Throng

7:30pm Wednesday, February 10 on TV One

The top 24 contestants are taken to an old air-force hangar in West Auckland for three grueling challenges, to find who will go through to the top 12, on MasterChef New Zealand, tonight at 7.30pm on TV ONE.

First up is the taste test, where the contestants must attempt to identify the 19 ingredients MasterChef judge Simon Gault used to make his large pot of ragout - a meat stew. The contestants' challenge is to identify as many of the 19 ingredients as they can. But how will they fare - especially the only vegan contestant, who hasn't tasted meat for years?

Next, the judges bring in a boat trailer full of whole salmon and Gault demonstrates how to fillet a fish. Then it's the contestants' turn, and while some have filleted fish before, for many this is their first time - and they soon find it isn't as easy as it looks.

The final phase is the Mystery Box challenge. Under each box the contestants find 13 ingredients, including duck breast, plums, vegetables and rice paper. They have just 30 minutes to cook a dish using only the ingredients in the box, then each will present their dish to the judges for tasting.

Only 12 will go through - with the rest going home - so the pressure is on. Watch MasterChef New Zealand to see who makes it to the top 12.