Proof - America's Test Kitchen

What Does Space Taste Like? Oct 31, 2024

What does it mean to impart the "taste of space" into our ice creams, juices, cheeses and even fruit? Reporter Julie Carli dives into the history of foods that have both been made for and inspired by outer space.

Make your own Ice Cream at home, using one of our recommended Ice Cream Makers.

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The (Tea) Room Where It Happened Oct 24, 2024

What if we told you that one of the earliest third places—spots outside of the home and workplace where people can convene and commune with others; often over food—was a tea room? Reporter Lindsey Polevoy traces the history of one such third place run by Polish immigrant, Eve Adams.

Bring the fanciness of the tea room home with our recipe for Tea-Infused Crème Brûlée.

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Special thanks to the following ATK Staff for their lending their voice acting skills to this episode:

Charlotte Errity
Eric Haessler
Elizabeth Kaufman
Angelica Quintanilla
Karen Tran
Ian Watson

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In Love with the Shape of Food Oct 17, 2024

As we kick off a new season of Proof, we dig into the psychology and science behind our fascination with food shapes. From popcorn to square watermelons, you'll learn that there's a reason behind the choices we make when it comes to what our food looks like. Eliza Rothstein reports.

Try making your own sweet and salty popcorn at home, with our recipe for Spicy Caramel Popcorn.

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Back to our bread-and-butter episodes next week on a new season of Proof! Oct 10, 2024

What's the story story behind those square watermelons? What does rattlesnake taste like? And how do you create the taste of space? Find out as we kick off a new season of Proof next week!

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ATK at 25: Reverse-Engineering the Boxed Brownie (Episode 4) Oct 03, 2024

This week on the podcast, we bring you the fourth and final episode of our miniseries where we reveal the backstories behind four iconic recipes from America's Test Kitchen's TV show, which is celebrating its 25th season on air.

We saved the sweetest for last. Episode 4 follows one test cook's dogged pursuit for the perfect, chewy brownie recipe.

Looking for more recipes that changed the way America cooks? Check out our 25th Anniversary Cookbook.

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ATK at 25: Why You Need a Wok (Episode 3) Sep 26, 2024

This week on the podcast, we bring you the third episode of our miniseries where we reveal the backstories behind four iconic recipes from America's Test Kitchen's TV show, which is celebrating its 25th season on air.

Episode 3 investigates why what kitchen equipment you use can be just as important as the recipe itself. Exhibit A: Gadget expert Lisa McManus' review of woks, and Exhibit B: Veteran Test Cook Lan Lam's recipe for Cumin Stir-Fried Beef.

Looking for more recipes that changed the way America cooks? Check out our 25th Anniversary Cookbook.

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ATK at 25: How Many Eggs in the Perfect Scramble? (Episode 2) Sep 19, 2024

This week on the podcast, we bring you the second episode of our miniseries where we reveal the backstories behind four iconic recipes from America's Test Kitchen's TV show, which is celebrating its 25th season on air.

Episode 2 dives into a recipe so simple, it needed science to perfect. You may never see this breakfast staple the same way, ever again.

Looking for more recipes that changed the way America cooks? Check out our 25th Anniversary Cookbook.

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ATK at 25: A Recipe Made from a Mistake (Episode 1) Sep 12, 2024

This week on the podcast, we bring you the first episode of our miniseries where we reveal the backstories behind four iconic recipes from America's Test Kitchen's TV show, which is celebrating its 25th season on air.

Episode 1 gives new meaning to a motto we live by: We make the mistakes in the kitchen so you don't have to. Listen to find out how a mistake gave birth to this tried-and-true weeknight recipe.

Looking for more recipes that changed the way America cooks? Check out our 25th Anniversary Cookbook.

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Introducing ATK at 25: Stories Behind the Iconic Recipes Sep 05, 2024

For the next couple of weeks on our podcast, Proof from America’s Test Kitchen, we’ll bring you the back stories behind some of our most iconic recipes from the last 25 years. Hosted by longtime ATK cast member Jack Bishop.

Discover the 500 Recipes that Changed the Way America Cooks in our 25th Anniversary Cookbook.

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Barbecue Trailblazers: What is the Future of Barbecue? (Episode 4) Aug 22, 2024

In a matter of months, Kelli Nevarez went from first-grade music teacher to pitmaster of the Texas Monthly Top 50 barbecue joint La Vaca Barbecue. Reporter Eliza Rothstein shares the story of how Nevarez is reshaping the future of barbecue.

Craving more barbecue tips? Join our grilling expert, Morgan Bolling, as she takes a deep dive into smoke rings.

This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold:

Special thanks to our intern Jonny Leonidas who helped make this series a success.

