Children between the ages of eight and thirteen-years old apply to become a contestant on the series. 24 of the best applicants are chosen to audition.At the auditions, the applicants are split into three groups. One group prepares seafood dishes, one prepares pasta dishes, and one group prepares dessert dishes to present to the judges. Twelve of the applicants become contestants, receive one of the MasterChef franchises signature aprons, and move on to the next round. After the audition round, two contestants are sent home per episode. The winner receives a prize of US$100,000.