Khanh Ong

The contestants are in for a huge surprise when the judges reveal that it is survival week and the remaining competitors must cook to stay each day.

The amateur cooks have one hour to recreate their signature dishes for the judges' first auditions, as the judges and nine past winners offer their support.

The contestants have to reinvent three humble frozen dinners, including fish and chips, a chicken dish and beef with three types of vegetables.

The contestants face an offsite challenge in Melbourne's inner city suburb of Fitzroy, where they must each prepare a main course and dessert for 25 people.

Survival week's remaining contestants learn about decision making under pressure when they must decide which is more important to them, ingredients or time.

Chefs face a three-round sudden death skills challenge. They have to dice vegetables using a brunoise cut, prep a hollandaise sauce and cook a salted caramel sauce.