America's Test Kitchen

America's Test Kitchen tackles tomato sauce. Recipes: Pasta and Fresh Tomato Sauce with Onion and Bacon, Pasta and Fresh Tomato Sauce with Garlic and Basil, Pasta and Fresh Tomato Sauce with Chile Pepper and Basil, Rustic Slow-Simmered Tomato Sauce with Meat Tasting Lab: Which Canned Tomatoes Should You Buy? Science Desk: Taste

The secret to really crispy, browned skin and moist, flavorful meat Recipes: Roast Stuffed Crisped-Skin Turkey Tasting Lab: Turkeys -- What's in a Name? Equipment Center: Digitals Top Instant-Read Thermometer Ratings

Should you roast in a hot oven or a moderate oven? How do you get crisp skin and moist, tender breast meat? We answer these questions and more. Recipes: Easy Roast Chicken Tasting Lab: Kosher Bird Wins Chicken Tasting Science Desk: What is the Difference between White and Dark Meat?

Making pureed soups is a balancing act. Small changes can have major effects. The test kitchen has worked out all the kinks and created three great soup recipes.

Spaghetti alla carbonara and pasta with pesto are quick and easy ways to put an outstanding pasta dish on the table. The test kitchen pairs the pastas with a simple green salad.

With the right techniques, a spaghetti supper can rival any fancy meal. The test kitchen reveals the secrets for success.

We turn soggy nachos and candy-sweet sangria into serious party food.

Less is more when it comes to hearty soups.

We rescue two favorite vegetable dishes from the clutches of the cafeteria.

We give much needed makeovers to two classic salads. Salad seems so easy. Just dress some leafy greens and serve, right? Recipes: Basic Tossed Green Salad; Greek Salad; Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing Tasting Lab: Red Wine Vinegar

Say goodbye to thick, bland gazpacho and soggy tomato tarts. It’s feast or famine when it comes to good tomatoes. Recipes: Gazpacho; Quick Summer Tomato Tart Tasting Lab: Mozzarella Cheese

The notion of dinner made in a single pot is certainly alluring. Two complete meals from a pot; one a classic, the other a surprise. Recipes: Beef Chili with Kedney Beans; Indoor Clambake Equipment Center: Crock Pots Tasting Lab: Tomato Puree

We've chosen recipes that deliver big flavor without much work. Recipes - Spiced Pecans with Rum Glaze - Pita Chips - Creamy Spinach Dip - Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce - Beef Satay Equipment Corner - Meat cleavers Tasting Lab - Store-bought Salsa

Have you ever been tempted to prepare a restaurant recipe only to be disappointed with the results? The recipe sounded great, but once you got to work you realized it was never tested in a home kitchen. Recipes - Quick Chicken Stock - Chicken Noodle Soup - Pasta e Faigoli Equipment Corner - Fat separaters

Soup for supper is an appealing concept, especially on a cold, snowy night. But for soup to work as a main course, it better be hearty. A light, clear broth simply won't do. Recipes - Quick Cheese Bread - Hearty Lentil Soup Equipment Corner - Vegetable peelers Tasting Lab - Mail order bacon

Hassle-free egg dishes to make when you're having company. Recipes: Asparagus, Ham and Gruyere Frittata; Quiche Lorraine Tasting Lab: Mail-order Bacon

Take a trip south of the border with ATK. Recipes: Fresh Tomato Salsa; Quesadillas; Beef Tacos Tasting Lab: Flour Tortillas

With the help of the ATK team, these south-of-the-border soups are sure to please the whole family. Recipes: Black Bean Soup; Tortilla Soup Equipment Corner: Chefs Knives Tasting Lab: Chicken Broth

