America's Test Kitchen

Last updated

America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen Logo New.svg
Also known asAmerica's Test Kitchen from Cooks Illustrated Magazine
Genre Cooking
Presented by
  • Christopher Kimball (2001–2016)
  • Julia Collin Davison (cast member, 2001–present; host, 2017–present)
  • Bridget Lancaster (cast member, 2001–present; host, 2017–present)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons24
No. of episodes597 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers Jack Bishop
Kaitlin Keleher
Julia Collin Davison
Bridget Lancaster
Production locations Brookline, Massachusetts (seasons 1–18)
Boston, Massachusetts (seasons 19–present)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time27 minutes
Production companies WETA
America's Test Kitchen Productions
Original release
Networksyndication/Create
ReleaseAugust 4, 2001 (2001-08-04) 
present
Related
Cook's Country

America's Test Kitchen (originally America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated Magazine) is a half-hour long cooking show broadcast by public television stations and Create and distributed by American Public Television. Originally hosted by Christopher Kimball, the program currently is co-hosted by Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster. [1]

Contents

On the show, a handful of test cooks are filmed in a real, working test kitchen, including hosts Davison and Lancaster and chefs Keith Dresser, Becky Hayes, Lan Lam, Erin McMurrer, Elle Simone Scott, and Dan Souza. Also, Bryan Roof, Christie Morrison, Ashley Moore, Lawman Johnson, and Morgan Bolling prepare recipes as they discuss what works, what doesn't, and why, highlighting the rigorous recipe testing process at the core of the test kitchen's mission. Equipment expert Adam Ried, gadget critic Lisa McManus, and tasting expert Jack Bishop help viewers understand what to look for when buying gear and ingredients. [2]

The show is affiliated with America's Test Kitchen, publishers of Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines, and beginning in Season 19, the show is recorded at ATK's test kitchen facility at the Innovation and Design Building in Boston, Massachusetts. [3]

On February 2, 2023, Marquee Brands became a majority owner of ATK (America's Test Kitchen Limited Partnership) and its associated brands, including Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country. [4]

On March 24, 2023, America's Test Kitchen laid off 23 workers or about 10 percent of its staff. That included the entire team that worked on the ATK Kids brand. [5]

Episode format

A typical episode of the show consists primarily of two or three recipes that are consistent with the theme of the episode. Each recipe is tested 40-60 times before appearing on the show or in the books, at an average cost of $10,000; they also have a network of 35,000 people who have volunteered to test them. [6] For broadcast, each recipe is presented by a test cook to one of the hosts, Julia Collin Davison or Bridget Lancaster, who walk through recipe steps, explain common problems that can occur when cooking it, and explain how to cook it the right way by sharing discoveries made during the testing and the science behind the recipe using instructional graphics. Periodically throughout the episode, other segments are inserted, usually consisting of two or more of the following: [7]

Through season 6 the show was taped in standard definition, 4:3 video; season 7 saw the show switch to widescreen 16:9 video. The high definition version of the show is broadcast as part of PBS HD's master digital schedule, and by some PBS affiliates as part of their normal schedules.

During recording, 26 episodes are videotaped during a three-week period. Six recipes are recorded per day, and there are two recipes demonstrated per episode. [8]

Cast

America's Test Kitchen features several recurring cast members, although not every cast member appears in each episode; usually only one or two of the chefs appears in an episode. [9]

Current

Former

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 13August 4, 2001 (2001-08-04)October 27, 2001 (2001-10-27)
2 26January 5, 2002 (2002-01-05)June 29, 2002 (2002-06-29)
3 26January 4, 2003 (2003-01-04)June 28, 2003 (2003-06-28)
4 26January 3, 2004 (2004-01-03)June 26, 2004 (2004-06-26)
5 26January 1, 2005 (2005-01-01)June 25, 2005 (2005-06-25)
6 26January 7, 2006 (2006-01-07)July 1, 2006 (2006-07-01)
7 26January 6, 2007 (2007-01-06)June 30, 2007 (2007-06-30)
8 26January 5, 2008 (2008-01-05)June 28, 2008 (2008-06-28)
9 26January 3, 2009 (2009-01-03)June 27, 2009 (2009-06-27)
10 26January 2, 2010 (2010-01-02)June 26, 2010 (2010-06-26)
11 26January 8, 2011 (2011-01-08)June 25, 2011 (2011-06-25)
12 26January 7, 2012 (2012-01-07)June 30, 2012 (2012-06-30)
13 26January 5, 2013 (2013-01-05)June 29, 2013 (2013-06-29)
14 26January 4, 2014 (2014-01-04)June 28, 2014 (2014-06-28)
15 26January 3, 2015 (2015-01-03)July 18, 2015 (2015-07-18)
16 26January 2, 2016 (2016-01-02)July 30, 2016 (2016-07-30)
17 26January 7, 2017 (2017-01-07)July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)
18 26January 6, 2018 (2018-01-06)June 30, 2018 (2018-06-30)
19 26January 5, 2019 (2019-01-05)August 3, 2019 (2019-08-03)
20 26January 4, 2020 (2020-01-04)June 27, 2020 (2020-06-27)
21 26January 2, 2021 (2021-01-02)June 26, 2021 (2021-06-26)
22 26January 8, 2022 (2022-01-08)July 2, 2022 (2022-07-02)
23 26January 7, 2023 (2023-01-07)July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01)
24 26January 7, 2024 (2024-01-07)TBA