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Barbecue Trailblazers: The Hogroast Heads North (Episode 3) Aug 15, 2024

Transporting a Southern tradition to the North might seem like a tall order, but Cook's Country grilling expert Morgan Bolling knows just how to do it with her annual whole hog roast. Producer Alex Curran-Cardarelli shares the history of whole-hog roasts and Morgan's own story of growth and resilience.

Try a taste of Morgan's home state with her recipe for North Carolina Barbecue Pork.

This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold:

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Barbecue Trailblazers: The Woman Who Gave Us Fajitas (Episode 2) Aug 08, 2024

Ninfa Laurenzo, or Mama Ninfa as many called her, was a trailblazer and an icon in the city of Houston, Texas. She helped introduce a Tex-Mex classic to the United States with her business savvy, food knowledge, and understanding of people. In this episode, we learn about the life that made Ninfa Laurenzo into the legend she's known as today. Reported by Eliza Rothstein.

Make your own Tacos al Carbon with our tried and tested recipe.

This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold:

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Barbecue Trailblazers: The Queen of Smoke (Episode 1) Aug 01, 2024

In a world where barbecuing is considered "dude food" and men's work, Helen Turner is an institution. She's steadily nurtured her style of Tennessee barbecue the traditional way; by using only smoke to flavor her meats over a fire pit. But this style of barbecue is back-breaking work, and Helen may consider retiring. But is she ready to let go? And who would she pass Helen's Bar BQ down to? Find out on the first episode of our miniseries: When Southern Women Cook: The Barbecue Trailblazers. This episode was reported by Maya Kroth.

This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold:

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Introducing When Southern Women Cook: Our Miniseries on Barbecue Trailblazers Jul 25, 2024

For far too long, the art of barbecue and grilling have been considered “men’s work.” But women were cooking with fire since the earliest days of American history, too. In our next miniseries on Proof, hosted by Cook's Country magazine's Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling, we profile four women who have been stoking embers and bringing the heat to Southern cuisine. The first episode drops Thursday, August 1!

This series is also an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America’s Test Kitchen called Women Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold:

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100 Proof: From 100 to Zero Proof (Episode 6) Jul 11, 2024

The cocktail emerges from the dark ages and enters the modern era. In this episode: We meet more innovative mixologists pushing the bounds of what a cocktail can be. And we'll explore the latest installment in the cocktail's long evolution: the zero proof movement.

What should you be looking for when buying non-alcoholic beverages and cocktails? Check out our review of Non-Alcoholic Spirits and Cocktails.

Further Reading:

"After DUI, she quit drinking and opened a bar" by Alexa Juliana Ard, Washington Post

"AN INTERVIEW WITH AQXYL STORMS, OWNER OF MINUS MOONSHINE" by Sam Bail, Third Place Bar blog

A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson

The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum)

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100 Proof: The Dark Ages (Episode 5) Jul 03, 2024

The 1950s to the 1990s are often dubbed as the cocktail's Dark Ages where drinks like Long Island Iced Teas and Midori Sours reined supreme. The drinks from this time are often reviled or ridiculed, but they made important contributions to cocktail history, too. In this episode: How TGI Fridays, Madonna, and the Cosmopolitan helped define this era of the American cocktail.

Further Reading:

A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson

"1970s Ockctails & Disco Drinks" Difford's Guide

"History of the Nightclub" American Nightlife Association

"How TGI Fridays Has Influenced Modern Craft Cocktail Culture" in The Thrillist by Kevin Alexander

Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters by Derek Brown with Robert Yule

Straight Up or on the Rocks: The story of the American cocktail by William Grimes

"TGI Fridays Was Once The Hottest Bar In America—What Happened?" in Delish by Hannah Selinger

"The Legacy of Joe Baum" in Edible Manhattan by Nancy Matsumoto

The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum)

"The Soviet Union Paid Pepsi With Vodka and Warships in Decades-Long Barter" in Vinepair by Ashlie Hughes (Illustrated by Gerry Selian)

"This is the Story of the Rainbow Room" in Punch by Joshua David Stein

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100 Proof: Prohibition (Episode 4) Jun 27, 2024

Was Prohibition really the Gilded Age utopia that it's made out to be? In this episode: Cocktail innovation happening in unlikely places under unlikely circumstances. We feature the Bees Knees and the Bloody Mary.

Further Reading:

A Spiritous Journeyby Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller

"A Study of the Great Immoralities: Saloons in Chicago Before WWI" Ohio State University

"Bootleggers and Bathtub Gin" The Mob Museum

Lost Recipes of Prohibition: Notes From a Bootlegger's Manual by Matthew Rowley

Prohibition's Greatest Myths: The Distilled Truth About America's Anti-Alcohol Crusade, Edited by Michael Lewis & Richard F. Hamm

Smashing the Liquor Machine: A Global History of Prohibition by Mark Lawrence Schrad

"The Dangers of Common Ownership in an Uncommon Industry" by Jessica Starns Attorney At Law, LLC

"The FBI and the American Gangster, 1924-1938" The Federal Bureau of Investigation

"The Man in the Green Hat" The United States Senate

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100 Proof: The Golden Age of Cocktails (Episode 3) Jun 20, 2024

How did the Industrial Revolution, immigration--and maybe Winston Churchill's mother--give rise to the Golden Age of cocktails in America? We explore the story of the Martini, the Manhattan, and the Daiquiri.

