With all the cured trout and confit on display in Sunday night's MasterChef semi-final, it's difficult to believe six years ago chicken skewers and tzatziki made the MasterChef menu.

MasterChef judges have praised the top contestants, telling the semi-finals cooks they stood "in awe" of their dishes.

The final three of MasterChef 2015: Jessica Arnott, Billie McKay and Georgia Barnes.

"Individually, we can safely saw that those six dishes were the best food we've ever tasted in this competition. Ever," judge Gary Mehigan told the final three.