America's Test Kitchen
TV-G
8.5
2001
Documentary
Equipment reviews, taste tests, and recipes from the test kitchen to the home cook. A team of test cooks that viewers have come to love and trust deconstruct recipes and reveal the test kitchen’s secrets to foolproof cooking at home.
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- Cast:
- Julia Collin Davison , Bridget Lancaster
Episode 26 : Favorite Slow Cooker Classics
June. 28,2008
Most of us think of the slow cooker as a kitchen workhorse best reserved for weeknight simple stews, hearty soups, and the like. But what about pulling the slow cooker out for entertaining?
Recipe: Beef Burgundy, Beer-Braised Short Ribs
Equipment: Slow Cookers
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Episode 24 : Two Ways with Shrimp
June. 14,2008
We explore two elegant approaches to shrimp—one hot dish and one cold—and find the best way to prepare each.
Recipe: Garlicky Shrimp with Bread Crumbs, Shrimp Salad
Equipment: Kitchen Timers
Taste test: Tuna
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Episode 23 : Four-Cheese Lasagna
June. 07,2008
The problem with four-cheese lasagna? Too often it’s heavy, greasy, and bland. Watch as we create an elegant lasagna with the right combination of cheese and a smooth and creamy sauce.
Recipe: Four-Cheese Lasagna, Spicy Salad with Mustard and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Equipment: Box Graters
Taste test: Balsamic Vinegar
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Episode 22 : Easy Skillet Suppers
May. 31,2008
Easy Skillet Suppers
Streamlined methods for Beef Stroganoff and Baked Ziti condense all the steps into one skillet—yes, even the noodles.
Recipe: Skillet Baked Ziti, Skillet Beef Stroganoff
Equipment: Can Openers
Taste test: Supermarket Extra-Virgin Olive Oils
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Episode 21 : Grilled Cornish Game Hens
May. 24,2008
We’ve always enjoyed roasting game hens and thought the grill might deliver even more flavor to the tender meat, grilling poultry is full of challenges—especially whole birds.
Recipe: Grill-Roasted Cornish Game Hens on a Charcoal Grill, Rice Salad with Oranges, Olives, and Almonds
Equipment: Chimney Starters
Taste test: Basmati Rice
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Episode 20 : Indian Favorites, Simplified
May. 17,2008
We develop home-cook-friendly versions of two Indian favorites: vegetable curry and chicken tikka masala.
Recipe: Indian-Style Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peas, and Chickpeas, Chicken Tikka Masala
Taste test: Crushed Tomatoes
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Episode 18 : Lightening Up Chocolate Desserts
May. 03,2008
Skipping dessert or eating a piece of fruit is an obvious way to cut calories, but where’s the fun in that? We set our sights on lowering the fat and calories in two favorite chocolate desserts—chocolate mousse and brownies.
Recipe: Low-Fat Chocolate Mousse, Fudgy Low-Fat Brownies
Taste test: Light Vanilla Ice Cream
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Episode 16 : Old-Fashioned Breakfast Cakes
April. 19,2008
Bakery versions of crumb cake often fall short. The crumb topping can be skimpy or dry and brittle. And the cake can suffer too, baking up too dry or not sturdy enough, so that the crumb topping simply sinks into the cake. We tackle these issues to develop the ultimate crumb cake.
Recipe: New York-Style Crumb Cake, Blueberry Boy Bait
Equipment: Square Cake Pans
Taste test: Hot Cocoa Mix
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Episode 15 : Pizza Party
April. 12,2008
We set out to develop a better-than-takeout pizza in which the crust gets equal billing with the toppings and each is full of flavor—not grease.
Recipe: Pepperoni Pan Pizza, Antipasto Pasta Salad
Equipment: Toaster Ovens
Taste test: Frozen Pizza
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Episode 14 : Chicken in a Skillet
April. 05,2008
It’s not a surprise that so many cooks turn to chicken breasts for dinner. They’re convenient, low in fat, and, when made right, juicy and satisfying. To keep boredom at bay, one of our simple skillet recipes features a flavorful drizzling sauce, another a golden Parmesan crust.