Make yourself a cool Gin Martini with our customizable recipe.

Further Reading:

A Spirituous Journey: A History of Drink by Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller

Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers

Imbibe!by David Wondrich

Rise of Industrial America, 1876 to 1900, Library of Congress

SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY DIGITAL EXHIBITS

Spirits, Sugar, Water,Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World by Derek Brown with Robert Yule

"The First American Hotels," JSTOR by Livia Gershon

The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail with Recipes by Philip Greene

The New Craft of the Cocktailby Dale DeGroff

The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum

"This influential Cuban bartender wants to preserve the elegant tradition of the island’s cantineros" Washington Post by M. Carrie Allan

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Buy Me Some Biryani and Cracker Jack Jun 06, 2024

The Cricket World Cup started this week, and fans in New York are celebrating the wickets, the fast bowlers, and biryani. How did the rice dish become the meal of the match? Journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid reports. (100 Proof will be back on June 20.)

Make Biryani at home with our tested recipe.

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100 Proof: The Dawn of the American Cocktail (Episode 2) May 30, 2024

Where does the word "cocktail" come from? Who invented it? We explore these questions and the backstories of two drinks from America's early days as a nation: The Mint Julep and the Sazerac. (Special thanks to Joe Gitter and Yiorgos Tsivranidis for their voice acting in this episode.)

Try making our Mint Julep and Sazerac recipes at home!

Further Reading:

"A Brief History of Bitters" Smithsonian Magazine by Peter Smith

Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers

Drink & Learn

"The Ice King was a Tudor" Wall Street Journal by Eric Felten

Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs & Juice - Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

"NEW ORLEANS: A TIMELINE OF ECONOMIC HISTORY" Tulane University by Richard Campanella

The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum)

Travels of four years and a half in the United States of America by John Davis

Whenham Great Pond by John C. Phillips from The Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts

"Who Is the Real Father of the Cocktail?" The Daily Beast by Philip Greene

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100 Proof: It Wasn't Always Like This (Episode 1) May 23, 2024

This week, we kick off Proof's first-ever miniseries. Episode 1 explores how we got to our modern cocktail renaissance. Why were cocktails in the 90s and early 2000s shells of the well-crafted drinks we see today? It took a renegade group of bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts to resurrect drinks from the cocktail's heyday. Hosted by Cook's Country Editor-in-Chief Toni Tipton-Martin, and reported by Proof's managing producer, Yumi Araki.

Looking for a new cocktail shaker? We've tested over a dozen types to find the best options that will fit your home bar.

Further Reading:

A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson

Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers

Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs & Juice - Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

Straight Up or On the Rocks - The Story of the American Cocktail by William Grimes

Ted Saucier's Bottoms Up - Ted Saucier

"The born-in-Detroit cocktail that has spawned countless variations," Washington Post by M. Carrie Allan

The New Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Think Like a Master Mixologist by Dale DeGroff

The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum)

Special thanks to the following recording studios:

Brooklyn Podcasting Studio

Signature Sound Studios

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Introducing 100 Proof: Our Miniseries on the American Cocktail May 13, 2024

Even before the Stone Age, our ancestors were thinking about what happens when we combine one flavor with another, both in the primordial kitchen and behind the prehistoric bar. Fast-forward to today, and the carefully crafted cocktail is all around us. But what if we told you it wasn’t always this way?

Welcome to Proof's first-ever miniseries: 100 Proof: The Journey of the American Cocktail. Over six episodes, we’ll look at the rise and fall--and subsequent resurgence--of the American cocktail, and contemplate what forces led to our modern cocktail renaissance. We'll also share some recipes along the way. Hosted by Cook's Country Editor-In-Chief Toni Tipton-Martin, and reported by Proof's managing producer, Yumi Araki.

Episode 1 drops May 23.

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The Unavoidable Ingredient May 02, 2024

Can saliva change the way our food tastes? Does it affect our cooking? In our Season 16 finale, reporter Jacklyn Kim digs into the unexpected ingredient that we end up adding to every meal.

Proof will be back later in May with a 6-part miniseries on the history of cocktails!

Until then, stimulate your taste buds and break out the cast iron with the Test Kitchen recipe for Cast Iron Margherita Pizza.

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A (Wooly) Mammoth of A Meal Apr 25, 2024

In 1951, the Explorer's Club hosted an extravagant banquet that had 250,000-year-old woolly mammoth on the menu. The dinner raised eyebrows back then as it does now. What does it mean to seek out "exotic" foods? Why do we do it? And was it really wooly mammoth that was on the menu? Reporter Doug Mack digs in.

