Amidst the flurry of novelty themes, rule adjustments due to Covid-19, and unexpected twists, the popular cooking competition show MasterChef surprisingly abandoned one of its most intriguing challenges for a while. Known as the pressure test, it was a crucial factor in deciding the fate of certain contestants during the first ten seasons. However, without any clear explanation, it vanished and left viewers puzzled. Now, it’s back, and I find myself both perplexed and energized by this unexpected return.
Let’s prepare ourselves for cooking by discussing briefly what a pressure test is and how it functions. You may recall that I mentioned earlier, MasterChef has seen many alterations throughout the years, yet fundamentally, the series operates on a bi-weekly basis.
During the first week, competitors participate in a contest within the MasterChef Kitchen. Usually, this involves a mystery box where each participant must prepare a dish using the ingredients provided, or it could be based on a particular protein in the box. Occasionally, it’s something unusual like the popular team challenge, but no matter what, it always takes place inside the kitchen of MasterChef.
In the second week, the remaining competitors divided into teams for a challenge involving cooking meals at an unusual location for a crowd of strangers. Perhaps they’d be catering to a hundred famished farmers. One team could opt for steak tacos with slaw and corn, while another might go for chicken sandwiches served with fries and green beans.
In my experience as a contestant on MasterChef, that’s where the pressure test came into play. When our team lost, some or all of us had to face a brief, timed challenge in the kitchen to decide who would leave the competition. These tasks usually required us to perform skills we were familiar with, such as making a flawless poached egg or cooking a steak to medium rare. However, the pressure of potentially being eliminated made it difficult to execute these tasks smoothly.
The show used to keep viewers captivated by showing the outcome based on the team challenge, but unfortunately, in later seasons, they switched to directly eliminating the worst performer from each challenge and sending them home immediately. This change offered a glimpse into what truly happened during the challenge, which was fair. However, it also eliminated an additional shoot for the crew, and in doing so, it took away one of the most intriguing aspects of the show.
Frankly speaking, I thought the pressure test was a thing of the past, but surprisingly, Ramsay announced on the latest show that the losing team would face it. I couldn’t help but exclaim and gesture towards my TV, just like the Leonardo DiCaprio meme from “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”. It turns out this event will unfold in the upcoming episode, and I am thrilled about it!
For long-lasting reality shows, there’s no clear perfect solution. If you strictly adhere to the original format, some viewers may grow tired and eventually stop tuning in. However, if changes are made too frequently, other viewers might become annoyed and cease watching. This delicate equilibrium is challenging, which is why I understand why MasterChef decided to try new things and momentarily eliminate the pressure test. Yet, it’s hard for me to comprehend that they waited so long to reintroduce it. It’s evident that producers were aware of the demand from fans.
No matter what, I’m thrilled to have it return! The popular show, MasterChef, made its comeback on our TV screens slightly over a month ago. You can join me every Wednesday on FOX, or catch up the following day on Hulu.
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2025-07-01 16:39