One of MasterChef Australia‘s biggest mysteries has finally been solved as a former contestant has revealed what happens to the show’s leftover food.

Juan De La Cruz, a contestant from the 2024 series, shed light on the show’s approach to minimising food waste behind the scenes.

According to Juan, production is proactive in preventing food waste by employing various food preservation techniques.

‘Lots of food is donated and also the staff behind the cameras take some,’ he told Chattr.

He added at the end of each week, many excess food items were freely given to the cast and crew.

‘Sometimes by the end of the week all the fresh food from the pantry such as veggies, fruits and even some meat was up for grabs,’ Juan said.

One of MasterChef Australia’s biggest mysteries has finally been solved as former contestant Juan De La Cruz has revealed what happens to the show’s leftover food

‘So we would take ingredients to practice ideas during the weekend,’ he continued.

Juan added there was a logical explanation behind each contestant using a brand new bottle of oil when competing in a kitchen challenge.

‘Opening a new package gives a same start level to everyone. Think humidity in the flour, or even contamination from other ingredients that could ruin recipes,’ he said.

‘Ultimately the judges will eat this food and they want to prevent any type of contamination.’

The 40-year-old board game designer was the seventh contestant to be eliminated on last year’s season of the long-running cooking show. 

It comes after Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett made his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia on Wednesday night and it was an emotional experience for viewers.

The Melbourne-born culinary expert, 49, appeared on the popular Channel Ten cooking series for the first time since 2023 to help contestants prepare a pea purée.

‘Just a little bit of cooking. Show you a couple of things!’ Shannon said as he took them through the steps to prepare the dish.

Juan shed light on the show’s approach to minimising food waste behind the scenes. Pictured: Series judge Andy Allen

According to Juan, production is proactive in preventing food waste by employing various food preservation techniques. Pictured: Guest judge Shannon Bennett

His top-notch culinary skills left the contestants in awe, with Callum Hann remarking: ‘I’m loving watching Shannon cook! Every time you watch one of these guru chefs, you always learn something’.

Emotional fans took to social media to share their excitement at seeing Shannon in the kitchen.

‘I was so teary seeing him back in the studio. He is a hero and in my mind should have been one of the new judges last year,’ one person wrote.

‘He has all the skills and is empathetic. Hopefully he will be a judge one day if that is what he wants.’

‘You learn from the legend,’ a second person added.

Last month, Shannon’s ex-partner Madeleine West welcomed her seventh child – her first that he is not the father to.