'MasterChef Junior' season seven kicks off with 24 pint-sized home cooks

Top 24 face first ‘Mystery Box Challenge’ on season premiere, Tuesday, Feb. 26, on FOX

Kicking off its seventh season, “MasterChef Junior” gives talented kids between the ages of 8 and 13 the chance to showcase their culinary abilities and passion for food through a series of fun, mouth-watering challenges. Having already won a coveted white apron, 24 young chef-testants – 12 girls and 12 boys – must prove that they deserve to stay in the game by completing their first “Mystery Box Challenge.”

Award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay and renowned pastry chef Christina Tosi will be joined by celebrated chef and restaurateur Aaron Sanchez on the judges’ panel. These three culinary heavyweights will determine which pint-sized home cook will be named America’s next “MasterChef Junior” winner, taking home a trophy and $100,000 in prize money.

Season seven will feature even more unique and messy challenges for the judges and chef-testants, including attending and preparing a meal for 51 circus performers, pulling a live lobster out of a tank and having 60 minutes to make a mind-blowing dish, competing to see which team can first roll out a perfect sheet of pasta to a length of 24 feet, and powering through the fan-favorite restaurant takeover challenge.

In the premiere episode, “Culinary ABC’s,” airing Tuesday, Feb. 26 (8 p.m. ET/PT), on FOX, the top 24 must prove they’ve mastered the first meal of the day, breakfast, in a “Mystery Box Challenge.” Then, school lunches get a total makeover as contestants are tasked with elevating three classic school lunch dishes into restaurant-quality cuisine.

Fans can “Like” “MasterChef Junior” on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChefJuniorFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @MasterChefJrFOX and join the discussion at #MasterChefJunior. Check out photos and videos on Instagram @masterchefjunior/.

Be part of “Camp MasterChef” this summer! Join former “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Junior” winners and fan favorites for an enriching and immersive culinary experience designed for kids and teens ages 8-16. For more information or to register for “Camp MasterChef,” visit CampMasterChef.com.