Thirty-six home cooks arrive with the intent of being placed in the Top 20, but the contestants must pass the audition rounds and impress the judges to earn the coveted apron; the contestants hope to earn a valuable "Judges' Pass."

Only eight aprons are left for the hopeful home cooks to earn so they can pass through the audition rounds, where they have less than 45 minutes to prepare their signature dish and leave the judges wanting for more before the Top 20 are chosen.

The Top 20 must quickly demonstrate their culinary expertise before they encounter their first mystery box challenge, where they must create a Ramsay-inspired dish, but only 18 home cooks can progress further in the competition.

In two teams of nine cooks, the Top 18 prepare for a 10th anniversary-themed pool party by preparing food for 100 important guests that include former "MasterChef" winners and contestants, but only one team can earn immunity.

The team who failed to impress the pool party guests are given only 45 minutes to completely break down a chicken and prepare it into a delectable dish, but one contestant will be forced to surrender their apron after the timer runs out.

Model Alessandra Ambrosio offers input for the Top 17's next mystery box challenge, which includes an additional twist that throws some cooks off balance, but only 15 home cooks can be chosen to continue on to the next round.

The remaining home cooks face another elimination challenge in which they have 60 minutes to closely replicate the dish du jour, tarte Tatin that must be prepared with silky crème anglaise sauce, or risk surrendering their apron and going home.

The top 16 cooks fight for immunity in a challenge to create an authentic three-course Italian meal.

With two eliminations on the line, the pressure is on for the losing team in the tag-team challenge.

The home cooks split into two teams to prepare 45 meals for Gerron Hurt's wedding.

The cooks have 60 minutes to present their best beef dish to the judges.

The top 13 must break down Alaskan king crabs; the contestants cook for chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Contestants must create a sweet dish and a savory dish from a surprise ingredient; an elimination.

In under 75 minutes, the contestants must replicate a cake for the judges.

Special guest judge Candace Nelson gives the home cooks 75 minutes to create one dozen macarons.

The top 10 contestants test their speed in a special team challenge at the Irwindale Speedway, where they have 75 minutes to cook for 101 race car crew members.

The contestants face a mystery box challenge with more mystery ingredients than ever before.

The cooks are introduced to Grant Achatz, who shows the them the art of unconventional plating.

The cooks produce a dish with their own version of homemade sausage in less than an hour.

TV host Daphne Oz reveals the contents of the week's mystery box challenge to the top eight, leaving the contestants 60 minutes to create an elevated one-pan dish using the cast iron pan.

Loved ones of the top seven watch the contestants make their favorite family-inspired dishes.

The top six chefs travel to London and must feed 36 diners; two chefs face elimination.

The top four chefs travel to the historic Hatfield House, where they must cook a venison dish.

Returning from their home towns after a whirlwind trip across the pond, the Top Three home cooks are ready to tackle their final dishes in hopes of crossing the finish line and coming out on top!

The finalists must execute a superior three-course meal for the judges. Only one will win the title of MASTERCHEF, an opportunity to learn hands-on in each of the judges’ restaurants and the $250,000 grand prize.

Home cooks serve up their signature dishes to the judges; guest judge Emeril Lagasse.

The cooks have 45 minutes to impress the judges, including Curtis Stone.

The final audition round of the season; guest judge Paula Deen.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto sets the bar high with his monkfish demonstration, leaving the cooks desperate to impress in their first elimination challenge.

Chef Sherry Yard visits the kitchen. With elimination on the line, a dessert challenge puts the spotlight on the home cooks' baking skills for the first time.

In the first Mystery Box challenge chef Michael Mina is the guest judge. The cooks must create a beef dish without knowing what cut of beef they will be cooking until the mystery box is opened.

With the top 10 at their fingertips and an elimination on the table, Michelin Star chef Nancy Silverton challenges the home cooks with a fresh pasta challenge. The cooks must prove they can master this Italian staple and impress with a pasta dish of their own.

The top 10 home cooks take on a Californian Mystery Box Challenge, with Michelin Star Chef Jonathan Waxman as guest judge. It's the highest stakes challenge yet with an elimination no one sees coming.

The pioneering king of the food truck revolution, Roy Choi, tasks the home cooks with making a street food dish worthy of a Michelin star restaurant.

Chef Ramsay challenges the home cooks to create a dish for the most important legend yet - their own personal legends. Their personal legends could be someone they look up to, a personal hero, or even a family member who inspires them.

Dominique Crenn, the only female chef in America to attain three Michelin Stars, visits the MasterChef kitchen with a brand-new team challenge - the cooks must pair up and make the same exact dish... without being able to see one another.

Legendary chef Niki Nakayama gives the cooks a taste of Japan.

Four legendary chefs grace the MasterChef kitchen for a one-of-a-kind Chef's Table team challenge that pits boys against girls. It's an intimidating Michelin Star lineup as Val Cantu, Jonathan Yao, Sherry Yard and Tanya Holland take a seat in the MasterChef restaurant, to judge a two-course menu created by the home cooks.

Legendary French chef Ludo Lefebvre joins to guest judge a Mystery Box challenge with a twist. The home cooks are challenged to make two elevated French Bistro-style dishes in 90 minutes to guarantee themselves a spot in the semi-finals.

