Getting fresh with the ‘Masterchef SA’ pantry manager

Every week MasterChef South Africa fans watch excited contestants fill their baskets with fresh produce ahead of nail-biting cooking sessions, but few know about the secrets of the pantry and the man who runs it. Food producer Herman Lensing, 37, has overseen the beautifully organised MasterChef SA pantry for five seasons and says stocking it for different cooking challenges requires not only meticulous and creative planning but also a very low tolerance for waste. “We’re very proud of the sustainability and green set practices we’ve implemented onMasterChef South Africa.

“We work with a dedicated partner, Green Set, who monitors all our waste and ensures it’s handled responsibly. “A big part of this programme is managing the pantry carefully. “Any ingredients that are no longer safe to use are responsibly redirected, for example to local farms.” Recycling and keeping an eye on low impact packaging is another impressive hallmark of the show’s pantry operation.

“We actively recycle and measure all our waste to keep operations as efficient as possible. “One of the things that really sets our pantry apart is that around 80% of our produce is packaging-free, which significantly reduces our environmental impact. “It’s something the internationalMasterCheffranchise has recognised, which we’re incredibly proud of. “We also encourage contestants to cook more consciously and minimise waste — it’s something the judges do take into account when evaluating dishes.”