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The River That Feeds Us Apr 18, 2024

We're headed to the riverbanks of the Magdalena River to experience a Colombian tradition of eating stew, called the paseo de olla. Journalist Camilo Garzón shares how the mighty river and the stew have been at the center of Colombia's past and present.

Hear more of Camilo's work at Cuentero Productions.

Invite some friends over to enjoy Colombia's signature three-meat stew, Sancocho at home with our tested recipe.

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Boycotting Your Favorite Food Apr 11, 2024

What happens when you have to boycott your favorite food? Reporter Makepeace Sitlhou travels to her home to North East India to confront this reality with her favorite dish: The Manipuri Thali.

Heads up: This episode includes descriptions of violence.

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It’s All Greek Salad to Me Apr 04, 2024

We kick off Season 16 with a new episode that traces Horiatiki, or the Greek salad's journey from Athens to American tables. Our reporter digs into how tax evasion shaped the humble Horiatiki, and how a star ingredient wasn't incorporated until much later than you might think.

Check our top picks for Feta Cheese to make your own Horiatiki at home.

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Conan O'Brien on Your Mama’s Kitchen Podcast Mar 27, 2024

Before we return next week with new episodes of Proof, we're sharing an episode of Your Mama’s Kitchen, a podcast about cuisine and culture, ingredients and identities, and the meals and memories that make us who we are. In this episode, host Michele Norris interviews TV’s funniest redhead, Conan O’Brien. The comedian talks about how he first learned to be funny at the kitchen table. We also learn about why Halloween is his favorite holiday, and he reveals his favorite childhood meal: fried ham. Learn more about Your Mama’s Kitchen here.

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From The Sporkful: ANYTHING'S PASTABLE Mar 21, 2024

This week, we're bringing you the first episode from a new, four-part series from our friends at The Sporkful. Host Dan Pashman shares the inside story of creating his first cookbook, Anything’s Pastable — from the highs and lows of recipe testing, to a research trip across Italy, to the agonizing decisions over the design of the cover. By the end, you'll never look at a cookbook the same way again. Episode 2 is available in The Sporkful feed right now!

See if Dan is visiting a city near you on his tour of book signings and live podcast tapings with special guests. And follow Dan on Instagram to see photos and videos from the Anything’s Pastable journey!

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Award Winners: Should I Get My Lobster High? Mar 14, 2024

We wrap up awards season with our Signal Award-Winning episode that asks: Will hot-boxing a lobster before it's cooked alleviate its pain? Science reporter Sarah Vitak takes us to a lobster shack in Maine to find out.

Bring a taste of Maine home and make your own New England Lobster Rolls.

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Award Winners: Sakura and the Wild Boars Mar 07, 2024

Author Hannah Kirshner takes us on a captivating journey into the woods of rural Japan alongside boar hunter, Sakura Yoshida. In our IACP Award-winning episode, Hannah shares her experience and the history of meat eating in Japan.

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Award Winners: Navigating Blindness at the Supermarket Feb 29, 2024

Reporter Jason Strother shows us what it’s like to navigate the supermarket while visually impaired. Listen to our Signal award-winning episode to learn what a more navigable world might be like.

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Award Winners: The Drink that Wouldn't Die Feb 22, 2024

Chartreuse, a beloved liqueur among bartenders, defies the test of time. We recount the history of this drink that wouldn't die in our 2022 IACP Award-Winning episode on this potent elixir created by Carthusian Monks.

Ready to shake or stir? Read our Review Team's recommendations for best cocktail shakers.

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Award Winners: Raiders of the Lost Yeast Feb 15, 2024

The plan: To extract dormant yeast from the nooks and crannies of ancient Egyptian pots stored in the vaults of the world’s most prestigious museums and bake bread with it. Can it be done? Find out on this week’s episode from our archives. (New episodes will be back in April!)

Make your own sourdough loaf at home (without the need for ancient yeast!) with our fail-proof recipe.

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Award Winners: You're a Good Man, Brady Keys Feb 08, 2024

Pulitzer-prize winning author Dr. Marcia Chatelain returns to share the story of Brady Keys, a former NFL star and Black entrepreneur whose franchise, All-Pro Chicken, was hailed as the gold standard for Black capitalism in the 1960s.

Try making Batter-Fried Chicken at home with our fail-proof recipe.

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Award Winners: The Case of the Disappearing Franchise Feb 01, 2024

Pulitzer-prize winning historian and fast food detective Dr. Marcia Chatelain explores the cases of three American franchises that disappeared from the American landscape without a trace.

