In the Test Kitchen

Lots of cultures and countries love steak, but it has this almost iconic status in American culture. There are so many different cuts and so many different ways to cook them. Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey dive into three recipes and discuss the cooking techniques that go into making them seamlessly at home.  Recipes Mentioned: Pan Seared Strip Steak Shio Koji-Marinated Flank Steak Slow-Roasted Medium-...

Every couple of months at America’s Test Kitchen, an informal poll emerges among test cooks about which starch–bread, pasta, or rice–reigns supreme. It’s always a tight race, but it’s no surprise why rice is often a top contender: it’s a beloved staple across the world. In this episode, Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey eat their way through 3 rice dishes and ask: What makes rice the world’s most popular...

Meatballs span cultures and come in all shapes, sizes, and sauces. Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey try three recipes from around the world and ask: What makes the perfect meatball?  Recipes eaten in episode: Meatballs and Marinara Lion’s Head Meatballs Albóndigas (Spanish-Style Meatballs in Almond Sauce) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people say a sandwich is filling stuffed between two layers of bread. But what about hotdogs, or a loaded pocket of pita bread? Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey get into a heated debate about what exactly defines a sandwich on this week’s episode of In the Test Kitchen.  Recipes Eaten in episode: Italian Sub Diner-Style Sheet-Pan Tuna Melts Ultimate Grilled Vegetable Sandwich Learn more about your...

Salads often get a bad wrap as the thing you have to eat before the rest of the meal. In today’s episode of In the Test Kitchen: Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey finally give salads their due, and reveal how to make them the star of the show. Recipes Mentioned: Ultimate Wedge Salad Horiatiki Salata Neorm Sach Moan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making muffins used to be a rite of passage for test cooks and applicants who applied to work at America’s Test Kitchen. So we’ve eaten a lot of them; sweet, savory, and everything in between. In this episode, Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey take on the debate: What is a muffin, and what makes it great?  Recipes and reviews mentioned: Best Blueberry Muffins Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Muffins Sausage-...

Ask 10 people what their favorite kind of pizza is, and you’ll get 10 different answers. This week on In the Test Kitchen: Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey dive into the regional differences, Italian vs. American preferences, and the elements that go into making a great pie.  Recipes Mentioned: Neapolitan pizza Thin-Crust Pizza Detroit-Style Pizza Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Can you make a good fried chicken recipe at home? Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey say yes as they deconstruct 3 different recipes that represent three different styles of fried chicken. Plus, the quad reveals some fun KFC history, and discuss the difference between crunchy and crispy fried chicken. Recipes Mentioned: One-Batch Fried Chicken, Super Crunchy Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Chile Fried Chicken Le...

What is your ideal burger? In this episode, Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey debate which burger type–smash, pub, or meatloaf burger–reins supreme. Plus, what are the best burger fixings? Is it better to use high-end meats? Find out on this week’s In the Test Kitchen.  ATK Recipes Mentioned in today's episode: Smashed Burgers, Juicy Pub-Style Burgers with Crispy Shallots and Blue Cheese with Pub-Style Bu...

In the Test Kitchen is back with new hosts and a new show! In this premiere episode, hosts Lan Lam, Bryan Roof, Nik Sharma, and Lidey Heuck, dive into all things chocolate chip cookies. They chat about texture, size, and cookie thickness and ask: What makes the best chocolate chip cookie? Along the way, the quad taste tests 3 separate chocolate chip cookie recipes while dissecting the history, sci...

In the Test Kitchen will be back on Thursday, February 26 with new hosts and a new concept! Follow Lan Lam, Bryan Roof, Nik Sharma, and Lidey Heuck, as they take you behind the scenes into the meaty, nerdy, and zeitgeist-y conversations that happen at America's Test Kitchen. Each episode revolves around a dish as the quad debate about ingredients, dig into the science, and learn about the history...

Some new podcasts from America’s Test Kitchen are on the horizon! Here's a special preview of The Side Dish, hosted by Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison. Off-duty and unfiltered, they swap kitchen hacks, play games, and answer listener questions. Today’s episode is all about romance, because love (and great food) is always in the air. Subscribe to The Side Dish on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,...

In this episode of In the Test Kitchen, host Dan Souza and co-host Lan Lam welcome cookbook author, culinary historian, and stir-fry guru Grace Young to discuss her work as a fierce advocate for Chinatowns across the country. Grace reflects on how, as a young girl, she was inspired by Julia Child—a spark that eventually led her to publish her first cookbook, The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen. She...

