After Laura Sharrad used a controversial element in her latest dish, viewers shared their ire.

Viewers are sick of seeing a certain ingredient used in the dishes. Credit: Channel 10

Viewers are sick of seeing a certain ingredient used in the dishes. Credit: Channel 10

The grand finale of MasterChef Australia is just around the corner, which means that it’s only a matter of time before someone gets to lift the trophy over their head and walk away with $250,000 in prize money. Laura Sharrad, Callum Hann and Jamie Fleming are the last three standing, after a heady elimination challenge that saw fan favourite Depinder Chhibber sent home.

Viewers have not been shy in expressing their complaints this year (are they ever?), making it clear they have disapproved of several aspects of the show. From the Back to Win format, the contestants’ “lack of hygiene” and the judges allegedly playing favourites, the audience has had enough gripes to last a lifetime.

However, with just a few episodes to go, fans have found one more thing to be irritated by, and it’s unexpected, to say the least.

In round one of Monday’s elimination challenge, the chefs were tasked with deciding whether to cook sweet or savoury dishes with the ingredients presented to them, knowing that whoever ended up in round two would have to cook the opposite flavour profile with an unknown ingredient (so, if they cooked savoury in round one, they would have to make a sweet dish in round two).

The remaining contestants were tasked with choosing between making a sweet or savoury dish using both known and unknown ingredients. Credit: Channel 10

The remaining contestants were tasked with choosing between making a sweet or savoury dish using both known and unknown ingredients. Credit: Channel 10

After being presented with yuzu as her ingredient, Laura decided to make a sweet dish – a Native Splice with Yuzu, Coconut and Black Ants. Yes, you read that correctly, she topped her dish with black ants, and that’s when the viewers got mad.

“Ants again? #MasterChefAU,” one viewer wrote on X.

“#MasterChefAU, if I see one more dish using ants, I am going to…….. Can we just use normal stuff?” another pleaded.

“I’m a bit over ants,” another wrote.

“I was wondering when Laura is going to bring out the black ants…says no one ever,” someone else added.

Laura used black ants to complete her dish, sending viewers into a spin. Credit: Channel 10

Laura used black ants to complete her dish, sending viewers into a spin. Credit: Channel 10

Others cracked jokes about the inclusion of the unusual ingredient, with one writing, “So the next time black ants get in my sugar bowl, I should just keep them for a tasty ice cream topper?”

“When Laura has ants on her food, she gets praise, when I have ants on my food, I’m told I need to wash my dishes. Where’s my favouritism?” another quipped.

“Someone needs to keep Laura away from all the ant hills,” a third chimed in.

“Ants are gonna end up as an endangered species soon,” yet another person wrote.

“Freaking ants again,” another said.

The backlash comes after Laura previously served up hand-cut tagliarini, anchovy dashi, yuzu kosho and green ants during a challenge.

Depinder also used green ants in a previous service challenge set by guest judge Hugh Allen, plating up a yoghurt sorbet, pineapple granita, coriander ice cream, and a ginger meringue with green ants.