Recipe: Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlets, Pan-Roasted Chicken Breasts with Potatoes
Equipment: Inexpensive Instant-Read Thermometers
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Episode 13 : French Apple Tart
March. 29,2008
A tart should be easier to prepare than the typical double-crust American pie. But developing a flaky crust sturdy enough to support the fruit is a bit tricky. And getting the apples to caramelize by the time the crust is baked is also a challenge.
Recipe: Apple Galette
Equipment: Bakeware Basics
Science: Flour Types
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Episode 12 : White Chicken Chili Supper
March. 22,2008
Chicken chili might sound like heresy—after all, isn’t chili supposed to be made with beef?—but this Southwestern dish is a light, bright alternative to tomato-rich beef chili. The key to chicken chili is finding the right cooking method so that the white beans become tender and the chicken doesn’t dry out and turn rubbery.
Recipe: White Chicken Chili, Double-Corn Cornbread
Equipment: Cast-Iron Skillets
Taste test: Tortilla Chips
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Episode 10 : Pasta and Tomatoes, Reimagined
March. 08,2008
We don’t have anything against spaghetti and meatballs or pasta with marinara, but the world of pasta and tomatoes extends far beyond these popular standbys. Enter Penne alla Vodka and Pasta Caprese.
Recipe: Penne alla Vodka, Pasta Caprese
Equipment: Stockpots
Taste test: Penne
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Episode 8 : Asian Take-Out at Home
February. 23,2008
We develop a Thai-style chicken soup that uses supermarket ingredients without sacrificing authentic flavors, and we make a vegetarian stir-fry so hearty even carnivores will be satisfied.
Recipe: Stir-Fried Portobellos with Ginger-Oyster Sauce, Thai Chicken Soup
Equipment: Ladles
Taste test: Soy Sauce
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Episode 7 : Coffeehouse Treats
February. 16,2008
In this episode, the test kitchen perfects two breakfast treats: blueberry scones and rich bran muffins.
Recipe: Blueberry Scones, Better Bran Muffins
Equipment: Commuter Coffee Mugs
Taste test: Strawberry Preserves
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Episode 4 : Cookie Jar Favorites
January. 26,2008
We turn our attention to two favorite cookies: a triple chocolate cookie so chocolaty it’s almost a brownie, and the humble brown sugar cookie, moist, chewy, and packed with butterscotch flavor.
Recipe: Brown Sugar Cookies, Triple-Chocolate Cookies
Equipment: Coffee Makers (Inexpensive)
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Episode 3 : Italian-American Classics
January. 19,2008
Stuffed manicotti makes a hearty and delicious main course, but in most cases its preparation is best left to a practiced and patient Italian grandmother. We wanted a simpler, easier method for making manicotti.
Recipe: Baked Manicotti, Cheesy Garlic Bread
Equipment: Garlic Presses
Taste test: Supermarket Parmesan Cheese
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Episode 2 : Lemon Layer Cake
January. 12,2008
Layer cakes are desserts to be savored at birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations. Ideally, the cake’s tender layers offset the bracing, citrusy filling, and the whole is swathed in a glossy, pale frosting. We’ll show you how to make a version that tastes as great as it looks.
Recipe: Lemon Layer Cake
Taste test: Yellow Cake Mixes
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Episode 1 : Rainy Day BBQ Pork Chops
January. 05,2008
We wanted juicy pork chops slathered with a smoky, tangy barbecue sauce. But how would we replicate the savory crust of a grilled pork chop indoors? We set out to solve this puzzle. We also make a cool, creamy macaroni salad with the perfect ratio of macaroni to dressing.
Recipe: Skillet-Barbecued Pork Chops, Cool and Creamy Macaroni Salad
Equipment: Chef's Knives
Science: The Science of Brining
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