MasterChef Australia contestants Mimi, Sav, Pezza and Harry competed in a thrilling battle for the top four on Sunday evening.
Nat, who won the final immunity guarantee in the competition, watched as the contestants were tasked with creating a dish using an extreme ingredient.
Mimi incorporated the bitter gourd into her dish, Sav opted for the Carolina Reaper chili pepper, and Pezza and Harry both chose the Époisses cheese.
Harry presented a gnocchi Époisses and Sav offered a Carolina Reaper Prawn Consommé.
Meanwhile, Mimi served a soft crab with bitter gourd kimchi, and Pezza went for a fillet steak, which fans described as a “deconstructed steak sandwich.”
Ultimately, Mimi was sent home for failing to impress the judges, much to the anger of viewers.
Social media users expressed their disappointment over the unexpected elimination.
“It’s a crime she got eliminated…bad review,” one fan wrote.
MasterChef Australia contestants Mimi, Sav, Pezza and Harry went head-to-head on Sunday night in a thrilling battle for the top four. Pictured: Judge Andy Allen
Another outraged viewer demanded in all caps: “I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER.”
The negative reactions continued, with viewers questioning the judges’ decision to keep Pezza in the competition despite his controversial dish, which Andy Allen even described as “simple.”
“Stupid result: Mimi’s cooking was much better than Pezza’s average dish,” said someone.
Nat, who won the final immunity guarantee in the competition, watched on as the contestants were tasked with creating a dish using an extreme ingredient, but ultimately Mimi (pictured) was sent home after failing to impress the judges.
Social media users were quick to express their disappointment at the unexpected elimination
‘Are you serious? WTF. How did that piece of steak keep him in here? What a bloody joke,’ another commented.
‘By this logic I am also a top 4 chef on MasterChef. I can absolutely nail a chef on a steak. I can caramelise onions. I can melt cheese and spread it on a plate. Blair can also speak in the 3rd person. #MasterchefAU absolutely stupid to be judging tonight,’ one user fumed.
The 2024 season is still underway, but Network 10 has already confirmed that the show will return in 2025 with judges Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin.
Viewers were in an uproar over the shocking elimination and questioned the judges’ decision to keep Pezza in the competition despite his controversial dish.
The panel of four made their debut in season 16 this year, after Andy, 36, was the only judge to return to the show last year.
Melissa Leong was axed from the series and Jock Zonfrillo tragically passed away in April last year, just one day before season 15 was due to air.
Andy, who joined the panel in 2020, admitted he wasn’t sure he wanted to return after the devastating loss of Jock, but decided his friend would have wanted it.