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Award Winners: World's Greatest Italian Beef Jan 25, 2024

This week, we replay our award-winning episode inspired by the food in FX's "The Bear". We get to the meat of the matter on how family can be the secret ingredient to creating (what we think) is the world’s greatest Italian beef sandwich.

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Try making an Italian beef sandwich at home with our foolproof recipe.

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Cheesesteaks Go to Pakistan Jan 11, 2024

How did the Philly Cheesesteak make its way to Lahore, Pakistan? Journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid traces the transcontinental journey.

Try Ayesha Sarwar’s recipe for Desi Philly Cheesesteak or America's Test Kitchen's version of the classic Philly style.

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Behind Boba Tea's Big Boom Dec 14, 2023

We're spilling the tea on the origins of boba, or bubble tea. Cookbook author Clarissa Wei reports.

Did this episode make you thirsty? Try making our Matcha Fauxba Tea Smoothie, inspired by boba tea!

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The Lost Crops of Sapelo Island Dec 07, 2023

The Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island, Georgia, is in a battle against time. Every year, storms, salt water, and construction threaten the land. But Sapelo resident Maurice Bailey is fighting to protect the island by reviving Geechee agriculture. Will he succeed? Claire Reynolds reports.

To learn more about Maurice Bailey’s efforts on Sapelo Island, go to saveourlegacyourself.org.

Try our recipe for Hoppin' John.

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How Almond Boneless Chicken Took Over Detroit Nov 30, 2023

ABC, or almond boneless chicken, is a popular Chinese-American dish from Detroit. But it's not as well known outside the Motor City. In this episode, author Curtis Chin investigates whether or not his grandmother's claim of having invented the dish, is true.

Try making Almond Boneless Chicken at home with our tested recipe.

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Chasing the Freshest Beer Nov 16, 2023

How far would you go to ensure the hops in your fresh hop IPAs are as fresh as humanly possible? The answer for one Denver-based brewery? Take advantage of the brewers’ pilot licenses. It’s a race against time in this week’s episode of Proof. Kate Bernot reports.

Have an extra can of beer at home? Use it for dinner tonight to make a Grill-Roasted Beer Can Chicken.

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World's First Italian Coffee Bean Nov 09, 2023

Despite its rich coffee and cafe culture, Italy doesn't produce its own coffee beans. One man is trying to change that, against all odds. Producer John Last reports.

Thirsty for some coffee? Check out ATK's recommended Espresso Machines.

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Proof returns November 9! Nov 02, 2023

Why aren't Italians drinking Italian coffee? What's the story behind ABC--a.k.a. almond boneless chicken? How did Philly Cheesesteaks become a popular sandwich in Pakistan? Find out the answers to these questions and so much more on Thursday, November 9 when the new season of Proof from America's Test Kitchen drops!

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Best of Proof: My Father, the YouTube Star Oct 26, 2023

In the last 'Best of Proof' episode of the year, we bring you a story from 2021 that gives new meaning to the question: How did host Kevin Pang's father end up becoming an unlikely YouTube star? Today, the duo are the stars of Hunger Pangs and authors of A Very Chinese Cookbook, but it didn't start out that way.

Want to try a Pang family recipe? Check out this sticky, crispy spare rib recipe.

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Best of Proof: Prepping for the Worst Oct 19, 2023

Preparing for doomsday might not be as crazy as we think. This week, we bring you an episode from 2019 that takes you inside the culinary minds of people who are ready and prepped for the worst.

Stockpiling wheat at home? Try making ATK’s recipe for Whole-Wheat Sandwich Bread.

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Best of Proof: How Far Would You Travel for An Apple? Oct 12, 2023

It’s apple-picking season, and one man, Tom Brown, is on a mission to find an elusive variety called the Junaluska before it’s too late. Will Tom succeed? Claire Donnelly reports.

Gone apple picking? Check out ATK’s recipe for Classic Apple Pie.

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Best of Proof: Nixtamalization and Indigenous Science Oct 05, 2023

What is nixtamalization, and why is it so important when preparing corn-based dishes like tortillas and pupusas? Navajo reporter Andi Murphy walks us through her journey of nixtamalizing blue corn, and embarks on an Indigenous information exchange with chefs, scholars, and poets in the process.

Want to make your own corn tortillas? Check out ATK’s recipe for Homemade Corn Tortillas.

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Best of Proof: Fair Foods Sep 28, 2023

This week, we’re starting autumn off right with one of our all-time favorite episodes: Fair Foods. Chris Siege reports.

Craving that sugar cream pie from the Indiana State Fair? Check out ATK’s recipe for Hoosier Pie.

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Saving the Craft of Soy Sauce Sep 21, 2023

For hundreds of years, Japanese soy sauce was made in wooden barrels, but now, most are made in steel tanks. And some argue: It’s made it less delicious. Can a group of brewers and carpenters save the art of traditional brewing? Hannah Kirshner reports.

Curious about all the different varieties? Check out ATK’s reviews on Soy Sauce.