Meat loaf is as synonymous with good old-fashioned American cooking as apple pie. While some may prefer meat loaf made with meat loaf mix, a combination of beef, pork, and veal, there’s something to be said for an all-beef loaf. An all-beef loaf can have terrific meaty flavor and it’s convenient to boot, especially when you can’t find meat loaf mix, or just don’t want to fuss with buying three kinds of meat. However, a meat loaf made with all beef does require some special handling so that it doesn’t taste like a dry, loaf-shaped hamburger. We set out to make a loaf with well-seasoned meat and just enough binder to give the loaf a tender, not tough, texture. In choosing a side dish to partner with our meat loaf, we turned to another old-fashioned dish—skillet-roasted potatoes. Skillet-roasted potatoes are cooked on the stovetop, thus allowing the cook to free up the oven for the main course. We wanted potatoes that are creamy on the inside and crusty on the outside. Some skillet-roasted potatoes can be soggy and greasy—a pitfall we’d need to avoid in developing our recipe. Recipes: Glazed Meat Loaf or All Beef Meatloaf Skillet-Roasted Potatoes Skillet-Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary Skillet-Roasted Potatoes with Lemon and Chives Spicy Skillet-Roasted Potatoes with Chili and Cumin Tasting Lab: Ground Beef Equipment Center: The Tong Show—Kitchen Tongs Science Desk: How Gelatin Mimics Veal

Dinners prepared entirely in one skillet are perfect for weeknight cooking. Less cleanup is one obvious benefit. A skillet also gives the cook a bit more control over cooking multiple elements. In the oven, dishes such as chicken and rice—ingredients with disparate cooking times—can cook unevenly, so that when the dish comes out of the oven, you end up with mixed results, such as tender rice and dry chicken—or conversely, crunchy rice and moist chicken. A skillet gives you the freedom to move items in and out of the skillet accordingly so that everything comes out perfectly cooked. We have also discovered that a skillet comes in handy in some pasta dishes. Take the restaurant favorite, chicken, broccoli, and ziti. Typically, the pasta is boiled in one pot and then one or sometimes two more pans are required to cook the chicken, broccoli, and sauce. We condensed all the elements into a skillet—even the pasta—which cooks right in the sauce, soaking up maximum flavor for an exemplary version of this favorite dish. Recipes: Skillet Chicken and Rice with Peas and Scallions Skillet Chicken with Broccoli, Ziti, and Asiago Cheese Tasting Lab: White Wines for Cooking Equipment Center: Inexpensive Knife Sets

Join us as we uncover the secrets behind a favorite beef stew and streamline a hearty side dish. A basic beef stew can be altered in dozens of ways, usually by adding more ingredients to the pot. But can you go the other way and strip beef stew down to its bare bones (or, to be more precise, to its beef)? If you trade the carrots and potatoes for a mess of onions and add a good dose of beer (instead of red wine) as part of the braising liquid, you’ve created a simple Belgian beef stew called carbonnade à la flamande. Beef, beer, and onions have a natural affinity—think burger, onion rings, and a beer. In a carbonnade, the heartiness of beef melds with the soft sweetness of sliced onions in a lightly thickened broth that is rich, deep, and satisfying, with the malty flavor of beer. We aimed to create the very best version of this cold-weather favorite. Sweet acorn squash makes a worthy partner alongside carbonnade or with many other dishes during the cold weather season, but too often this squash turns out dry and stringy. We wanted to devise a method that ensured sweet, tender squash, without a lot of hassle. Recipes: Carbonnade a la Flamande—Belgian Beef, Beer, and Onion Stew Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar Acorn Squash with Rosemary-Dried Fig Compote Tasting Lab: Beer for Carbonnade Equipment Center: Paring Knives—Updated Science Desk: Are All Microwaves Created Equal?

