Forty of the best home cooks in America travel to Los Angeles to compete in the Battle of the Apron challenge, during which they will attempt to earn a coveted white apron and move forward to compete for the title, a cookbook deal, and the 0,000 grand prize. Judging the battle rounds will be Ramsay and Tosi. In order to move to the next round, the home cooks must display culinary skills, an immense passion for food, and be determined to out-cook their rivals.

Forty of the best home cooks in America continue to compete head-to-head in the Battle of the Apron challenge, during which they will attempt the to earn a coveted white apron and move forward to compete for the MasterChef title. The remaining home cooks must display culinary skills, as well as an immense passion for food, and be determined to out-cook their rivals and make the next round.

The top 20 home cooks in America meet guest judge Wolfgang Puck, who introduces the first Mystery Box Challenge - potatoes. The winner has a significant decision going into the elimination challenge, during which they have to replicate one of Chef Ramsay's signature dishes in less than 60 minutes.

In the first field challenge, the Top 18 home cooks are divided in to 2 teams where they will have to prepare appetizers and entrees for season 6 contestant Nick Nappi on his wedding day! Not only will they feel the pressure from Gordon Ramsay, Christina Tosi, and a former contestant but also Nick's bride and 72 hungry wedding guests. The winning team will earn a significant advantage in the next elimination challenge.

The remaining 17 home cooks are joined by special guests Season 6 winner Claudia Sandoval and guest culinary judge Aarón Sánchez as they reveal the next mystery box challenge. Each contestant has 60 minutes to create their own unique dish using a number of Sandoval's favorite ingredients. The winner of the challenge is safe from the next elimination round and will help in deciding the fate of 3 other contestants in the elimination.

The remaining 16 home cooks get a very special treat leading into the next challenge, as Chef Ramsay demonstrates how to properly deconstruct a lobster. They then each have 25 minutes tohug, poach, and shell a lobster, just as they learned. The winner has the advantage of choosing which team he or she will join for the next field challenge. For the second part of the challenge, Chef Ramsay demonstrates how to make lobster tortellini in a seafood broth. The contestants have 45 minutes to recreate Ramsay's dish to avoid elimination.

The remaining 15 home cooks separate into 2 teams for the second major field challenge of the competition, cooking for 101 hungry veterans! The 2 teams will have 75 minutes to prep, and one hour to serve a dish consisting of a steak, two sides, and a sauce. After a dramatic day out in the field, the veterans will have the power to vote for their favorite dish. The team with the most votes will be safe in the competition, while the team with the least amount of votes will face the pressure test.

The contestants are introduced to special culinary guest judge Edward Lee, who reveals the third Mystery Box challenge. Contestants lift their boxes only to find a bill. They will each have 5 minutes to shop for ingredients priced in the pantry without spending more than . Then they will have 45 minutes to prepare four entree dishes to present to the judges. Not only will the winner and the winner's dish be featured in Family Circle magazine, but they will also avoid having to participate in the elimination challenge.

The remaining 12 contestants are broken up into two teams to prep, cook, and plate 30 dishes for teenagers celebrating their Sweet 16 birthdays. Each team receives a surprise box with 16 different ingredients and one protein. They'll have 60 minutes to prepare and present their dishes to the diners, who then will vote on their favorite dish. To kick off the challenge, judge Christina Tosi exhibits her signature three-layer cake for the contestants. Find out who bakes their way through the pressure and who melts down.

The losing contestants from the Sweet 16 Challenge in last week's episode are faced with the Birthday Cake pressure test and will have 90 minutes to bake a three-layer birthday cake and then face a dramatic elimination. The remaining contestants are dropped off in the middle of a vegetable field and surprised by the judges - Gordon Ramsay, Christina Tosi, and guest judge Edward Lee - who inform them of their next team field challenge. The teams go head-to-head with 75 minutes to prepare and cook their dishes, followed by 45 minutes to serve more than 100 hungry farmers.

The Top 10 contestants have 60 minutes to prep, cook and plate a Nutella breakfast dish. The winner, who is safe from the next elimination challenge, also gets to choose what dish the other contestants must prepare for the challenge. Will it be paella, bibimbap, or risotto?.

Guest judge Kevin Sbraga cooks alongside the Top 9 in the next Mystery Box Challenge, as they create an impressive dish using unique upscale ingredients. The contestants then go head-to-head in the elimination challenge, cooking with either fresh salmon or canned salmon.

The Top 8 chefs face a three-part potato skill test. Guest judge Kevin Sbraga.

The 7 remaining cooks compete in their next Mystery Box Challenge using 3 basic utensils to prepare 2 dishes. The contestants are paired up and go head-to-head in the elimination challenge to create a picnic platter.

The 6 remaining contestants compete in the series' classic pop-up restaurant challenge.

The 5 remaining contestants are introduced to special culinary guest judge Richard Blais - chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author - who reveals the seventh Mystery Box challenge. The winner will avoid competing in the elimination challenge and the remaining contestants are given five minutes to shop for a basket full of twenty ingredients. With an unexpected twist in the competition, one is eliminated.

The 4 remaining contestants are given 90 minutes to prepare either a halibut or duck entrée for VIP food critics in the Studio Box challenge. The winning team will be exempt from the elimination challenge and the losing team will face the Pressure Test to recreate three pork dishes.

In the next challenge, with help from some familiar home cooks, the remaining 3 have one hour to prepare an amazing appetizer dish.

The contestants have one hour to create entrees and one hour to create a dessert. After evaluating the final dishes, the judges reveal America's next MasterChef, and the deserving home cook walks away with the trophy, a book deal, and the 0,000 grand prize.