MasterChef Australia ran a single-elimination Heat Week pressure test that forced contestants to centre dishes on chillies, with judges pressing cooks on spice technique and timing. Judges repeatedly asked how chefs had incorporated chilli, and one contestant, Luke, admitted he had not put chilli in his dish and instead told an anecdote about eating a birdseye as a child. The challenge supplied common supermarket varieties, Birds Eye, jalapeño, red and green cayenne, prompting safety tips such as wearing gloves and avoiding rubbing your eyes. Poh gave notably sharp, positive feedback on at least one dish, while viewers singled out Pat and Petro as the most consistent judges. Several viewers complained the judging segments received more broadcast time than the cooking itself. Contestants facing a single-elimination round risked immediate exit, and some viewers speculated about immunity for repeat near-miss contestants such as Aaron.
