In the Test Kitchen

Episode 9: What makes rice the world’s staple? Jun 19, 2026

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 dish?

Recipes Mentioned:

Hoppin’ John

Simple Fried Rice

Arroz con Pollo

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What makes the perfect meatball? Jun 04, 2026

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)

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Episode 7: What Makes the Best Sandwich? May 21, 2026

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

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Episode 6: What Makes a Salad Exciting? May 07, 2026

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

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Episode 5: What Makes the Best Muffins? Apr 23, 2026

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-Herb Stuffing Muffin

Achieving generously sized bakery-style muffins

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Episode 4: What Makes a Pizza Iconic? Apr 09, 2026

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

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Episode 3: What are the Best Types of Fried Chicken? Mar 26, 2026

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

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Episode 2: How to Make the Best Burgers Mar 12, 2026

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 Burger Sauce, Meatloaf Burgers

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Episode 1: What Makes the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies? Feb 26, 2026

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, science, and nerdy aspects of recipe development.

ATK Recipes Mentioned in today's episode: Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies , Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Levain-Style Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies.

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In the Test Kitchen Returns February 26! Feb 23, 2026

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 behind the dish. And of course, there are taste tests along the way as the cast dissect what went into the 3 recipes that appear throughout the show.

The first episode of In the Test Kitchen will be on February 26 on Netflix and wherever you find podcasts.

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Introducing: The Side Dish Feb 18, 2026

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, and wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch The Side Dish on Netflix. Please consider leaving a commend and rating -- it helps other people find the show!

And stay tuned... there’s a big announcement coming next week on the feed.

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Grace Young on Championing Chinatowns Nov 26, 2025

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 also shares the story of her now-iconic family wok, which she donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History contributing to the preservation of Chinese-American food history.

If you want to learn more about Young's important work, you can visit her website here.

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Rick Martinez Hates the Word "Authentic" Nov 12, 2025

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 recipes can carry the stories of those we’ve lost. This heartfelt and flavorful conversation explores how food connects us to our past, our loved ones, and the joy of cooking itself.

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Roy Choi’s Recipe for Redemption: From The Sporkful Podcast Nov 10, 2025

Today's episode is from our friends atThe Sporkful podcastand 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 episode of In the Test Kitchen with Dan Pashman himself, and then listen to and learn more from The Sporkful on their ⁠website.

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Dan Pashman Hates Spaghetti Oct 29, 2025

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, our recipe for Spaghetti All'Assassina makes it shine.

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Lidey Heuck Loves Grocery Shopping Oct 15, 2025

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 Real Life, here!

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Marina Mabrey Creates Chaos in the Kitchen Oct 01, 2025

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 to find a way to sneak vegetables into your own diet? Check out our recipe for a Super Greens Smoothie.

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Jessica B. Harris Travels with Food History and Cotton Candy Sep 17, 2025

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 fondness for Schoolhouse Rock. She also walks us through an unexpected recipe for fried maple leaves.

Check out our recipes for Detroit, French Bread, and Neapolitan-Style Pizza on our website!

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Dorie Greenspan Thinks the Simpler the Cake, the Better. Sep 03, 2025

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 Greenspan's new cookbook; Dorie's Anytime Cakes.

Craving cake now? Check out our recipe for a deliciously simple Olive Oil Cake.

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Meathead Weighs In on the Great Burger-Pressing Debate Aug 20, 2025

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, and a variety of other grilling tips. If you love grilling, smoking, or just want to level up your backyard cooking game, this episode is packed with expert advice, a few surprises, and plenty of laughs.

Check out Meathead's new cookbook, ⁠The Meathead Method⁠; and check out our favorite gas grills ⁠here⁠!

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Gesine Bullock-Prado Loves Cheese with Apple Pie Aug 06, 2025

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 love of baking shape her latest book, My Harvest Kitchen. Plus, learn why rough puff pastry is her go-to and how her school, Sugar Glider Kitchen, got its name.

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Aran Goyoaga on the Art of Gluten-Free Baking Jul 23, 2025

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 ⁠The Art of Gluten-Free Bread⁠; and visit our website for her recent ATK recipe for ⁠Spiced Pear, Buckwheat, and Almond Pancakes⁠!

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Vallery Lomas and the Great American Baking Show Jul 09, 2025

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 behind her recipes and her journey as a baker and food writer. Plus, she gives us a peek into her latest creations at America’s Test Kitchen, and the joys and challenges of cooking for a toddler.

Check out Vallery Lomas' book Life is What You Bake it; and visit our website for her recent recipe for Turkey Sausage Lasagna!

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Eugene Mirman on the Secret Origin of Bob’s Burgers Jun 25, 2025

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 raving about.

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Ben Mims Maps the World in Cookies Jun 11, 2025

In this week's episode: Cookbook author and food editor Ben Mims shares his unconventional path through journalism and culinary school to becoming a celebrated voice in food media. He discusses the making of his new cookbook Crumbs, exploring global cookie traditions, recipe development, and the evolving world of food writing.

Check out Ben Mims' book, Crumbs: Cookies and Sweets from Around the World, as well as America's Test Kitchen's ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ for recipes and more.

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Maggie Zhu Is Perfecting Her Shrimp Dumpling Recipe May 28, 2025

Dan Souza and Morgan Bolling are the In The Test Kitchen with Maggie Zhu of Omnivore's Cookbook. They dig into how she got her start as a food blogger, her white whale recipes, the dishes she's developing as an Editor in Residence at America's Test Kitchen, and answer questions from the America's Test Kitchen audience.

Check out Maggie's book, Chinese Homestyle: Everyday Plant-Based Recipes for Takeout, Dim Sum, Noodles, and More, J. Kenji López-Alt's The Wok: Recipes and Techniques, as well as America's Test Kitchen's ⁠website⁠ for recipes and more.

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Maria Bamford Wants Her Savory Muffins May 14, 2025

In this week's episode: Comedian Maria Bamford joins Dan Souza and Hannah Crowley in The Test Kitchen. They dig into Maria's time on Worst Cooks In America, share laughs over waiting tables, savory muffins, eating peanut butter straight from the jar, and chat about when it's okay to just eat food off of the floor.

We have a recipe for a power bar... that hasn't landed on the subway floor! Check out America's Test Kitchen's website for that recipe and more.

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Nik Sharma's Banana Problem Apr 30, 2025

In this episode of In the Test Kitchen, molecular biologist turned cookbook author and ⁠ATK Resident Editor⁠, Nik Sharma, spills the tea with hosts Dan Souza and Lan Lam. They chat about Nik's love-hate relationship with photography, why ripe bananas are a no-go, and what ingredient they would choose if they could only use one for the rest of their lives. Plus, Lan discusses how she cracked her ⁠San Francisco-style garlic noodles recipe⁠.

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Matteo Lane Thinks Your Pasta Sucks Apr 16, 2025

America's Test Kitchen's Dan Souza and Elle Simone Scott kick off the premiere episode with comedian Matteo Lane. They chat about the behind-the-scenes making of Matteo's book, Your Pasta Sucks, and discuss why some pasta shapes are superior to others.

Find our recipe for corn pudding, Elle's book, Boards, and more at AmericasTestKitchen.com.

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In The Test Kitchen coming 4/16 Mar 31, 2025

Dan Souza and his co-host dig into the latest tastings, recipes, and kitchen conversations happening behind the scenes at America's Test Kitchen. They also bring on guests--from the culinary world and beyond--to talk about what's going on in their lives, and how food plays into it. In the Test Kitchen debuts Wednesday, April 16.

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