MasterChef viewers lash out over use of 'endangered' ingredient: 'Enough'
Viewers have not been shy in expressing their complaints this year (are they ever?), making it clear they have disapproved of several aspects of the show. From the Back to Win format, the contestants' "lack of hygiene" and the judges allegedly playing favourites, the audience has had enough gripes to last a lifetime.
However, with just a few episodes to go, fans have found one more thing to be irritated by, and it's unexpected, to say the least.
In round one of Monday's elimination challenge, the chefs were tasked with deciding whether to cook sweet or savoury dishes with the ingredients presented to them, knowing that whoever ended up in round two would have to cook the opposite flavour profile with an unknown ingredient (so, if they cooked savoury in round one, they would have to make a sweet dish in round two).
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MasterChef viewers sick of unusual ingredient
After being presented with yuzu as her ingredient, Laura decided to make a sweet dish—a Native Splice with Yuzu, Coconut and Black Ants. Yes, you read that correctly, she topped her dish with black ants, and that's when the viewers got mad.
#MasterChefAU if I see one more dish using ants, I am going to……..can we just use normal stuff? pic.twitter.com/mIG9rxUyWf
— Wayne Griffin (@grifology70) August 4, 2025
"Ants again? #MasterChefAU," one viewer wrote on X.
#MasterChefAU, if I see one more dish using ants, I am going to…….. Can we just use normal stuff?," another pleaded.
"I'm a bit over ants," another wrote.
"I was wondering when Laura is going to bring out the black ants...says no one ever," someone else added.
MasterChef fans joke about using ants in dishes
Others cracked jokes about the inclusion of the unusual ingredient, with one writing, "So the next time black ants get in my sugar bowl, I should just keep them for a tasty ice cream topper?"
"When Laura has ants on her food, she gets praise, when I have ants on my food, I'm told I need to wash my dishes. Where's my favouritism?" another quipped.
ENOUGH WITH THE FUCKING ANTS #MasterChefAU
— Yak (@AussieYak) August 4, 2025
"Someone needs to keep Laura away from all the ant hills," a third chimed in.
"Ants are gonna end up as an endangered species soon," yet another person wrote.
"Freaking ants again," another said.
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The backlash comes after Laura previously served up hand cut tagliernin, anchovy dashi, yuzu kosho and green ants during a challenge.
Depinder also used Green Ants in a previous service challenge set by guest judge Hugh Allen, plating up a yoghurt sorbet, pineapple granita, coriander ice cream and a ginger meringue with green ants.
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