Dan Merriman was crowned winner of the MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 series earlier this week and has since appeared on BBC Morning Live to offer some culinary tips to his fans
Newly crowned 2024 MasterChef: The Professionals champion, sous chef Dan Merriman, is dishing out his expert advice to home cooks eager to slice and dice like a pro.
The 29-year old culinary expert, from Accrington, Lancashire, took to Instagram after his win to show off his slick chopping skills on BBC Morning Live. “The safest way is to always make sure you have a flat surface,” he told presenters Gordon Smart and Jacqui Joseph while handling a courgette. “It’s sturdy on the board, it’s not going to roll around.”
With the veg firmly in place, Dan revealed his next tip: “Second step is a rocking motion with the knife – but making sure the fingertip is tucked behind the knife and the knife is just rubbing against the finger.”
As Dan chopped away at speed, he stressed to Gordon that finger placement is crucial. The host gave it a go himself, forming a “claw” over the courgette, and managed to chop nearly as fast as his mentor.
Fans on Instagram were quick to congratulate the “worthy winner” Dan, calling the final “fabulous”, meanwhile. “Congratulations Dan, have been rooting for you since the first show, enjoy your Chinese with your lovely partner and baby boy,” one fan commented. “Very well done to Chiara and George. Amazing dishes from you both.”
A second exclaimed: “Fabulous final, three worthy winners! Delighted for Dan, lovely human and fabulous chef.” A third agreed: “A fabulous final. What a great trio of chefs and a hugely deserved win for Dan. His reaction was astonishing. So well deserved (they all deserved to win).”
While a fourth admirer couldn’t contain their joy: “I’m so happy you won. You were amazing throughout and knew you were going to win ages ago.”
Following his triumph, Dan took to Instagram to thank everyone involved, writing: “Well that’s it, Masterchef champion 2024. He continued, trophy in hand: “The level of [fellow finalists] Georgie Birtie and Chiara Tomasoni as chefs is phenomenal and I’m so grateful to have shared the kitchen with these chefs, this would have never been a reality for me without these guys and all the incredible chefs I have met in this competition.”
