
Initial rounds consist of a large number of hopeful contestants from across Australia individually "auditioning" by presenting a food dish before the three judges in order to gain one of 50 semi-final places. MasterChef Australia has a different format from that of the original British MasterChef and MasterChef Goes Large formats. 9.1 Official MasterChef Cookbook Volume 1.5.4 MasterChef Australia: The Professionals: 2013.5.3 MasterChef Australia All-Stars: 2012.5.1 Celebrity MasterChef Australia: 2009.However, Junior MasterChef Australia returned in 2020 after a nine-year absence, as well as Celebrity MasterChef Australia returned in 2021 after a twelve-year absence.

Production of these spin-off shows were cancelled in 2013 after the producers of the show announced that they wanted to solely focus on the original version. The series has also spawned four spin-off series: Celebrity MasterChef Australia, which featured celebrity contestants, Junior MasterChef Australia, which featured younger contestants, MasterChef Australia All-Stars, which featured returning contestants from the first three series, and MasterChef Australia: The Professionals, which featured professional chefs as contestants.

Restaurateur and chef Gary Mehigan, chef George Calombaris and food critic Matt Preston served as the show's main judges until 2019, when they were replaced by Series 4 winner and chef Andy Allen, food critic Melissa Leong, and restaurateur and chef Jock Zonfrillo.

It is produced by Shine Australia and screens on Network 10. MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking reality show based on the original British MasterChef.
