MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow has shared a secret about how food is judged on the show.
Weekly challenges task contestants with preparing dishes for judges to taste and critique.
In an interview with Punkee, Poh, 50, revealed that the dishes are usually “cold” by the time they reach the judging panel.
“Basically what happens is, if you think about it, there are 20 contestants and four judges; at the beginning of the season there were five because Jamie was in the mix. It means there are over 100 tastings,” he said.
“So at some point the dishes will get cold.”
MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow has shared a secret about how food is judged on the show.
Poh explained Judges taste dishes fresh from the fire or oven to get a good idea of the texture and flavor.
“Right after we cook them, you’ll see us going around with our spoons and tasting everything right off the stove or oven to get a feel for the texture and flavor of things when they were the way they were meant to be eaten.” she revealed.
The 50-year-old added that the dishes are placed in a refrigerator for food safety reasons while each contestant waits their turn before the panel of judges.
In an interview with Punkee, Poh, 50, revealed that the dishes are usually “cold” by the time they reach the judging panel.
Andy Allen was the only judge to return to the show this year after Melissa Leong was eliminated and Jock Zonfrillo tragically died in April last year, just one day before season 15 aired.
Andy, 36, who first joined the panel in 2020, admitted he was unsure about returning after Jock’s devastating loss but ultimately decided to do so after realizing it was what his friend would have wanted.
He was joined on the 2024 panel by MasterChef season one runner-up Poh, food writer Sofia Levin and French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Poh explained that the judges taste the dishes fresh from the stove or oven to get a good idea of the texture and flavor. In the photo Andy Allen
The 2024 series is still ongoing as contestants compete for their place in the final and Network 10 has already confirmed the future of the new judging panel.
A spokesperson confirmed that all four judges will return for the 2025 series after they made a very successful debut this year, impressing the cast and viewers.
They said: “Judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli will return to the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2025 to deliver another delicious season of Australia’s favorite cooking show.”
The 50-year-old added that the dishes are placed in a refrigerator for food safety reasons while each contestant waits their turn before the panel of judges. In the photo, Jamie Oliver.
