MasterChef is an American competitive cooking reality television series that premiered on Fox on July 27, 2010.

[2] The current line-up of judges consists of Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Aarón Sánchez.

While the particular format of the season has slightly varied over the years, the following challenges have all been regularly featured: Once the competition is reduced to either the final two or three competitors, the finalists will compete against each other in a three-course cook-off.

On October 6, 2011, MasterChef was renewed for a third season, which started with a two-night premiere on June 4, 2012, following Hell's Kitchen.

[17] On September 19, 2018, the series had been renewed for a tenth season, which premiered on May 29, 2019 with Ramsay, Sánchez, and Bastianich returning as judges.

[28] A Reuters reviewer explained the show "manages to be hugely entertaining and involving thanks mainly to the judges’ personalities and the ability of the producers to spot emotionally charged stories.

[29][30] In 2018, season three auditionee Jessie Glenn discussed her experiences becoming a contestant, something she was uniquely able to do because it was overlooked that she had never returned the nondisclosure contract which all applicants are required to sign.

[32] West 175 Productions[56] produced an earlier American adaptation, MasterChef USA, broadcast on PBS from 2000 to 2001.

In 2011, Reveille Productions and Shine TV, announced licensing deals with kitchenware manufacturers The Cookware Company, Triple Loop Housewares, Global Knives, and Kidsline to produce MasterChef-branded cookware, including stainless steel pans, knives, kitchen appliances, and children's cooking sets.