MasterChef Australia has brought back the air fryer and with it, some divisive opinions from fans and ex-contestants about whether it belongs on the show.
The device was introduced in an Invention Test on Tuesday night’s episode, with judge Andy Allen saying, “It’s become a secret weapon for many home cooks.”
Fellow judge Sofia Levin went on to describe the air fryer as a “versatile appliance” in the kitchen.
The rest of the contestants were pleased they would be using an air fryer to make an immunity-winning dessert. Pat admitted he had an air fryer at home and said he uses it often, while Emily and Hannah had never used one in their home kitchens.
Pat managed to whip up a delectable tarte tatin in the air fryer, winning him a chance at immunity and a $5k Harvey Norman voucher.
Still, questions have been raised over whether an air fryer – an appliance that has long divided professional chefs – is suited to a professional kitchen.
Famous chefs call air fryers a “scam”
Back in 2023, MasterChef UK champion Simon Wood made headlines after going on a tirade on X about the “controversial” devices. “Air fryers are simply bloody awful,” he posted. “I don’t think it’s about gourmet cookery… It’s a scam.” He went on to argue that true cooking requires pans, the oven and the grill.
Gordon Ramsay is also famously not a fan of air fryers, calling them “glorified toaster ovens.”
That said, other celebrity chefs have been increasingly embracing air fryers, with Jamie Oliver even having his own range of the gadget, along with air fryer-dedicated cookbooks.
MasterChef fans react to the controversial cooking challenge
While some MasterChef fans were pleased to see the return of the air fryer to the kitchen, other viewers were less than thrilled and made their disapproval known online.
“Air fryer challenge, kill me now,” one unimpressed viewer wrote on X.
“Do you have no morals?” another viewer questioned with a GIF.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love my air fryer,” a third said. “But is it a #MasterChefAU worthy challenge?”
“Air fryer challenge. Cmon now,” yet another sarcastically added.
MasterChef contestants defend the use of air fryers
Despite the fan discourse, this season’s fan fave, Dot McHugh, has thrown her support behind the humble air fryer. “I love an air fryer, I think most home cooks do,” she told WHO, adding they were “fabulous for crisping up leftovers.”
However, she did add that she was “not sure it’s a common appliance you would see in a professional kitchen.”
Another 2026 season favourite, Lydia Kamperos, told us that while she feels air fryers are another unnecessary piece of equipment, “They deserve their place in challenges as they offer distinctive advantages and cooking options.”
“I would make a whole fish in the air fryer,” she added. “As it is cooked with speed, the delicate flesh stays juicy while still getting a crispy skin. This is harder to do in an oven as you risk drying out the fish. They really are quick and efficient.”
As for MasterChef 2024 contestant, Juan De La Cruz, he doesn’t believe an air fryer should affect the final product. “At the end of the day, MasterChef has always been about how well you cook, not what equipment you use,” he said.
“We’ve had everything from hibachis to pressure cookers and even thermomixers over the years. An air fryer is just another tool in the modern kitchen.”
Juan shared that including the air fryer is actually a good thing for viewers. “It’s interesting to see how contestants adapt and the audience should be excited to see if they can still deliver flavour, texture and precision under these conditions. That’s the real test, not the appliance itself,” he said.
“I don’t think it doesn’t belong [in the kitchen], it has become one of my favourite appliances at the moment. Think of it as a small faster oven. It delivers similar results in half the time.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