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Finding Beer Where It's Banned Sep 14, 2023

In Pakistan, alcohol is banned for Muslims, who make up around 97% of the population. But, people drink, and there’s even a renowned beer brewery. How do they get around the ban? Kunwar Khuldune Shahid reports.

Looking for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options? Check out ATK’s collection of recipes from How to Cocktail.

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Proof Presents: Snacks! Sep 07, 2023

The Proof team presents bite-size stories on snacks and snacking.

Want a snack while you listen? Check out ATK’s reviews on potato chips.

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How to Make the Worst Pies in London Aug 31, 2023

Proof contributor Eliza Rothstein heads to Broadway to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the pies from Sweeney Todd are made. We hear from the actor playing Mrs. Lovett, and dive into the history of food props.

Want to learn how to make one of the best pies in town? Check out ATK's recipe for Natchitoches Meat Pies.

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America's First Butter Sculptor Aug 24, 2023

The Butter Cow draws enormous crowds every year at the Iowa State Fair. But who came up with the idea to sculpt with butter in the first place? Des Moines Register reporter Courtney Crowder uncovers the forgotten history of the woman who pioneered the art of butter sculpting.

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Want to know the best way to store butter? Check out our reviews on butter storage containers.

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Seeking Soviet Korean Cooking Aug 17, 2023

Reporter Sarah Baik explores the history of Koryo Saram cuisine (Korean Soviet cuisine) and learns about the importance of morkovcha--a carrot dish--to one Koryo Saram family.

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Chicken Tender Capital, USA Aug 10, 2023

Former Comedian Nick Lavallee is on a mission to make Manchester, New Hampshire the chicken tender capital of the world. Will he succeed?

Read reporter Caleb Jagoda's original article from New Hampshire Magazine.

Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com.

Hungry for some tendies? Make your own Puritan Backroom–Style Chicken Tenders.

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How to Make A Battle-Ready Pizza Aug 03, 2023

How did the U.S. military create a pizza that warfighters could eat on the battlefield? The Proof team follows the 5-year journey to create the world's most shelf-stable pizza.

Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com.

Craving pizza now? Check out ATK's reviews on Frozen Pepperoni Pizza.

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Season 14 Kicks off August 3! Jul 13, 2023

How does beer thrive in a country that bans it? Who's behind the worst pies in London? What does a Danish tale of a blind princess have to do with America's first butter sculptor? The answer to these questions and much, much more on Season 14 of Proof from America's Test Kitchen. Episode 1 drops Thursday, August 3!

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What Is Fusion Food? Jun 01, 2023

For the Season 13 closer, we bring you two stories on the theme of fusion food. We look at a JamAsian specialty--Jamaican Pepper Steak--and ask: How did a dish with Chinese roots become a celebrated Jamaican staple? We then head to Vietnam where MasterChef France winner Khanh-Ly Huynh falls hard for the banh mi. (Dionne Reid wrote the story on Jamaican Pepper Steak, and you can find her recipe for it online and in Cook's Illustrated magazine. Reporter Rebecca Rosman reported on Khanh-Ly Huynh's journey and the history of the banh mi.)

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Revolution at the Cookie Factory May 25, 2023

In 2017, an iconic brand of Argentina's de facto national dessert, the alfajor, was on the brink of disappearing. New management threatened to stop production of El Grandote, or 'The Big One,' but the workers at La Nirva factory refused. Reporter Facundo Iglesia follows the workers' journey as they fight to keep El Grandote--the alfajor of the people--alive.

The original version of story, Revolución on the Cookie Factory Floor, was reported by Facundo Iglesia and Sofía Kuan for Narratively.com.

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What’s On the Menu in 1906? May 18, 2023

What did dining out look like in 1906? We put the question to reporter Doug Mack, who dug through the New York Public Library’s “What’s on the Menu” database for answers. Mack encounters items like flaming omelettes, vichy with buttermilk, and calf brains on toast on the menu of one New York-based restaurant chain, Bristol's Dining Rooms. While these dishes may appear bizarre to our modern taste buds, Mack discovers that there may be more to it than meets the eye.

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The Road to Good Sake May 11, 2023

Fumiaki Matsuura had just started his job as the toji, or brew master of his family's sake brewery in Ishikawa, Japan, when he noticed a strange smell. A lot was riding on his reputation as the new face of the brewery, but this odor was quickly jeopardizing the business. Will Matsuura get to the bottom of this sake mystery? Story reported by Hannah Kirshner.

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The Apple Pie that Made Me May 04, 2023

ESPN's Baxter Holmes was always told: If it weren't for his family's apple pie, he wouldn't be here. The adage takes on a whole new meaning in this heartfelt episode about origins, love, and loss. (This episode is an adaptation of a story reported originally at Esquire.com. You can also read Baxter’s James Beard Award-winning piece about the NBA’s obsession with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at ESPN.com.)

