Third time MasterChef Australia returnee Laura Sharrad took out her seventh win during the Immunity Challenge that aired on July 23, narrowly beating out Depinder Chhiber and Sarah Todd.
After winning Immunity in the previous episode, Callum Hann was immune from the challenge, and the remaining five contestants were given a letter from home and asked to cook something that offered the judges a glimpse into their lives beyond the kitchen.
After receiving a letter from her husband Max, Laura drew inspiration from a recent trip to the Northern Territory with him and their daughter. She whipped up an aesthetically pleasing dish called Native Australian Summer, which consisted of wattleseed rough puff pastry, cinnamon myrtle crème pâtissière, muntries cooked in apple caramel, smoked paperbark-flavoured ice cream, and green ants.
While the judges were clearly blown away by her creation, her biggest competition was Depinder, who dished up her take on a Sadya, a traditional Indian feast served on a banana leaf, after being inspired by a trip she took to Kerala with her family.
Despite the judges’ enthusiastic feedback about Depinder’s dish, Laura was awarded immunity, and some social media users vented only that they felt that Depinder should have won.
Some social media users claim Depinder should have won
It’s no secret that Laura has gotten extensive airtime on MasterChef Australia 2025, which is likely connected to the seriously impressive dishes she’s been producing all season long.
However, some fans took issue with Laura winning again, and claimed that Depinder deserved to score Immunity in the round, with some going as far to claim that the show is “rigged”.
“Why do I punish myself watching MasterChef!! I would love Depinder to win.. but it seems to me that the “judges” have decided that Callum or Laura will win. Decided before the show began,” one person wrote on Twitter.
Why do I punish myself watching MasterChef!! I would love â¤ï¸â¤ï¸Depinder to win.. but it seems to me that the “ judges” have decided that Callum or Laura will win. Decided before the show began.
— Heather F.C. 💧 (@Heather15814898) July 23, 2025
Also would love Sarah and Jamie to have a better chance. This show is a farce.
“This season of MasterChef Australia would have been more interesting if right from episode 1 it wasn’t obvious that this is just a redemption story for Laura,” another user agreed.
Over on Reddit, many fans had the same sentiment, and were disappointed that Depinder didn’t get her flowers, with one writing that she was robbed, and another stating, “Should have been Depinder!!!”
“So Depinder cooks this brilliant dish in record time, Sarah kicks arse with ingenuity again but green ants win? Rightio,” a third posted.
A fourth person penned: “Oh man, I am gutted for Depinder. Two show stopping cooks in a row but still narrowly missing out on immunity.”
Depinder also had fans on Facebook rallying behind her, believing she was more deserving of the win.
“Depinder put so much effort and love in her dishes, they were perfect. I think the judges were totally wrong choosing Laura,” they wrote.
MasterChef Australia fans defend Laura
Some users took to social media to call out the criticism Laura has received from fans over her multiple wins and generous air time, saying she deserves it.
“People who post nonstop hatred toward Laura don’t realise how toxic they’re being. Imagine you were on MC AU putting in hard work week after week just for people to trash you no matter what you did just because they didn’t like you,” one Reddit user mused.
“Congratulations to Laura. I thought it was a very well-considered, concise dish and presentation,” another wrote. “Every flavour, temperature and texture on Laura’s dish seemed to have a clear purpose. It’s a very good example of ‘less is more.'”
Over on Facebook, a fan speculated that the editors of the show are purposely trying to confuse viewers about who will win the season.
“Is Masterchef deliberately trying to showcase stuff which is controversial? Like they knew what they were doing leading everyone to believe Depinder is winning then not give it to her, the editing is clearly making it more controversial than it might be. Looks like they’re going down the reality TV route where they purposely want fans annoyed so it boosts their engagement rates,” they wrote.
MasterChef Australia airs on Sunday at 7pm and Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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