MasterChef viewers snipe about basic mistake as hopeful botches dessert

What did you miss?

MasterChef viewers were left questioning the standard on the cooking show after one of the hopefuls sprinkled salt over his dessert instead of sugar.

The BBC contest is back with its 20th series and Monday night’s instalment (April 8) saw the chefs tasked with making something using one “basic to brilliant” ingredient. After the first two contestants sailed through to the next round, the remaining four were asked to whip up a floating meringue.

However, chef Charlie faced some problems in the kitchen.

What, how, and why?

The cook’s troubles started when his custard started to scramble before judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode tucked in. And things went from bad to worse when they realised he’d salted his pudding.

After tasting the dish, Wallace told him: “I think you may have sprinkled salt on there instead of sugar… I am picking up a little bit of salt.” Looking bashful, Charlie replied: “Fingers in the wrong jar.”

The gaffe left fans scratching their heads, with some taking to X to comment. One moaned about the "lack of any talent on display this year from 99% of people". "How on Earth do you accidentally use salt in a dessert," they asked.

“All you need to do to get to the quarter finals these days is know the difference between salt & sugar,” sniped someone else.

“You mixed up salt and sugar? I really hope you don't get a voting card,” another viewer posted.

Others noted that a MasterChef contestant made the same blunder last week. “The salt/sugar mix-up continues on MasterChef… why chefs should taste their food during cooking and before serving,” said one. Another exclaimed: “Can't believe a second contestant has mistaken the sugar for salt.”

However, others thought it was an easy mistake to make.

“Tbf they should make salt and sugar in different colours to avoid such confusion...” said one person. Another thought it was a shame that Charlie was sent packing.

“Charlie should’ve got through, just for the sheer ambition and amount of skills he displayed,” they said. “Easy mistake to confuse salt and sugar when baking.”

And one joked: “They are clearly testing the MasterChef contestants by putting sugar in the salt cellar and vice versa.”

What else happened on MasterChef?

There was also a saga with eggs, with a few of the chefs struggling to separate them as they made their meringues and asking for more. Torode looked unimpressed as cook after cook requested extras.

"How many more eggs do we give to these contestants before we say, 'That's all you've got'," he wondered.

"You have to wonder how some of these people get on the show when they can't even separate eggs," one fan mused. Another joked: "There comes a point when they have to say there's no more eggs, just Bird's Custard left. And when that's done it's Angel Delight. And when that's done it's dust."

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