MasterChef Generations: Which home cooks made the Top 10?

As the season progresses towards the finale, the MasterChef Generations Top 10 has a mix of expected and unexpected home cooks. Did a favorite stumble right before the FOX food television milestone?

Every culinary competition has certain pivot moments. It could be the return of a favorite challenge or hitting a milestone in the journey. In back to back episodes, MasterChef Generations hit two of those big moments.

As seen in recent weeks, MasterChef Generations has been stacking the competition with two episodes every Wednesday night. Before summer ends, the home cooks are ready to bring some flavorful fireworks to the culinary competition.

In the night’s first episode, the home cooks had to tackle the most difficult tag team challenge ever. While that concept is always a fan favorite, cooking four dishes in the limited time was far from easy.

Given that Rebecka won the last challenge, she was able to pair the home cooks. While she tried to use some strategy in those choices, it was not necessarily the outcome that she had hoped. In some ways, that advantage turned into a disadvantage.

Similar to other challenges within this MasterChef season, each of the dishes had a tie to the various generations. From a trumpet mushroom scallop to an iconic crepes suzette, the breadth of food items proved that the home cooks needed to stretch themselves in the tag team challenge. After all, this FOX food competition requires everyone to push beyond their comfort zone in order to win the title.

In an unforeseen hiccup, Rebecka and her partner Becca struggled. What was considered the frontrunning team fell flat. Whether it was lack of communication or chemistry, their dishes had errors. Although their mistakes were not as egregious as other teams, it was a miss.

The biggest surprise was the team combination of Michael and Kimberly. While they might have been the tallest and shortest pairing, their dishes soared to the top. Each dish was properly seasoned, well-executed, and almost a perfect match to the example.

While Hallie and Warren had a chance at winning, it was clear that Michael and Kimberly were clearly the winning team. Not only did they both win immunity, they also were the first two home cooks to earn their spot in the MasterChef Generations Top 10.

Overall, the tag team challenge showed where some home cooks lacked confidence, communication, and direction. For example, Murt and Kamay were clearly a disappointment. The pair could not communicate with each other. Murt would go on tangents and Kamay could not pull him back.

Looking at their plates, almost every one had a missing element. As Joe Bastianich commented, the dishes showed how completely frantic they were in the kitchen.

The other team that was equally as bad was Jeet and Adam. The pair’s two big proteins, the tuna and the filet, were so hammered it was unforgiveable. The seared tuna looked more like something from a can.

Those cooking mistakes alongside missing elements sealed their fate. Jeet, as the one who overcooked the proteins, was sent home. Unfortunately, the super fan who knew which challenge was coming, could not find a winning path to conqueror the challenge.

With one more challenge to the MasterChef Generations Top 10, the home cooks had to tackle cooking with coffee. But, there was another twist in the challenge.

To keep everyone on their toes, the tag team challenge winners, Michael and Kimberly, were able to force three home cooks to make a coffee dessert. With limited time, the dessert twist clearly was a way to potentially eliminate a top threat.

Looking to take down their competition, Adam, Becca, and Rebecka were the home cooks who had to make coffee dessert. Based on the bottom three, it was a smart strategic move.

Overall, the coffee challenge was good. A few dishes did well and showcased the nuance of using coffee in savory dishes. After a dismal tag team challenge, Kamay proved she is a worthy competitor.

Kamay’s lamb dish was superb. She was able to infuse her spice profile with the earthy coffee notes. With the required ingredient woven into her food in several ways, she easily earned the win, immunity, and spot in the Top 10.

Unfortunately, the bottom three were clearly marked by mistakes. Rebecka knew that she would be in the bottom. She tried to re-bake her cake but it was a last minute hail Mary. It was not the dessert that she wanted.

Adam struggled with his dessert, too. While he had ambition to make a panna cotta, it was not set. Even if the flavor was good, the food was a miss.

Lastly, Daniela had a good idea, but she chose the wrong protein. With limited time, cooking a chicken thigh is not a smart choice. She served the judges raw chicken.

Additionally, her mole needed more time. The spices were raw and the coffee was overpowering. Overall, it was a big miss.

While all three dishes had errors, Daniela’s undercooked chicken was the worst. She was eliminated.

Which home cook has the best chance of earning the MasterChef Generations title? Based on these two episodes, it could be anyone. Favorites fell and unlikely cooks soared. That uncertainty is why this FOX food television show is so compelling to watch.

New episodes of MasterChef Generations air Wednesday nights on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.