Season 2

2011 · 20 episodes

Season 2 of the American competitive reality television series MasterChef had a two-night premiere on Fox on June 6 and 7, 2011. At the end of the third episode, which aired on June 13, 2011, the judges had tasted all 100 dishes and given white MasterChef aprons to 38 contestants. In the fourth episode that aired on June 14, 2011, the judges cut that number down to 18 contestants.

1. Audition 1
6 Jun 2011
100 amateur chefs are flown to Los Angeles to see if they have what it takes to be the next MasterChef. The contestants prepare their signature dishes for the panel of judges. Only those who impress the judges with their presentation, creativity, and originality will get an apron and move onto the next round.
2. Audition 2
7 Jun 2011
Round 2 begins with the amateur chefs trying to impress the judges with their signature dishes. Contestants compete for a chance to win the MasterChef apron which guarantees them a spot in the next round.
3. Audition 3 & Top 38 Revealed
13 Jun 2011
The field has been narrowed down, and the top 38 are revealed.
4. Top 18 Revealed
14 Jun 2011
The contestants must show the judges that they can pass two culinary stress tests before moving onto the next round. First, slicing apples consistently, and with as little waste as possible, and second, creating the best chicken dish they can in order to impress the judges, and move onto the next round.
5. Top 16 Revealed
20 Jun 2011
The contestants have one hour to make a dish using mystery ingredients. The winner picks the main ingredient in the elimination round.
6. Top 16 Compete
21 Jun 2011
The contestants are split into two teams, each team creating a five course meal. One person is eliminated.
7. Top 15 Compete
27 Jun 2011
The contestants compete, and try to advance to the next round.
8. Top 14 Compete
28 Jun 2011
The remaining contestants compete in order to advance to the next round.
9. Top 13 Compete
5 Jul 2011
Vegetarian meals are made by the 13 remaining hopefuls. Then, Season 1 winner Whitney Miller shows up and challenges the wannabe chefs to prepare a dish from her cookbook.
10. Top 12 Compete
11 Jul 2011
The Top 12 prepare food for a celebrity cocktail party
11. Top 11 Compete
18 Jul 2011
The hopefuls cook lobsters. Later, they compete in an aphrodisiac challenge.
12. Top 10 Compete
19 Jul 2011
The Top 10 cook for the judges' mothers. Later, they must prepare eggs Benedict.
13. Top 9 Compete
26 Jul 2011
The Top 9 home cooks flex their culinary muscles in another grueling challenge to prove to the judges they have the passion and skill it takes to advance to the next round. Find out which contestants wow the judges and who winds up on the chopping block in the next elimination round.
14. Top 8 Compete
1 Aug 2011
The contestants will need to prepare a slider and a side for each kid. But there's a catch: They cannot use beef or potatoes. And the kids aren't just the guests; they are the judges, too.
15. Top 8 Compete Again
2 Aug 2011
After no elimination last night, the Top 8 home cooks again flex their culinary muscles in another grueling challenge to prove to the judges they have the passion and skill it takes to advance to the next round. Find out which contestants wow the judges and who winds up on the chopping block in the next elimination round.
16. Top 6 Compete
8 Aug 2011
The remaining six home cooks arrive at the acclaimed Los Angeles restaurant Patina at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Chef Gordon Ramsay tells them that they won't be eating in the restaurant; they'll be cooking there.
17. Top 5 Compete
9 Aug 2011
The final five home cooks in the competition gather in the "MasterChef" kitchen, where judges Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Joe Bastianich reveal the latest Mystery Box Challenge. The contestants have to prepare, cook, and present an incredible dish using all or some of the ingredients inside a wooden crate: a variety of ground meats and an assortment of vegetables, rice, and potatoes.
18. Top 4 Compete
15 Aug 2011
19. Top 3 Compete
16 Aug 2011
The Top 3 chefs face off in a grueling final challenge, and the judges determine the winner in the Season 2 finale. At stake is $250,000 and the coveted title of MasterChef.
20. Winner Revealed
16 Aug 2011
The Top 3 chefs face off in a grueling final challenge, and the judges determine the winner in the Season 2 finale. At stake is $250,000 and the coveted title of MasterChef.