The heat is on. A fresh group of home cooks from around the country will eagerly tackle challenges that will see one of them take home the title and $250,000.

After a record-breaking first-round cook that saw an extraordinary 20 aprons handed out, only four aprons remain. Who will have what it takes to impress the judges?

In the third and final round of the judge's auditions, six contestants are vying for the final apron, which will secure them a place in the top 24.

Top 24 Mystery Box Challenge: Elena Duggan The top 24 contestants enter the kitchen for their first mystery box challenge.

Hidden Pairs Elimination Challenge Bottom 4 cooking of in the mystery pairs elimination challenge.

Each judge has placed three of their favourite ingredients into the mystery box and contestants will have 75 minutes to create a remarkable dish for a chance at immunity.

The three contestants with the least impressive dishes from the invention test face off in the pressure test. To survive they must keep up with Gary Mehigan as he prepares his classic roast chicken.

The top three contestants from the invention test now compete in creating a family meal for four in half-an-hour. The winner will then take on a professional chef for a chance at immunity.

The contestants gather at Gradi, one of Melbourne's leading Italian restaurants before being split into two teams who must prepare four dishes for 250 hungry diners to avoid the elimination challenge.

The losing team from the Italian service challenge face elimination. Who will be the next to leave the competition? Plus, don't miss the first MasterClass of 2017 led by judges Gary, George and Matt.

Contestants have 75 minutes to create a dish using ingredients from the mystery box with the winner gaining the advantage in the invention test.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now face a pressure test to recreate Andy Bowdy's Rita cake to avoid elimination. Who will be the next to leave the competition?

The three best performers from the invention test are now vying for a chance at immunity. Does the amateur cook have what it takes to out-cook the professional?

The contestants are split into teams of four in a relay challenge as each member has 15 minutes to cook and only 45 seconds to hand over to the next cook in the relay.

The losing team from the relay challenge now face elimination and the contestants have 90 minutes which they can use to buy ingredients. Who will be the next to leave the competition?

Contestants have 90 minutes to create a delicious dessert from the mystery box ingredients. However, only five dishes will be tasted and only three will move on to the immunity challenge.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now face off in the pressure test elimination, and have to recreate an ice cream float with a helium-filled toffee ballon.

The three best-performing contestants from the invention test compete for immunity. Each contestant has 90 minutes to create a dessert while the professional chefs will only have 75 minutes.

Contestants will be working in teams to build an edible art installation in a specially constructed greenhouse. With just 8 hours to impress the judges which team will be safe from elimination?

The losing team from the greenhouse challenge now face elimination. The first three to fail the blindfold taste test will have 75 minutes to prepare an impressive dish to stay in the competition.

Contestants have 75 minutes to create a delicious dish from the mystery box of traditional Thai ingredients to gain advantage in the invention test.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now cook off in a three hour pressure test set by 2016's Chef of the Year. Who will impress and who has cooked their last dish in the competition?

The three best performers in the invention test battle it out for the chance to cook for an immunity pin. Will the amateur contestant have what it takes to out-cook a professional?

Each team must serve two dishes in one of four market-friendly ways at the famous South Melbourne Market. The two teams that make the least amount of money will face off in an elimination challenge.

Eight contestants now face elimination and must survive three rounds if they are to keep their food dream alive. Will one of the top contenders fail to impress the judges?