Season 3 poster

Season 3

(2012)

Overview

Season 3 of the American competitive reality television series MasterChef had a two-night premiere on Fox on June 4 and 5, 2012. By the third episode, which aired on June 11, 2012, the judges had tasted all 100 dishes and given white MasterChef aprons to 36 contestants. In the same episode, the judges cut that number down to 18 contestants. The season concluded on September 10, 2012 with the first blind contestant Christine Ha winning the MasterChef title.

Cast

Gordon Ramsay as Self - Judge
Gordon Ramsay

as Self - Judge

Graham Elliot as Self - Judge
Graham Elliot

as Self - Judge

Joe Bastianich as Self - Judge
Joe Bastianich

as Self - Judge

Episodes

Auditions (1) poster

Auditions (1) 0.0

June 4, 2012

After a nationwide search, only the best amateur cooks – including a stock broker, a professional opera singer, a plast…

Auditions (2) poster

Auditions (2) 0.0

June 5, 2012

The auditions continue as the judges critique the good and the bad and continue to winnow down the competition. Those w…

Auditions (3) and Top 36 Bootcamp poster

Auditions (3) and Top 36 Bootcamp 0.0

June 11, 2012

The final round of auditions is held in Los Angeles. Then, the 36 remaining hopefuls compete in a ground-beef challenge…

Top 18 Compete poster

Top 18 Compete 0.0

June 12, 2012

The Top 18 must create gourmet dishes using duck and bananas. Later, they're challenged to cook with unusual and intimi…

Top 16 Compete poster

Top 16 Compete 0.0

June 18, 2012

Culinary boot camp awaits the 16 remaining hopefuls at California's Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, where they'll wor…

Top 15 Compete poster

Top 15 Compete 0.0

June 19, 2012

Fifteen hopefuls remain, and they're tasked with creating unique dishes using unconventional—and unappetizing—cuts of m…

Top 14 Compete poster

Top 14 Compete 0.0

June 25, 2012

The judges split the cooks into teams to prepare breakfast for hotel guests; the members of the losing team must prove …

Top 13 Compete poster

Top 13 Compete 0.0

June 26, 2012

A budget-friendly mystery-box challenge requires the wannabe chefs to create a gourmet meal using only $20 worth of ing…

Top 12 Compete poster

Top 12 Compete 0.0

July 2, 2012

The 12 remaining hopefuls are split into three teams for a food-truck challenge that requires them to create budget-fri…

Top 11 Compete poster

Top 11 Compete 0.0

July 3, 2012

Judge Graham Elliot joins the amateur cooks in the kitchen, taking part in a mystery-box challenge. Later, a double eli…

Top Nine Compete poster

Top Nine Compete 0.0

July 9, 2012

The amateur chefs must cook with exotic ingredients from the sea

Top 8 Compete poster

Top 8 Compete 0.0

July 16, 2012

The amateur chefs are taken to a Southern California rodeo, where they'll work in teams to feed a hearty meal to 101 hu…

Top 7 Compete poster

Top 7 Compete 0.0

July 17, 2012

Paula Deen is a guest judge for a Southern-inspired mystery-box challenge. Later, the hopefuls are paired up to cook a …

Top 6 Compete, Pt. 1 poster

Top 6 Compete, Pt. 1 0.0

July 23, 2012

Part 1 of 3. Eight previously eliminated contestants return and compete for a chance to win back their aprons and conti…

Top 6 Compete, Pt. 2 poster

Top 6 Compete, Pt. 2 0.0

July 24, 2012

Part 2 of 3. The seven remaining hopefuls find shrimp in the mystery basket, and must make standout dishes with a very …

Top 6 Compete, Pt. 3 poster

Top 6 Compete, Pt. 3 0.0

August 14, 2012

Conclusion. The six remaining hopefuls compete in a team challenge at Hatfield's, a Hollywood hot spot, where they atte…

Top 5 Complete poster

Top 5 Complete 0.0

August 21, 2012

A game-changing twist surprises the five remaining hopefuls during a mystery-box challenge. Later, the wannabe chefs ar…

Top 4 Compete poster

Top 4 Compete 0.0

August 28, 2012

Four hopefuls remain, and they must work in teams of two to prepare a gourmet meal for three world-renowned chefs: Dani…

Top 3 Compete poster

Top 3 Compete 0.0

September 4, 2012

Part 1 of 2. Season 3 finale: The three remaining hopefuls are tasked with creating a dish that best embodies their per…

Winner Chosen poster

Winner Chosen 0.0

September 10, 2012

In their final challenge in the kitchen, the two home cooks will conceptualize and prepare the most important three-cou…