‘MasterChef Junior’ contestant nearly lost a finger

LOS ANGELES – A contestant from the upcoming season of “MasterChef Junior” nearly lost her finger in a gruesome cooking accident just days before arriving in Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen.

Addison Olsa Smith, 9, had just prepared guacamole for her family in suburban Chicago when she turned to wash off a hand-held blender.

“I didn’t realize it was still plugged in,” she told FOX411. “My hand slipped, turned on the blender and it ripped up my finger. I had to go to the E.R. and get a bunch of stitches.”

The fearless fourth grader says her finger was “chipped to the bone” and remains numb six months later.

“I was actually with a cooking coach when it happened,” she remembered.

“I didn’t think it was bad (at first) because at the time I was in shock. But when I put it in the water and the water turned all red…it was gross. My finger is in okay shape now, but the nail is really weird.”

She added, “It will for sure heal completely.”

Addison was forced to wear a rubber finger sleeve and glove while competing on the Fox cooking series, which returns for a fourth season on Nov. 6.

In the premiere episode, 24 young cooks — ages 8 to 12 — must first prepare a signature burger, then a dessert comprised of marshmallows.

Addison began cooking at age 4 but admits she didn’t truly embrace her culinary talents until watching previous seasons of “MasterChef Junior”

“They inspired me to keep cooking more,” she said. “I started coming home from school and wanting to bake and cook dinner at the age of seven.”

Now she aspires to write her own cookbook and someday open a restaurant.

When she’s not in the kitchen, Addison participates in local theater, plays six different sports and enjoys reading.

“One of the other things I am really passionate about is helping homeless people,” she said. “I go to this food pantry and I help out there. I really want to give back to the homeless and people who have less than they need.”

“MasterChef Junior” airs Fridays at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.