The temperature is rising in the MasterChef kitchen!

The top ten for MasterChef Australia: Back To Win has been revealed. (Image: Channel Ten)

Over the last two months, Australia’s favourite MasterChef Australia contestants have been serving up mouth-watering meals night after night.

As the finale approaches, the Back To Win pack has been narrowed down to the top ten after Declan Cleary was eliminated following a ‘Decreasing Time Versus Increasing Ingredients’ challenge set by culinary legend Maggie Beer.

As the clock ran down from 90 minutes, more ingredients became available for the contestants to use, although they had less time to cook with them.

At the end of the challenge, Ben and Declan’s dishes were both flawed with the judges saying Ben’s pan roasted ocean trout with parsnip puree, mussels and clams lacked freshness – while Declan’s offal, beef tongue and chicken liver skewers glazed with vino cotto tasted incomplete and lacked lushness.

The judges agreed Ben’s dish was more complete and as a result, Declan was sent home – leaving ten contestants still in the running to become the next MasterChef.

MEET THE TOP 10

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Alana Lowes

Season 3, Placed 3rd

After placing third in season three, Alana plans to play to her strengths of multitasking and working quickly to stay in the competition.

Skilled with both savory and sweet flavours, the 44-year-old from Queensland credits her mum for her love of food – and is inspired by celebrity chefs including Yotam Ottolenghi, Jamie Oliver, and Jules Wiringa to name a few.

After MasterChef, Jules is planning restaurant and brand collaborations, and is hoping to return to her roots as a television presenter.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Andre Ursini

Season 1, Placed 7th

After appearing in the inaugural season of MasterChef in 2009, Andre has become a fixture of Australia’s foodie scene with four award-winning restaurants under his belt.

Now back to win, the 44-year-old is hoping his more mature style of cooking with big, bold and refined flavours – along with 16 years’ worth of new techniques – will deliver him a win in the MasterChef Kitchen.

Inspired by chefs including Eugenio Maiale, Antonio Carluccio and Giorgio Locatelli – Andre’s biggest strength in the MasterChef kitchen will be his years of experience and ability to think creatively on the fly.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Audra Morrice

Season 4, Placed 3rd

Coming back into the MasterChef kitchen is a full-circle moment for season four’s bronze medallist Audra, as she’s been a judge on the Singaporean version of the show, and was on the judging panel of MasterChef Asia.

Knowing the MasterChef kitchen has a way of pushing cooks past their limits, Audra, 54, hopes that taking more risks, being more adventurous with her cooking and more vulnerable will crown her a MasterChef champion.

Outside of the competition, Audra has her own show on SBS Food Network, is a patron of the Australia Malaysia Singapore Association, and sits on the Advisory Board of the ASEAN-Australia Centre.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Ben Macdonald

Season 6, Placed 6th

Eleven years may have passed since Kiwi Ben last set foot in the MasterChef kitchen but he’s returned for Back To Win with the same dry sense of humour and steely determination to win.

In season six, Ben’s cooking was very technique-driven, but now his MO has been simply to create delicious food he’s passionate about – while also relishing in the adrenaline-fuelled adventure that is the MasterChef kitchen.

Since his first appearance, Ben, 47, opened his own bistro-style cafe in Auckland, launched a fresh pasta home delivery service in the Covid era, and also launched a successful payroll software start-up.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Callum Hann

Season 2, Placed 2nd & Season 12, Placed 4th

Slipping back into MasterChef for a third time has been like muscle memory for Callum – who hopes that third time will be a charm for Back To Win.

With three cookbooks to his name, a string of successful restaurants and his own cooking school, Callum, 35, hopes his vast experience in the kitchen will help out with his strategy of moving quickly in challenges to allow for time to review and edit his dishes.

As he continues to dig deep into the competition, Callum is leaving nothing in the tank on his quest to become the next MasterChef winner.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Depinder Chhibber

Season 13, Placed 8th

Knowing her strength is switching between sweet and savoury foods, Depinder feels match-fit for the final leg of the competition and is ready to feel the pressure and pace of the competition.

Since her first appearance in season thirteen, Depinder, 33, has become a mother, opened a supper club in her home and has even been a guest judge on MasterChef India – where she has a legion of passionate fans!

Relishing the opportunity to be back on MasterChef, Depinder plans to honour her Indian heritage and showcase her technical skills in the hopes of winning the competition.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Jamie Fleming

Season 6, Placed 4th

With garlic, butter and thyme as his “holy trinity”, season six’s Jamie is hoping less unbridled confidence and more experience this time round will help him land the competition’s top honour.

Since his first spin in the MasterChef kitchen, the 36-year-old has run award-winning restaurants and has become an advocate for increasing food education among younger generations.

As food is his love language, Jamie is hoping to bend big flavours to his will to stay ahead of the pack.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Laura Sharrad

Season 6, Placed 2nd & Season 12, Placed 2nd

Coming tantalisingly close to winning MasterChef twice already, Laura knows a thing-or-two about what it takes to reach the end of MasterChef – and she’s hoping third time’s a charm on Back To Win.

Leveraging skills she learned while working under MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo, along with some she’s picked up running her own restaurant, the 30-year-old is motivated to win for her daughter Florence.

Stronger, wiser and more determined than ever, Laura is bringing out the big guns for the last leg of the competition.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Sarah Todd

Season 6, Placed 9th & Season 14, Placed 2nd

If good things truly do come in threes, Sarah is hoping her third time on MasterChef will finally bring her victory.

With two restaurants in India under her belt, as well as two cookbooks, a television series and over one million social media followers – Sarah’s extensive experience and steely composure has her well-placed to nab the MasterChef trophy.

Following the competition, Sarah, 38, will continue to chase her dream of securing a highly-coveted Michelin star, and would love to open her own restaurant in Australia.

(Credit: Channel Ten)

Snezana Calic

Season 16, Placed 15th

Fresh from last year’s MasterChef, Snezana plans on continuing to cook honest and flavoursome food that represents her Balkan roots to wow the judges.

Invigorated by the creativity and passion only the MasterChef kitchen can inspire, the 42-year-old hopes her quick thinking and razor-sharp instincts will leave her as the last cook standing.

Outside of the competition, Snez is hoping to combine her love of travel and cooking by pursing work in television.