Snackmasters: All about MasterChef star Poh's new foodie show

If you're anything like me, you're fascinated when people manage to make giant versions of their favourite chocolate bars. Watching them cut open that cake-sized Mars Bar and seeing the caramel ooze out over a huge layer of nougat is drool-worthy.

But just how easy is it to reproduce our favourite snack foods so that they taste as good as the original?

Snackmasters hosts Poh Ling Yeow and Scott Pickett sit at a restaurant dining table while holding mini drumstick ice creams
Snackmasters hosts Scott Pickett and Poh Ling Yeow get ready to taste test the drumsticks. Photo: Jessica Hromas

Just like Colonel Sanders secret blend of 11 herbs and spices for his famous KFC chicken, the recipe for some of our top treats are closely kept trade secrets.

Until now, that is. Famous foodies Poh Ling Yeow and Scott Pickett are on a mission to find out why hamburgers, chocolate bars and ice creams taste so good — and if they can be recreated — on Snackmasters.

The pair will challenge equally accomplished Aussie chefs to accurately replicate the look and taste of some of the country's favourite fast foods and snacks.

What is Snackmasters about?

Over four episodes, four pairs of chefs will go head-to-head in the Snack Arena to faithfully recreate a mouthwatering menu: Hungry Jacks Angry Whopper meal, the humble Twisties, Cadbury's Crunchie, Cherry Ripe and Picnic chocolate bars and a Choc Mint Drumstick icecream.

Which of these eight top fine-dining chefs can pull off the taste, look, and texture without straying too far from the original?

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A box of Cadbury Favourites chocolate bars on a small pedestal with a logo that reads 'Snackmasters'
Fine-dining chefs Lucinda Khan and Brian Geraghty must remake Cadbury's iconic Favourites chocolate bars. Photo Jessica Hromas
Snackmasters hosts Poh Ling Yeow and Scott Pickett stand in front of hot rod cars at the Whooper Burger Cook-Off at the Warriewood Hungry Jacks, Sydney
Poh and Scott at the Whooper Burger Cook-Off at the Warriewood Hungry Jacks, Sydney. Photo: Jessica Hromas

While the chefs are slaving away in the kitchen, Gogglebox sweet tooth Yvie Jones heads off to the factories of these four snack giants to get the inside scoop on just how they are really made.

"Infiltrating one factory at a time, I was on a mission to find out exactly how our beloved snacks are made. Tasting was mandatory – well, in my rule book!" Yvie declared.

Gogglebox star Yvie Jones in a red coat holding a box of mini Drumstick ice creams in a scene from Snackmasters
Gogglebox's Yvie Jones turns food detective for Snackmasters. Photo: Nine

And while Poh and Scott drop in on the chefs in their kitchens, it is not up to them to decide whether the professionals have completed their challenge successfully.

Four experts from the factories that make the snacks were chosen to judge the final product and have the honour of selecting who takes home the coveted Snack Trophy as Australia’s true 'Snackmaster'.

Chef Lucinda Khan in her kitchen at Metisse, Potts Point, with Snackmasters hosts Poh Ling Yeow and Scott Pickett
Poh and Scott make a surprise visit to chef Lucinda Khan in her kitchen at Metisse, Potts Point, during the Cadbury Favourites challenge. Photo: Jessica Hromas

"What excites me about Snackmasters is the show’s appeal to everyone from old to young," host Poh says.

"These snacks are a part of our Aussie identity and childhood memories, but most importantly this is a fun food show and right now the world needs fun."

"Snackmasters is a great fun show that really gives the viewers at home an insight into how their favourite snack is made," co-host Scott reveals.

How hard is it to recreate Twisties? Photo: Paul A. Broben
How hard is it to recreate Twisties? Photo: Paul A. Broben

"I'm a big chicken Twisties fan and it's something I would like to learn how to make myself,"

"The snack I’d most love to attempt is Twisties because I grew up obsessed with them and they're the most mysterious," Poh agrees.

"From a competition point of view, Twisties are definitely one of the toughest," she adds.

Quick snack facts:

  • Smith’s Adelaide factory makes 400,000 packets of Twisties every week.

  • 20,000 Hungry Jack’s staff are behind the 331,000 burgers devoured every day.

  • 16.8 million boxes of Favourites are produced every year.

  • The Peters Drumstick factory can make 750 Drumsticks a minute.

Snackmasters premieres Monday November 29 at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

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