EXCLUSIVE: Sumeet Saigal reveals how winning the same prize last season completely changed her life.

One MasterChef contestant won the opportunity to have their product sold in Coles stores nationwide. Photos: Channel 10

Wednesday night’s episode of MasterChef Australia saw one contestant win a prize that has previously been described as better than taking out the title and the $250,000 that comes with it. Guest judge Curtis Stone challenged the remaining top 11 contestants to create a ‘winter warmer ice cream flavour’ accompanied by a dessert, with the best one being sold in Coles stores across the country.

While others created masala chai, baklava, and berry-flavoured ice creams, it was Laura Sharrad’s sticky date pudding and butterscotch sauce ice cream, paired with dates, pineapple, and rum, that took out the ultimate prize. She won immunity, becoming the first person to advance to the top 10, and her ice cream will be sold exclusively at Coles for $8 a tub.

“I’m incredibly honoured and beyond excited to have won the Coles Ice Cream Challenge! It’s a dream come true to see my very own flavour stocked on Coles shelves,” she shared.

“This sticky date pudding ice cream brings such a warm, nostalgic taste that so many Aussies will know and love, and I can’t wait to see people across the country enjoying a scoop (or two!) this winter.”

Laura Sharrad’s Sticky Date Pudding & Butterscotch Sauce Ice Cream is now available exclusively in store at Coles for a limited time. Photo: Channel 10

Why is this challenge so significant?

Laura becomes the third contestant to win this iconic challenge, following season 15’s Rue Mupedzi’s BarbeRue sauce and season 16’s Sumeet Saigal’s InTALIAN Simmer Sauce.

Sumeet tells Yahoo Lifestyle that, although she didn’t win the cooking competition, the opportunity to have her product stocked in Coles completely changed her life.

“For a business to get their product onto a supermarket shelf and have a test market to this scale is hugely significant in the journey of a product. It’s a massive win,” she says. “I actually walked into the MasterChef kitchen with that dream of having sauces in supermarkets, and it’s had a massive impact on the trajectory of my career.”

Sumeet, who is currently working on her own line of sauces to be released at the end of the year, adds that she is “super thrilled” that Laura won this year’s challenge.

“You can’t go wrong with sticky date and ice cream, especially in winter,” she remarks. “I’m a huge ice cream fan, so I’m going to be dashing out to the shops pretty soon to get myself a tub before it sells out!”

MasterChef’s Sumeet Saigal won the opportunity to have her sauce stocked in Coles last season. Photos: Channel 10

Fans divided over Laura’s ice cream flavour

Laura’s challenge win has since received a mixed response on social media, with some people complaining that sticky date pudding is a “basic flavour” that’s already available at Coles.

“How is sticky date pudding a unique flavour?” one person commented, while another added, “So unoriginal. Should’ve been Depinder [Chhibber]”.

“Doesn’t sound very interesting – Sarah [Todd]’s and Deep’s were better flavours considering this was to be a MasterChef level ice cream flavour,” a third wrote, followed by someone else who said, “I would rather taste something unusual, like Andre [Ursini]’s ice cream!”.

However, plenty of people congratulated Laura and said they couldn’t wait to head to Coles and try the ice cream for themselves.

“Looks like I’m off to Coles for a taste of MasterChef,” a fan shared, with a different user writing, “I love sticky date pudding and I’m excited to try this ice cream. Visit to Coles tomorrow for sure”.

“Congrats Laura. Yes there were many worthy winning flavours- personally, Depinder’s was unusual/different and would have loved to have tasted hers – but you’ve got to appeal to the masses and I do love a good sticky date pudding,” another remarked.

“It’s a safe, tried and tested combo, but I’m sure she executed it perfectly based on the reactions she got,” someone else replied. “I know that the judges have to also consider the angle of being marketable to the masses, but I don’t think they would have raved about her dessert the way they did if it wasn’t truly close to perfection flavour-wise.”