Episode 1 · Audition 1
Audition #1
Audition #1 is built around signature audition dish.
Audition 1
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Complete season guide
MasterChef (US) Season 2
- Episodes
- 20
- Premiere
- Jun 6, 2011
- Finale
- Aug 16, 2011
- Country
- United States
Complete season breakdown
Every episode and bake
MasterChef US season 2 spans 20 documented competition episodes. This guide follows the actual episode briefs and featured dishes from auditions through the finale.
Episode 2 · Audition 2
Audition #2
Audition #2 is built around signature audition dish.
Audition 2
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 3 · Audition 3
Audition #3/Top 38 Revealed
Audition #3/Top 38 Revealed is built around signature audition dish.
Audition 3
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 4 · Skills Challenge
Top 18 Revealed
Top 18 Revealed moves from apple knife-skills test to top 18 Revealed elimination challenge.
Skills Challenge
Apple knife-skills test
The skills round tested apple knife-skills test, with advancement tied to clean, accurate execution.
Invention Test
Top 18 Revealed elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 18 Revealed elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 5 · Mystery Box Challenge
2 Eliminated / Top 16 Revealed
2 Eliminated / Top 16 Revealed moves from dish using only the Mystery Box ingredients to french cuisine and also received safety from elimination dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish using only the Mystery Box ingredients
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish using only the Mystery Box ingredients; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
French cuisine and also received safety from elimination dish
The elimination brief called for french cuisine and also received safety from elimination dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 6 · Team Challenge
Top 16 Compete
Top 16 Compete moves from five-course meal for 350 office workers in the building to top 16 Compete pressure test.
Team Challenge
Five-course meal for 350 office workers in the building
Teams handled five-course meal for 350 office workers in the building, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Top 16 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 16 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 7 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 15 Compete
Top 15 Compete moves from dish using only the Mystery Box ingredients to nuts for himself and coffee dessert.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish using only the Mystery Box ingredients
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish using only the Mystery Box ingredients; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Nuts for himself and coffee dessert
The elimination brief called for nuts for himself and coffee dessert; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 8 · Team Challenge
Top 14 Compete
Top 14 Compete moves from sausage sandwiches for 101 bikers to top 14 Compete pressure test.
Team Challenge
Sausage sandwiches for 101 bikers
Teams handled sausage sandwiches for 101 bikers, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Pressure Test
Top 14 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 14 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 9 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 13 Compete
Top 13 Compete moves from items used to create a vegetarian entrée to catfish dish dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Items used to create a vegetarian entrée
The Mystery Box brief centered on items used to create a vegetarian entrée; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Catfish dish dish
The elimination brief called for catfish dish dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 10 · Team Challenge
Top 12 Compete
Top 12 Compete moves from top 12 Compete service menu to top 12 Compete pressure test.
Team Challenge
Top 12 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 12 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Top 12 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 12 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks two hours.
Episode 11 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 11 Compete
Top 11 Compete moves from top 11 Compete Mystery Box to top 11 Compete elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 11 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 11 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Top 11 Compete elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 11 Compete elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 12 · Team Challenge
Top 10 Compete
Top 10 Compete moves from top 10 Compete service menu to perfect Eggs Benedict.
Team Challenge
Top 10 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 10 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Perfect Eggs Benedict
The pressure test focused on perfect Eggs Benedict, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 30 minutes.
Episode 13 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 9 Compete
Top 9 Compete moves from top 9 Compete Mystery Box to double cut pork chops for himself dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 9 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 9 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Double cut pork chops for himself dish
The elimination brief called for double cut pork chops for himself dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 14 · Team Challenge
Top 8 Compete
Top 8 Compete moves from service for children's party to best cheese soufflé. The judges thought every contestant's soufflé was delicious.
Team Challenge
Service for children's party
Teams handled service for children's party, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Best cheese soufflé. The judges thought every contestant's soufflé was delicious
The pressure test focused on best cheese soufflé. The judges thought every contestant's soufflé was delicious, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 15 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 8 Compete Again
Top 8 Compete Again moves from dish with core ingredients of beef and seafood to top 8 Compete Again elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish with core ingredients of beef and seafood
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish with core ingredients of beef and seafood; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Top 8 Compete Again elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 8 Compete Again elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 16 · Team Challenge
Top 6 Compete
Top 6 Compete moves from top 6 Compete service menu to portion and serve it to the judges.
Team Challenge
Top 6 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 6 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Portion and serve it to the judges
The pressure test focused on portion and serve it to the judges, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 17 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 5 Compete
Top 5 Compete moves from within 60 minutes to top 5 Compete elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Within 60 minutes
The Mystery Box brief centered on within 60 minutes; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Elimination Test
Top 5 Compete elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 5 Compete elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 18 · Team Challenge
Top 4 Compete
Top 4 Compete moves from top 4 Compete service menu to lemon meringue pie.
Team Challenge
Top 4 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 4 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Lemon meringue pie
The pressure test focused on lemon meringue pie, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 19 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 3 Compete
Top 3 Compete moves from dish using chicken to octopus dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish using chicken
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish using chicken; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Elimination Test
Octopus dish
The elimination brief called for octopus dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 20 · Season Final
Winner Revealed
Winner Revealed moves from three-course finale menu to finale entree course.
Season Final
Three-course finale menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on three-course finale menu and determined who advanced or won. The source gives the cooks two hours.
Entree
Finale entree course
The documented challenge centered on finale entree course.
Dessert
Finale dessert course
The documented challenge centered on finale dessert course.
Episode guide sources
Challenge details verified 2026-07-18. en.wikipedia.org.
Season result
The winner stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the Season 2 winner
Jennifer Behm
Wilmington, Delaware
Full cast
Everyone recorded for Season 2, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Adrien Nieto | 28 | Ventura, California |
| Ben Starr | 33 | Dallas, Texas |
| Christian Collins | 31 | Gloucester, Massachusetts |
| Jennifer Behm | 34 | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Suzy Singh | 27 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Tracy Kontos | 32 | Coral Springs, Florida |