The Top 24 amateur cooks face two gruelling challenges to go through to the Top 12.

The Top 12 face their first cooking challenge.

MasterChef:Masterclass. In the first MasterClass the contestants are shown how to cook three classic barbecue dishes.

MasterChef: Masterclass. Simon and Ray cook simple but delicious Italian dishes

MasterChef: MasterClass Special guest Simon Wright, cooks stress-free dinner party dishes.

The contestants create Spanish tapas for Kiwi chef Peter Gordon.

MasterChef Masterclass: Ray and Simon cook traditional Spanish tapas and modern small-plate dishes.

The Top 8 contestants cook at a birthday party for their toughest critics yet: 80 hungry kids whose vote will decide who will leave the competition.

Masterchef Masterclass: Josh and Simon cook modern party food that's fast and flavoursome.

The Top 7 face an Indian cuisine challenge in which they must cook curries, rice and chutneys using unlabelled spices.

Masterchef Masterclass After the MasterChef contestants' Indian cuisine challenge, Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie turn up the heat with some hot and spicy dishes of their own.

The Top 6 contestants face their scariest challenge yet, a super-hard dessert known as the chocolate tower of terror.

After the MasterChef contestants' chocolate tower of terror challenge, the judges continue with the sweet theme. Josh, Simon and Ray compete to cook their favourite desserts.

The three semi-finalists try to impress Australasia's cookbook queen Donna Hay.