The remaining four semi-finalists are challenged to a "3 Chef Showdown" - a brand-new culinary triathlon that sees the home cooks making three dishes back-to-back - alongside three different Legendary chefs. This is a window into the fast-paced world of a professional chef, with each round's prize being a guaranteed spot in the finale.

The remaining four semi-finalists are challenged to a "3 Chef Showdown" - a brand-new culinary triathlon that sees the home cooks making three dishes back-to-back - alongside three different Legendary chefs. This is a window into the fast-paced world of a professional chef, with each round's prize being a guaranteed spot in the finale.

Legendary Chef Curtis Stone returns as a guest judge for the semi-finals when the Top Three battle for a spot in the finale in the appetizer round.

Michelin star chef Michael Cimarusti is the final legend to grace the MasterChef kitchen and it's the finalists last chance to impress with their entrée and dessert dishes. Only one will be crowned the winner and earn the coveted title of MasterChef.

Season 12 of MASTERCHEF is all about redemption, when All-Star competitors from the last 11 seasons return to the show to see if they have learned from their past mistakes. For the first time ever, MASTERCHEF is re-opening the door to some of the most memorable and talented cooks in the competition's history, including two MASTERCHEF Junior Edition cooks now competing as adults! 40 chefs get called back to audition, but only 20 will claim a coveted white apron. The returning chefs compete in groups of four in head-to-head audition battles. In each round, the two chefs that create the most impressive comeback dish will secure a spot this season.

The audition battles continue this week on the most competitive season of MASTERCHEF yet. For those who fell short in past seasons, these auditions are a chance to fulfill their culinary dreams. This week, three chefs who competed on MASTERCHEF JUNIOR enter the kitchen for the first time as adults.

With only six aprons left, the judges round out auditions and give a lucky few chefs a chance to return to the MasterChef kitchen. Each 45-minute audition battle brings the contestants one step closer to being in the top 20.

In the first elimination round of the season, all 20 chefs must cook something inspired by the dish that originally sent them home. The chef that recreates their elimination dish in the most elevated, refined and skillful way will win immunity.

This week, the chefs face their first mystery box challenge of the season. Season Seven winner, Vegas restaurant owner and cocktail connoisseur Shaun O'Neale, returns to the MASTERCHEF kitchen to dish out the challenge. The chefs have 60 minutes to cook three identical dishes using the spirits they receive in their mystery box. On the line are immunity or elimination, as the chefs compete to create a dish with their respective spirit as the star.

For their first team challenge, the top 18 travel to the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Los Angeles. The chefs must collaborate to create a hearty and delicious lunch for more than 100 brave women and men. One contestant will be eliminated.

Chef Gordon Ramsay shares his secret love for meatless, dairy-free dishes by demonstrating his famous Beef Wellington transformed into a vegan dish made out of beets. Chef Ramsay then challenges the contestants to create a top-notch vegan dish, using their knowledge of flavors and techniques.

The 16 remaining chefs are challenged to cook a Southern cuisine dish inspired by complex flavors from countries around the world. Award-winning chef and Southern fusion restaurateur Tiffany Derry also stops by the kitchen.

One chef selects a dessert for each of his or her fellow competitors to bake to perfection. Anything less will force the contestants to face elimination.

More than 100 cowboys and cowgirls in Horse Town, U.S.A., gather for the MasterChef rodeo, where the Top 14 chefs divide into two teams to create the best steak and sides. The team that doesn't live up to the cowboys' standards faces the possibility of elimination.

The remaining chefs are challenged with a "Winner's Mystery Box," curated by the Season 3 Champion, Christine Ha. The contestants are tasked with creating a Michelin-starred Vietnamese dish, but there's a catch - they must use every ingredient given to them.

The Top 12 chefs are challenged to a tag-team cook-off, as they approach the halfway point in the competition. They're tasked with choosing a partner and cooking three menu items from Gordon Ramsay's Michelin-starred restaurants, taking turns against the clock.

In order to secure a spot in the Top 10, the remaining chefs partner with GrubHub to elevate a traditional take-out dish into a gourmet concoction.

Keeping up with culinary trends and tapping into nostalgia, Chef Ramsay brings a new challenge to the kitchen. The Top 10 chefs are tasked with elevating traditional gas station and road trip snacks into gourmet dishes.

The Top Nine chefs are faced with another Winner's Mystery Box challenge, this time from MasterChef Season Nine winner Gerron Hurt. With no more immunity pins up for grabs, each contestant must create a dish that packs heat using an assortment of chilies and peppers.

The top eight chefs are paired together and must communicate on opposite sides of a wall to create identical dishes.

The chefs must take over Wolfgang Puck's kitchen at Spago restaurant in Los Angeles.

The top five chefs are faced with tow separate elimination challenges in the semifinals: a baked Alaska and an intricate lobster tortellini.

The chefs who advance to the finals prepare an appetizer and entree with the support of Graham Elliot.

The three remaining chefs rush against the clock to complete their final entree and whip up a gourmet dessert with the help of former judge Christina Tossi; a new champion is crowned.