In this week’s episode of MasterChef: Dynamic Duos, the stakes are higher than ever as contestants face a unique ingredient auction challenge that tests their strategy and cooking skills.
‘MasterChef’ Recap: Dynamic Duos Gamble Time in High-Stakes Ingredient Auction Before Elimination
Tonight on MasterChef, the four duos from last week’s losing team face a new Pressure Test challenge to fight for their survival. In a Gordon Ramsay-style food auction, the duos must bid for their ingredients using time instead of money. The more minutes they sacrifice to “purchase” their preferred ingredients, the less time they will have to prepare their dish.
Discover who can maintain their composure and who will pay the ultimate price for failure in the most strategic challenge yet, in the all-new episode titled “The Great Ingredient Bid Off” of MasterChef: Dynamic Duos, airing Wednesday, July 30 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on Fox. Read on for the full recap.
The Contestants
Here is the complete list of Season 15 contestants (with previously eliminated chefs crossed out):
| Name | Relationship | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Adam & Joel | Brothers | Athens, Ga. |
| Ashley & Ricky | Siblings | Orlando, Fla./Buffalo, N.Y. |
| Azu & Javier | Divorced Exes | Miami Beach, Fla./Miami |
| Darce & Courtney | Animal ER Nurses | Chicago |
| Jessica & Jesse | Long Term Relationship | Boston |
| Kayla & Ryan Kate | MasterChef Junior Besties | Moriches, N.Y./Grapevine, Texas |
| Kevin & Trey | Best Friends | New Bern, N.C./Charlotte, N.C. |
| Rachel & Julio | Married | Naples, Fla. |
| Timothy & Athena | Newlyweds | Bowie, Md. |
| Tina & Aivan | Aunt & Niece | Fountain Valley, Calif./Fairplay, Colo. |
| Tonna & Cait | Mother & Daughter | Brandon, S.D. |
| Zach & Michelle | Married | Minneapolis |
The Challenge
The four duos competing to remain in the contest come from the losing Red Team in the previous challenge: Rachel & Julio, Timothy & Athena, Tonna & Cait, and Zach & Michelle. Meanwhile, Adam & Joel, Azu & Javier, Jessica & Jesse, and Tina & Aivan observe the unfolding drama from the safety of the balcony.
Gordon is joined by fellow judges Tiffany Derry and Joe Bastianich to explain that contestants will bid for their ingredients in today’s Pressure Test — but for each item selected, they will lose time. How much are they willing to wager for premium ingredients? And how will their time (or lack thereof) affect their dish?
Each duo has 90 minutes to spend. The remaining time at the end of the auction will be the time they have to cook their dish. Basic ingredients like sugar, flour, chicken stock, and cream are provided free of charge. Here’s how much time each duo spent on their ingredients:
Protein:
Whole side of salmon: Timothy & Athena (45 minutes)
Half a chicken: Rachel & Julio (30 minutes)
Ground lamb: Tonna & Cait (5 minutes)
Eggs: Zach & Michelle (free)
Produce:
Root vegetables: Tonna & Cait (20 minutes)
Fruit: Timothy & Athena (free)
Tomatoes and peppers: Rachel & Julio (20 minutes)
Leafy greens and onions: Zach & Michelle (15 minutes)
Pantry items:
Spices: Zach & Michelle (20 minutes)
Herbs: Timothy & Athena (25 minutes)
Grains: Rachel & Julio (free)
Flavor bombs: Tonna & Cait (15 minutes)Final cooking times for each duo were 55 minutes for Zach & Michelle, 50 minutes for Tonna & Cait, 40 minutes for Rachel & Julio, and just 20 minutes for Timothy & Athena.
Judgement
Zach & Michelle
Dish: Saffron Infused Fettuccine with Fennel & Leek Cream Sauce and Sautéed Swiss Chard
Gordon: “The pasta is delicious — fragrant, textured, and rolled to utter perfection.” Tiffany: “I’m so happy you used the Swiss chard because it gives it an earthy flavor, which brightens it up.” Joe: “This dish could be served in the best Italian restaurant in … Minneapolis.”
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Rachel & Julio
Dish: Crispy Skin Chicken Thigh with Tomato Risotto, Confit Tomatoes, and Mexican Red Sauce
Gordon: “The dish is delicious. The acidity is spot on and the chicken is cooked beautifully.” Tiffany: “The stock inside of the rice gives it such incredible flavor. The peppers add heat, which is nice, but the skin could be a little more crispy.” Joe: “Wow! Perfect risotto. Chicken is still moist and the tomatoes are excellent, but the dish would be better without the sauce.”
Tonna & Cait
Dish: Shepherd’s Pie with Lamb Mince and Scalloped Sweet Potato
Gordon: “Shepherd’s pie is supposed to be comforting and this is anything but. It’s a very strange taste and the potatoes are raw.” Tiffany: “Though it is not refined at all, it’s not unflavorful.” Joe: “The sweet potatoes are a bit of an odd choice. Instead of creamy, white mashed potatoes, you have blow-torched sweet potatoes. The lamb is quite good.”
Timothy & Athena
Dish: Crispy Skin Salmon with Orange Glaze and Peach & Herb Salad
Gordon: “Mine is pink and crisp on top — it’s like the bacon of the sea. But, I can’t say it’s highly skilled chopping up peaches and sticking them with some fresh mint.” Tiffany: “My salmon is undercooked. Yes, you can eat it, but I didn’t know I was eating sushi today. I will say, the orange glaze is a winner.” Joe: “I have a perfect, crispy salmon. The problem is with Tiffany’s dish.”
Elimination
Zach & Michelle and Rachel & Julio clearly had the top two dishes of the night. The judges decided that the eliminated duo tonight would be Tonna & Cait. The mother-daughter team expressed, “This is bittersweet. It’s been such a special journey to do together. We were able to show the judges a little bit of our Midwestern roots. We’re really proud of what we accomplished.”
Next Week
The Top 7 will tackle one of the toughest desserts in the world — the French macaron. This time-critical challenge will test even the most confident of duos.