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

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

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

Our sure-fire recipe makes a sliceable pie with bright, fresh berry flavor. Recipes - Blueberry Pie - Foolproof Pie Dough Equipment Center - Baking Sheets Science Desk - Pie Crust

We demystify French cooking by streamlining two classic—and often poorly executed—recipes. Recipes - Best French Onion Soup - Quicker French Onion Soup - French Chicken in a Pot Tasting Lab - Gruyere Equipment Center - Mandolines

Great Arroz con Pollo, or “chicken with rice,” can take the better part of a day. We developed one that is small on time but big on flavor, and paired it with another quick and flavorful recipe: Sizzling Garlic Shrimp. Recipes - Latino-Style Chicken and Rice aka Arroz con Pollo - Latino-Style Chicken and Rice with Ham, Peas, and Orange - Latino-Style Chicken and Rice with Bacon and Roasted Red Peppers - Sizzling Garlic Shrimp

Triple-Chocolate Mousse Cake The most important ingredient in our ultimate triple-chocolate mousse cake is, well, chocolate. But not all varieties are created equal. Watch as we discuss chocolate types and reveal which ones take the cake. RecipesTriple-Chocolate Mousse Cake Tasting LabWhite Chocolate Equipment CenterInnovative Teapots

Perfectly cooked chicken doesn’t need to be gussied up with unnecessary additions. We uncover the secrets to quick, hearty chicken noodle soup and roast chicken with extra-crispy skin.

Best Blueberry Muffins with Orange Glaze Best Blueberry Muffins with Almond Crunch Topping Best Blueberry Muffins with Frozen Blueberries Best Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping Perfect French Omelets Best Blueberry Muffins

Straightforward comfort foods take the spotlight in these classic Sunday night meals. Our Simple Pot Roast cooks up tender and moist, and our Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Crumble Topping is on the table in 90 minutes—without sacrificing the tender, juicy chicken and bright vegetables. recipe: Classic Pot Roast, Chicken Pot Pie With Savory Crumble Topping equipment: Plastic Food Storage Containers science: Brining

Taking a cue from our neighbors across the pond, we uncover the secrets to Classic Bread Pudding and shortbread. recipe: Classic Bread Pudding, Best Shortbread equipment: The Best Small Appliances science: The Science of Stale Bread

We venture to Chicago to learn about Rick Bayless’s famous empanadas, then create our own recipe. Next, we investigate another Latin favorite: pork tostadas. recipe: Beef Empanadas, Spicy Mexican Shredded Pork Tostadas (Tinga)

Chicken fricassee is a classic French dish that could benefit from a modern makeover. We turn it into a weeknight meal with a bright, complex sauce and still have time to share the secrets to our Best Simple Roast Chicken.

This episode features two fall favorites. First, we eke out juicy, tender, savory results from a bland roast in our Pot-Roasted Pork Loin recipe. Then we prepare our moist Classic Gingerbread recipe, which uses a surprising technique to get the perfect texture.

Scrambled eggs are easy to cook but hard to cook well. We nail down an approach that guarantees fluffy, tender scrambled eggs every time. Then we serve them alongside our foolproof Cranberry Nut Muffins for a breakfast worth waking up for.

Host Christopher Kimball goes into the test kitchen to update a classic recipe for French-Style Pot-Roasted Pork Loin with test cook Bridget Lancaster. Next, equipment expert Adam Ried reviews knife sets in the Equipment Corner, and test cook Becky Hays shows Chris how to make Potato Casserole with Bacon and Caramelized Onion. And finally, gadget guru Lisa McManus reveals her top pick among mandolines.

Host Christopher Kimball heads into the test kitchen with test cook Bridget Lancaster to uncover the secrets to the ultimate Carrot Layer Cake. Next, equipment expert Adam Ried tests springform pans in the Equipment Corner. And finally, test cook Julia Collin Davison reveals how to make the best Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies.

Host Christopher Kimball goes into the kitchen with test cook Bridget Lancaster to learn the secrets to making perfect Catalan-Style Beef Stew with Mushrooms. Then, tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Chris to a tasting of spaghetti. Finally, test cook Julia Collin Davison shows Chris how to make classic Spanish-Style Toasted Pasta with Shrimp.

Host Christopher Kimball goes into the test kitchen to learn how to create an updated French classic, Modern Beef Burgundy, with test cook Becky Hays. Next, equipment expert Adam Ried reviews potato ricers in the Equipment Corner. Then, test cook Bridget Lancaster shows Chris how to make Braised Red Potatoes with Lemon and Chives. And finally, Chris reveals the science behind potato starch.

