Adelaide contestant Jessie Spiby has been eliminated from the MasterChef competition. Source: Supplied

The time auction elimination challenge saw three hot favourites Reynold, Jessie and Georgia face off in a desperate bid to stay in the competition.

With judge Matt Preston acting as auctioneer, the three tried to outbid each other for their preferred ingredients. But their currency wasn’t money, it was their cooking time and each contestant started off with 100 minutes to spend at auction.

Winning the chicken, spices and root vegetables at auction, the 28-year-old graphic designer had just 60 minutes to cook, while Reynold and Georgia had an extra 15 minutes up their sleeve.

Under time pressure from the very start, Jessie was worried about the simplicity of her dish and tried to amp it up with a caramelised parsnip puree.

Some quick thinking with the roast chicken in the last 10 minutes meant that it was cooked to perfection, but unfortunately the judges thought her sauce was bitter.

In the end, it came down to close friends Georgia and Jessie, with the judges commenting that the herb butter in Georgia’s sardine dish was too much. But they couldn’t ignore the bitterness of Jessie’s sauce and this proved enough to send her home.

The rest of the contestants we’re disappointed to see their friend leave, but Matt Preston had a surprise in store for Adelaide born contestant, handing her chef Duncan Welgemoed’s phone number so that she could tee up some work experience with him at Africola in Adelaide.

News.com.au caught up with Jessie Spiby after being eliminated to see how she was feeling.

Jessie Spiby with fellow MasterChef contestant Stephen Rooney. Source: Supplied

What was your best moment on the show?

“Definitely the Power Apron Week. I think I really surprised myself when I won the apron without any judges’ discussion. I felt really proud of that dish.”

Which piece of feedback was the most difficult to swallow?

“I don’t particularly remember any feedback that I didn’t like to receive from the judges. I really like critique and I kind of live for constructive criticism.”

One piece of advice from the judges that really stuck with you?

“During Marco Week, Marco said to not be intimidated by other people in the kitchen, and at that point in the competition I was feeling really intimidated by other people and feeling really unconfident and I didn’t really believe in myself, so when he said that it really struck a chord with me.”

Do you have a favourite judge?

“I honestly don’t have a favourite judge!”

What surprised you the most about your time on MasterChef?

“How harmonious 24 people living together really was ... I think we must have magically fitted in really well together.”

What have you missed most while in the competition?

“Definitely my boyfriend and my dog Dave.”

What have you learnt about yourself?

“To trust myself a little bit more and to have more confidence within myself. I’m still learning to not be so hard on myself.”

Who do you think will take out this season of MasterChef?

“Billie or Reynold.”

MasterChef continues Sunday night, 7.30pm on Ten.

Jessie Spiby missed out on a spot in this season’s MasterChef Top 6. Source: Channel 10