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Taiwan’s Unlikely Beef Noodle Soup Apr 27, 2023

Beef noodle soup is Taiwan's national dish, but its existence is surprising, given that eating beef was taboo on the island not too long ago. Today, there's an annual beef noodle contest where chefs from around the nation duke it out to see who makes the best bowl. How did this happen? Reporter and cookbook author Clarissa Wei investigates. (Clarissa’s forthcoming cookbook, Made in Taiwan, is scheduled for release on September 19, 2023.)

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Navigating Blindness in the Supermarket Apr 20, 2023

What if you knew you were quickly losing your sight? That’s something reporter Jason Strother has thought a lot about. In this episode, Jason takes a crash course at the Colorado Center for the Blind to navigate what cooking or grocery shopping might be like while blind. (Jason’s reporting was supported by the 11th Hour Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship at UC Berkeley. This episode was previously called "Cooking School for the Blind.")

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A New Dad's Guide to Ramadan Apr 13, 2023

The month of Ramadan is here, and James Beard Award–winning writer Ahmed Ali Akbar is a new dad. He wants to pass down his family's traditions to his newborn daughter, but he wonders: How do you navigate fasting and nourishment and as a sleep-deprived parent? Ahmed talks to experts, nutritionists, and other families as they navigate Ramadan together.

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Season 13 Starts April 13! Mar 23, 2023

On lucky season 13 of Proof, we travel to Argentina where workers are fighting hard to save their national desert: The alfajor. We follow one reporter’s attempt at improving routines and mealtime during the month of Ramadan. We learn how to grocery shop while blind, and we also hear about one man’s quest to find the truth behind a family legend: Was he really born all because of an apple pie? All that, and so much more on Season 13 of Proof from America’s Test Kitchen.

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Going Deep on Italian Beef on City Cast Chicago Feb 02, 2023

Kevin gives City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran a behind-the-scenes look at the making of our Proof episode on the World’s Greatest Italian Beef. Catch City Cast Chicago every weekday and wherever you get your podcasts.

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The World’s Greatest Italian Beef Jan 12, 2023

One of the hottest TV shows of the past year was FX’s The Bear, about a fine-dining chef who takes over the family Italian Beef sandwich business in Chicago. Host Kevin Pang is a former food critic in the Windy City, having consumed hundreds of Beefs. In this episode, Kevin attempts to engineer the World’s Greatest Italian Beef sandwich.

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The Amazing Adventures of Poppop’s Bread Dec 15, 2022

Reporter Halley Bondy came upon an autobiography written by her grandfather, who she called Poppop. His life was astonishing: Poppop grew up in the grips of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, escaping fascism to create a new life for his family. As part of his new life in America, Poppop brought over a semi-sweet braided bread called vanocka eaten every Christmas Eve. In Proof's holiday episode, an amazing story about family, war, escape, and a very special bread.

Proof will be back in January with the last episode of Season 12. In the meantime, please vote for us for Best Arts & Culture podcast and Best Food & Drink podcast for the Signal Awards People's Choice Awards!

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The Proof Intervention of Brian Franklin Dec 08, 2022

America's Test Kitchen PR Director Brian Franklin's job? Spread the good word about the delicious food the company creates. There's just one problem: Brian has the palate of a 5-year-old (his words!). On this episode, the producers of Proof stage an intervention.

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Food Accidents Dec 01, 2022

A breakfast cereal created by religious leaders. Chicken wings, infidelity, and revenge. In this episode, two foods we know and love born from accidents.

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When Old-Fashioned Candy Was New Nov 17, 2022

Travel writer Doug Mack felt trapped. Winter was approaching in Minnesota. Another surge of lock-downs and travel restrictions loomed. Staring at his blank passport pages, Doug turns to his keyboard and encounters a Twitter post about ... strawberry bon bons. In this episode, we take a trip into the colorful world of old-timey candies.

Voice acting by: Darlene from The Voice Realm, Kevin Pang, and Jon McCormack. The “King William” recording is from the John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection at Lyon College.

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Should I Cook For My Dog? Nov 10, 2022

We think long and hard about what we feed our families. What about our canine friends? In this episode, reporter Varud Gupta goes on a quest to feed his Jack Russell Terrier mix, Luna. Not satisfied with standard dog food, Varud wants to know: Should I cook for Luna? He talks to eccentric dog parents, dog chefs, vets, and pet influencers to navigate the dizzying world and history of pet food.

(Please consult a vet before making any decisions about your dog or pet’s diet.)

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Season 12 Starts November 10! Oct 27, 2022

In Season 12 of Proof from America's Test Kitchen, we're bringing you stories from wartime Czechoslovakia to an Italian beef shop in Chicago. Meet eccentric dog owners and pet personalities as we investigate whether or not we should cook for our dogs. We search for connection down a rabbit hole of old-fashioned candies. The Proof staff stage an intervention to expand an America's Test Kitchen's colleague's food repertoire. All that, and so much more on the new season of Proof. Episode 1 drops on Thursday, November 10.

