evening goes to Jock and his magnificent kilt. Sorry Mel, you can’t win them all.

The first round is a mystery box challenge, made up of eight ingredients chosen by top chefs that have featured on previous MasterChef episodes. The contestants must make a dish featuring at least one of the chosen ingredients. 

Wonder what ingredient the fish guy brought #MasterChefAU

— Brodie Lancaster (@brodielancaster) July 12, 2021

Justin is tempted to make tacos but instead delivers a passionfruit-glazed duck breast with pickled kohlrabi.

Kishwar makes a slightly over-cooked pandan-wrapped whiting with duck fat mushrooms, while Pete impresses with king george whiting with kohlrabi, pine mushrooms and Geraldton wax oil.

In round one, Pete blows the competition out of the water with an impressive score of 28, with Kishwar and Justin trailing behind on 21.

In the second round, the contestants must cook a dish with ingredients chosen by their families, and we’re just sad that Scott’s cat isn’t here to make that all-important decision.

Pete running all the way to the door to hug his wife is the energy we need from more men. 👏👏👏👏#MasterChefAU

— Melissa Blackwood 🌈 (@lilmissmel) July 12, 2021

The contestant’s family members must choose two golden balls, one decides what ingredient the contestant must cook with, while the second “curve” ball reveals a cooking method or technique.

Kishwar’s children pick out “white soy sauce” and “smoke”, while Justin’s family gets “ruby grapefruit” and “fusion”.  Meanwhile, Pete’s daughters deliver “quince” and “steamed”, and that’s it, they’re grounded for life. No, that’s unfair. If anyone can make steamed quince a thing, it’s definitely Pete.

Pete is struggling with quince and somewhere Maggie Beer is losing her mind at the TV #masterchefau

— Ben Shute (@Ben_Shute) July 12, 2021

And for the conspiracy theorists out there, there’s also the chance that the judges slipped in a quince to even up the scores.

And that’s exactly what happens. Kishwar plates up a very pleasant peasant dish of smoked rice water with aloo bhorta that blows the judges away with its fantastic flavour. She’s awarded a score of three perfect tens and I think I speak for everyone when I say “GO KISHWAR!!” and do a victory lap of my apartment with my hands in the air.

Justin delivers yet another fluke – that’s got to be his twentieth now – with a super impressive poached fish in curry broth.

Justin potentially winning this competition has got to be the biggest plot twist ever, like I’m not even mad it’s just hilarious #MasterChefAU

— ♡ (@jypomu) July 12, 2021

Alas, Pete slips up and he can’t even blame the quince. An undercooked quail dish that was practically still chirping brings his score back in line with the others. It’s a pretty light sentence considering the offense.

for his last dish, Pete has served up salmonella #MasterChefAU

— alysha (@intosneedy) July 12, 2021

By the end of round two, Pete is on 53, Kishwar is on 51 and Justin is on 51.

Join us tomorrow night when we find out if this show ever actually ends.