The judges continue to winnow down the competition in the final round of auditions, but the stakes are raised as the remaining hopefuls are put to the ultimate test in an intense lamb challenge. Then, the Top 19 contestants compete in their first mystery box challenge of the season and must create an exceptional dish using the most basic mystery box ingredients. Later, the contestants participate in the season's first emotional elimination round.

In their first team challenge, the Top 18 home cooks face their pickiest judges yet when they visit a local elementary school and are tasked to create a healthy, balanced meal for over 300 school children. Later the losing team assembles in the Masterchef kitchen where six members of the losing team are chosen by the team leader to participate in the dreaded pressure test. A contestant is sent home