Other media

Books

Date PublishedTitleDescriptionNew York Times Best Seller
February 15, 2011Slow Cooker RevolutionOne Test Kitchen. 30 Slow Cookers. 200 Amazing Recipes.Yes check.svg
March 15, 2013Pressure Cooker Perfection100 Foolproof Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook
September 10, 2013Slow Cooker Revolution Volume 2The Easy-Prep Edition
October 15, 2013The America's Test Kitchen Cooking School CookbookEverything You Need to Know to Become a Great Cook.
March 4, 2014The How Can it Be Gluten Free CookbookRevolutionary Techniques. Groundbreaking Recipes.Yes check.svg
October 13, 2014100 RecipesThe Absolute Best Ways To Make The True Essentials
October 20, 2014The Cook's Illustrated Meat BookThe Game-Changing Guide That Teaches You How to Cook Meat and Poultry with 425 Bulletproof Recipes
October 27, 2014The New Family CookbookAll-New Edition of the Best-Selling Classic with 1,100 New Recipes
January 1, 2015Healthy Slow Cooker RevolutionOne Test Kitchen. 40 Slow Cookers. 200 Fresh Recipes.
March 1, 2015The Complete Vegetarian CookbookA Fresh Guide to Eating Well with 700 Foolproof RecipesYes check.svg
April 15, 2015The Best Mexican RecipesKitchen-Tested Recipes Put the Real Flavors of Mexico Within Reach
August 11, 2015Cook's Country Eats Local150 Regional Recipes You Should Be Making No Matter Where You Live
October 13, 2015The How Can It Be Gluten-Free Cookbook Volume 2New Whole-Grain Flour Blend. 75+ Dairy-Free Recipes.
October 27, 2015The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2016Every Recipe from the Hit TV Show with Product Ratings and a Look Behind the Scenes
February 23, 2016Cook It in Cast IronKitchen-Tested Recipes for the One Pan That Does It All
April 26, 2016Master of the GrillFoolproof Recipes, Top-Rated Gadgets, Gear & Ingredients Plus Clever Test Kitchen Tips & Fascinating Food Science
April 26, 2016Foolproof PreservingA Guide to Small Batch Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Condiments, and More
August 23, 2016Naturally SweetBake All Your Favorites with 30% to 50% Less Sugar
September 6, 2016Bread IllustratedA Step-By-Step Guide to Achieving Bakery-Quality Results At Home
October 4, 2016Cook's ScienceHow to Unlock Flavor in 50 of our Favorite IngredientsYes check.svg
October 4, 2016The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2017The Year's Best Recipes, Equipment Reviews, and Tastings
October 25, 2016What Good Cooks Know20 Years of Test Kitchen Expertise in One Essential Handbook
December 27, 2016The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook500 Vibrant, Kitchen-Tested Recipes for Living and Eating Well Every Day
April 4, 2017Vegan for EverybodyFoolproof Plant-Based Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and In-Between
July 11, 2017The Complete Make-Ahead CookbookFrom Appetizers to Desserts 500 Recipes You Can Make in Advance
November 28, 2017The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook650 Recipes for Everything You'll Ever Want to Make
February 6, 2018How to Roast EverythingA Game-Changing Guide to Building Flavor in Meat, Vegetables, and More
February 27, 2018Just Add SauceA Revolutionary Guide to Boosting the Flavor of Everything You Cook
March 27, 2018The Perfect CakeYour Ultimate Guide to Classic, Modern, and Whimsical Cakes
April 17, 2018Multicooker PerfectionCook it Fast or Cook it Slow - You Decide
April 17, 2018Dinner Illustrated175 Meals Ready in 1 Hour or Less
August 28, 2018The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Season 11 EditionEvery Recipe, Every Ingredient Tasting, Every Equipment Rating From All 11 Seasons
September 4, 2018All Time Best BrunchStandout recipes and time-tested tips
September 4, 2018All Time Best Dinners for TwoLeave it to America's Test Kitchen to help you get a perfectly scaled dinner for two on the table - no guesswork required
September 25, 2018The New Essentials CookbookA Modern Guide to Better Cooking
September 25, 2018Sous Vide For EverybodyThe Easy, Foolproof Cooking Technique That's Sweeping the World
October 2, 2018The Best of America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2019Every Recipe From The Hit TV Show With Product Ratings and a Look Behind the Scenes.