In this episode of In the Test Kitchen, host Lan Lam and co-host Nik Sharma welcome chef and author Rick Martinez to talk about his vibrant new cookbook, Salsa Daddy. Rick opens up about the creative process behind the book and the challenges of bringing a deeply personal project to life. The conversation moves from his Texas roots and early food memories to reflections on family, legacy, and how...

Today's episode is from our friends atThe Sporkful podcast and features Chef Roy Choi, the man behind the legendary Kogi Korean taco truck and a pioneer of the gourmet food truck movement. Host Dan Pashman sits down with Chef Choi for a wide-ranging conversation about his unlikely path to success, the power of food to create community, and the TV moment that changed his life forever. Listen to our...

Host Dan Souza and co-host Lisa McManus welcome Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast and creator of the viral pasta shape cascatelli. Filmed on the Cook’s Country set, the trio dives deep into the world of pasta design, exploring what makes a perfect noodle and how texture, sauce-holding power, and mouthfeel come together in the ultimate bite. No matter how you feel spaghetti as a pasta shape...

Host Dan Souza and co-host Morgan Bolling welcome food writer and recipe developer Lidey Heuck. Lidey shares stories from her new cookbook Cooking In Real Life and reflects on the lessons she learned working alongside Ina Garten. They also dive into rice crispy treats, swapping their favorite variations and debating the best way to make this nostalgic classic. Order Lidey's cookbook, Cooking In Re...

Join host Dan Souza and co-host Morgan Bolling for a special conversation with Marina Mabrey of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. Marina opens up about overcoming adversity on the court and how an injury led her to discover a new passion in cooking. She shares the ways food became a source of inspiration and healing, along with the favorite dishes she looks for while traveling during the season. Trying...

Dan Souza and co-host Elle Simone sit down with culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris to talk about her new book, Braided Heritage. They explore the foundational food cultures of the Americas: Native, European, and African, and how these influences shaped the way we cook and eat today. Dr. Harris shares her love of okra, the surprising story of her beginnings as an English teacher, and her fond...

Dan Souza and co-host Nik Sharma sit down with the legendary baker and author Dorie Greenspan to talk about her new book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes. They dive into what makes a cake special enough for celebration versus perfect for every day, reminisce about the Darth Vader cake Dorie once baked for her son’s fourth birthday, and share the secret to achieving truly great pie dough. Pre-Order Dorie Gre...

Dan Souza and co-host Bryan Roof welcome legendary BBQ expert Meathead to talk all things grilling. From his new book to the age-old debate about pressing burgers on the grill, Meathead shares his take on the tips, tricks, and myths that every backyard cook should know. The conversation covers whether pressing burgers is a good idea, the best types of smoke to cook with, how to properly heat a wok...

Pastry chef, homesteader, and author Gesine Bullock-Prado joins Dan Souza and Morgan Bolling In the Test Kitchen to talk comfort food, homesteading in Vermont, and the science behind perfect pie crust. From chicken and rice to jalapeño popper grilled cheese, they explore easy weeknight recipes before diving into Gesine’s journey from Hollywood to homesteading, and how her German-American roots and...

Dan Souza and Lan Lam welcome cookbook author Aran Goyoaga for a conversation about her journey from a pastry-filled childhood in the Basque Country in Spain, to becoming a leader in gluten-free baking. They discuss the craft of recipe development, the challenges of gluten-free bread, and Aran’s inspiration for her forthcoming cookbook, which will be out in September. Pre-order Aran Goyoaga's book...

Winner of The Great American Baking Show and cookbook author Vallery Lomas joins the Test Kitchen to talk about her early cooking influences growing up in the South, her path from lawyer to baker, and her love of recipe development. From her experience filming competitive cooking shows to writing Life Is What You Bake It and contributing to When Southern Women Cook, Vallery shares the stories behi...

Comedian and Bob’s Burgers star Eugene Mirman joins the Test Kitchen to share his love of home cooking, pandemic kitchen hacks, and culinary creativity. From his days as a Food Network spokespotato to the origins of Bob’s Burgers, this episode serves up laughs, food tips, and behind-the-scenes stories. Check out Lan's genius technique for the perfect Sautéed Mushrooms that Dan and Hannah were ravi...