Test cook Julia Collin Davison shows host Christopher Kimball how to make the ultimate dessert, Chocolate-Espresso Dacquoise. Chris then reveals the science behind egg whites. and finally, Chris answers viewer questions in Letters to the Editor.

Test cook Julia Collin Davison uncovers the secrets to the best Soft-Cooked Eggs. Then, test cook Bryan Roof shows host Christopher Kimball how to make a Classic Fluffy Omelet. Next, gadget expert Lisa McManus reveals her favorite egg gadgets, and finally, test cook Bridget Lancaster demonstrates how to make Perfect Fried Eggs.

Recipes for best chicken stew, and cream cheese brownies. Featuring an Equipment Corner covering 13x9-inch baking pans.

Recipes for British-style currant scones, and best almond cake. Featuring a Tasting Lab on orange juice.

Recipes for broiled pork tenderloin, and rice and lentils with crispy onions (mujaddara). Featuring an Equipment Corner covering wine savers.

Recipes for simple pot-au-feu, and raspberry charlotte.

Recipes for eggs pipérade, chocolate hazelnut spread, and 100 percent whole-wheat pancakes. Featuring a Tasting Lab on maple syrup.

Hosts Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster debunk cast iron myths and share the basics for cast iron care. Then, Julia shows Bridget how to make the ultimate Cast Iron Steak. Next, equipment expert Adam Ried reviews paper towel holders in the Equipment Corner. And finally, test cook Dan Souza uncovers the secrets to Crisp Roast Butterflied Chicken with Rosemary and Garlic.

Host Bridget Lancaster shows host Julia Collin Davison how to make the ultimate Portuguese-Style Beef Stew. Next, tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Julia to a tasting of prepared pesto. Then, gadget expert Lisa McManus reviews the worst gadgets of the year. Finally, test cook Becky Hays reveals the secrets to making the best Quinoa and Vegetable Stew.

Host Bridget Lancaster shows host Julia Collin Davison how to make the ultimate Roasted Bone-In Chicken Breasts. Next, equipment expert Adam Ried reviews kitchen trash cans in the Equipment Corner. Finally, test cook Elle Simone reveals the secrets to making the Best Baked Potatoes.

The Season 18 premiere shares secrets to simple stovetop macaroni and cheese; and shows how to make turkey meatloaf with ketchup-brown sugar glaze..Also: large saucepans; lid holders; and the proper way to use a whisk.

Bridget and Julia unlock the secrets to Everyday Pad Thai. Tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Bridget to a tasting of coconut milk. And finally, test cook Elle Simone makes the ultimate Panang Beef Curry.

Bridget and Julia teach viewers how to make the ultimate Beef Tenderloin with Smoky Potatoes and Persillade Relish. Tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Bridget to a turkey tasting. Gadget critic Lisa McManus reviews fat separators, and then test cook Dan Souza makes Turkey Breast en Cocotte with Pan Gravy.

In this episode, test cook Elle Simone makes Bridget the ultimate Deviled Pork Chops. Then tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Julia to a tasting of dark chocolate chips, and gadget critic Lisa McManus reviews kids’ oven mitts. Science expert Dan Souza reveals the science behind non-Newtonian fluids, and test cook Lan Lam makes the perfect Thick-Cut Oven Fries.

Bridget and Julia uncover the secrets to making Foolproof All-Butter Pie Dough and Chocolate Cream Pie, and tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Bridget to a tasting of cocoa powder. Finally, test cook Elle Simone makes Julia a decadent Dark Chocolate Fudge Sauce.

In this episode, Julia and Bridget unlock the secrets to the ultimate Roast Chicken with Warm Bread Salad. Next, tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Julia to a tasting of white miso. Finally, test cook Elle Simone teaches Bridget how to make foolproof Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chile, Peanuts, and Mint.