New Tacos-Themed Episode of “In the Test Kitchen”

Our test cook hosts dive deep into their favorite dishes, taste recipes that are still works in progress, and talk about how culture, history, and science influence the foods we love to eat. Discover the messy, fun, and (mostly) delicious work that goes into creating America’s favorite recipes. Watch or listen, and check back here to find everything they cover in each episode.

In this premiere episode, the crew 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 three chocolate chip cookie recipes while dissecting the history, science, and all the nerdy aspects that go into recipe development in the test kitchen. 

In this episode of In the Test Kitchen, we're diving deep into one of America's favorite dishes: the humble hamburger. 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, or can you get away with cheaper ones (and what science-y perks might these bargain cuts offer)? Anything you ever wanted to know about this fast food staple is tasted, discussed, and dissected right in the thick of the action of the test kitchen.

Can you make truly good fried chicken that taste restaurant-quality at home? Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey say yes as they deconstruct three different recipes that represent different styles of fried chicken. Plus, the quad reveals some fun KFC history, and discuss the scientific difference between crunchy and crispy fried chicken.

Ask 10 people what their favorite kind of pizza is, and you’ll probably get 10 different answers. This week on In the Test Kitchen, Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey dive into the regional differences of this popular food, their preferences between Italian vs. American slices, and the elements that go into making a really great pie.

Making muffins used to be a rite of passage for test cooks and those who applied to be a test cook 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 one really great?

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.

Most people say a sandwich is filling stuffed between two layers of bread. But what about hot dogs, or a loaded pocket of pita bread? On this week’s episode, Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey get into a heated debate about what exactly defines a sandwich.

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?

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 three rice dishes and ask: What makes rice the world’s preeminent staple?

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.

Tacos take all kinds of forms: crispy shelled tacos, tacos dipped in consommé, even taco ingredients eaten over rice. Not just the shapes they take, either, but what kind of meat is used, what ingredients are added—the variations are endless. Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey come together to discuss the qualities that make a good taco a great taco.