October 16, 2018The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs100 kid-tested, kid approved recipes for every kid chefYes check.svg
October 16, 2018123 the Farm and MeReaders will have fun counting along as they go from the farm, to the store, to their kitchen, to their table to share a dinner
October 16, 2018A is for ArtichokeWords and definitions that are sure to delight babies and foodies alike
October 23, 2018Cook's Illustrated Revolutionary RecipesGroundbreaking techniques. Compelling voices. One-of-a-kind Recipes.
November 6, 2018The Complete Diabetes CookbookThe Healthy Way to Eat the Foods You Love
December 4, 2018Cook it in Your Dutch Oven150 Foolproof Recipes Tailor-Made for Your Kitchen's Most Versatile Pot
January 29, 2019Air Fryer PerfectionFrom Crispy Fries and Juicy Steaks to Perfect Vegetables, What to cook & How to Get the Best Results
February 12, 2019How to Braise EverythingClassic, Modern, and Global Dishes Using a Time-Honored Technique
March 5, 2019Vegetable IllustratedAn Inspiring Guide with 700+ Kitchen-Tested Recipes
April 2, 2019The Complete Baby and Toddler CookbookThe Very Best Purees, Finger Foods, and Toddler Meals for Happy Families
April 30, 2019The Ultimate BurgerPlus DIY Condiments, Sides, and Boozy Milkshakes
May 14, 2019SpicedUnlock the Power of Spices to Transform Your Cooking
June 11, 2019Instant Pot Ace Blender Cook BookFoolproof Recipes for the Blender That Also Cooks
August 27, 2019The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Season 12 EditionEvery Recipe, Every Ingredient Testing, Every Equipment Rating From All 11 Seasons
September 3, 2019Stir Crack Whisk BakeA Little Book about Little Cakes
September 3, 2019Cookies for SantaThe Story of How Santa's Favorite Cookie Saved Christmas
September 10, 2019The Perfect PieYour Ultimate Guide to Classic and Modern Pies, Tarts, Galettes, and More
October 1, 2019The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs100+ Sweet & Savory Recipes That You'll Love To Bake, Share & Eat!Yes check.svg
October 8, 2019How to CocktailRecipes and Techniques for Building the Best Drinks
November 5, 2019Side Dish Bible1001 Perfect Recipes for Every Vegetable, Rice, Grain, and Bean Dish You Will Ever Need
December 17, 2019BowlsVibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities
December 31, 2019Mediterranean Instant PotEasy, Inspired Meals for Eating Well
January 28, 2020Big Flavors from Italian AmericaFamily-Style Favorites from Coast to Coast
January 28, 2020Everything ChocolateA Decadent Collection of Morning Pastries, Nostalgic Sweets, and Showstopping Desserts
March 3, 2020My First CookbookFun recipes to cook togetherYes check.svg
March 31, 2020Easy Everyday KetoHealthy Kitchen-Perfected Recipes
April 7, 2020100 TechniquesMaster a Lifetime of Cooking Skills, from Basic to Bucket List
April 21, 2020The Complete Summer CookbookBeat the Heat with 400 Recipes that Make the Most of Summer's Bounty
May 5, 2020Foolproof FishModern Recipes for Everyone, Everywhere
September 1, 2020Cooking for OneScaled Recipes, No-Waste Solutions, and Time-Saving Tips for Cooking for Yourself
October 27, 2020Meat IllustratedA Foolproof Guide to Understanding and Cooking with Cuts of All Kinds
October 27, 2020The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2021Every Recipe
November 3, 2020Complete One Pot Cookbook400 Complete Meals
November 17, 2020How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook Collection350+ Groundbreaking Recipes for All Your Favorites
December 1, 2020Complete Plant-Based Cookbook500 Inspired, Flexible Recipes for Eating Well without Meat
October 5, 2021The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2022Every Recipe

Radio shows

Awards

YearTitleAward
2016America's Test KitchenDaytime Emmy Award Nomination: Outstanding Culinary Program [17]
2012America's Test KitchenDaytime Emmy Award Winner: Outstanding Directing in a Lifestyle/Culinary Program [18]
2011America's Test KitchenDaytime Emmy Award Nomination: Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Host [19]
2011America's Test KitchenDaytime Emmy Award Nomination: Outstanding Culinary Program [19]
2010America's Test KitchenDaytime Emmy Award Nomination: Outstanding Culinary Program [20]

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