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Best of Proof: Cheater Cheater Chili Eater Oct 13, 2022

This week, we bring you a story of a major scandal in 2003 at a Texas chili cook-off. A newcomer turns in a cup of chili to the judges filled with samples of everyone else’s chili mixed together. And then, he wins first place.

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Best of Proof: Oyster Mushroom Revolution Oct 06, 2022

This week, we bring back another all-time favorite episode about a fungi and its critical role in one of the fastest growing economies in Central Africa. Set in the thriving tech hub of Rwanda, oyster mushrooms are at the center of this story.

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Best of Proof: The Plan to Kill the Chinese Restaurant Sep 29, 2022

This week, we bring back a listener favorite that dives into the consequences of a legislation that tried to prohibit young white women from eating at chop suey houses. This episode tells the story of an organized effort to wipe out Chinese eateries altogether and how these restaurants survived in spite of it.

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Best of Proof: Celery Sep 22, 2022

This week, we bring back Proof's very first episode, which takes a deep dive into the former “it” vegetable of the Victorian era: Celery. Before it was relegated to a bloody Mary garnish, celery was considered a status symbol and displayed proudly on restaurant menus and well-to-do families’ tablescapes. So what caused the vegetable’s fall from grace? And is it poised for a comeback?

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Proof's Guide to Hangovers Sep 15, 2022

What's actually going on in our bodies when we experience a hangover? In this last episode of the season, host Kevin Pang takes you through a Bill Nye The Science Guy-esque journey.

Got an idea for a story you want us to cover in a future episode? Got a suggestion? Let us know by filling out our Season 11 survey! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6979373/Proof-Season-11-Survey

Proof listeners will get 10% off their order when they go to saffifoods.com/proof. Get their Zero-Waste line of artisanal vinegars and oils that are trusted by professional chefs around the country.

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These Are a Few of Our Favorite Meals Sep 08, 2022

Bigma's Blackberry Pie. A warming bowl of chicken pho. Diner coffee, and a nostalgic meal at a Chinese restaurant in Japan. On this episode of Proof, the staff bring you stories of their ultimate favorite foods and meals.

We here at Proof are always thinking of ways to make our show better. Got an idea for a story you want us to cover in a future episode? Got a suggestion? Fill out our Season 11 survey here!

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6979373/Proof-Season-11-Survey

Proof listeners will get 10% off their order when they go to saffifoods.com/proof. Get their Zero-Waste line of artisanal vinegars and oils that are trusted by professional chefs around the country.

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The Food Court is Now in Session Sep 01, 2022

Ever wish you could settle--once and for all--the question of whether triangular-shaped pizzas are better than square-shaped pies? The Court of Historical Review in San Francisco once decided pressing cases on pop culture, sports controversies, and of course, food. Where was the fortune cookie created? Does the San Francisco bagel live up to its rival, the New York bagel? Reporter Eliza Rothstein talks to judges, experts, and plaintiffs as the gavel hits the sounding block.

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15 Dapper Acres Aug 25, 2022

What does it mean to be a dapperqueer homesteader? Author M Shelly Conner explores this question as she recounts her move from the city life in Chicago, Illinois to Conway, Arkansas, where she begins her journey of living off the land.

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Chicago's Original Fried Chicken Aug 18, 2022

Host Kevin Pang takes a trip to the Southside of Chicago to tell the story of Chicago's most famous culinary exports--and it's not about deep-dish pizza or hot dogs.

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Dungeons and Dragons and Deviled Eggs Aug 11, 2022

Ever wish you could spend the day immersed in the fantasy worlds from your book, show, or game? Meet the characters, travel the land - or if you’re like most of us at Proof - eat the food? From the Legend of Zelda to Dungeons and Dragons, reporter Sarah Vitak talks to the fan cookbook authors who are transforming pixelated foods into irl dishes you can serve on your plate.

Check out Aimee’s cookbook, The Unofficial Legend of Zelda Cookbook.

Learn more about Ashley and Isaac's Dungeons and Dragons cookbook, Fantasy Feasting, at the Fantasy Feasting Kickstarter.

Listen to Eric's podcast, Imaginary Worlds.

Learn more about Marisa’s work as a folklorist.

See some of Janice’s creations in Feeding Hannibal: A Connoisseur's Cookbook.

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The Vanishing Ants Aug 04, 2022

Leafcutter ants have been a traditional Colombian foodfor millennia, long predating Spanish colonization. But the ants, eaten by Colombians since the indigenous Guane peoples inhabited the area of Santander, are now in peril. What does the future hold for this ancient food source? Reporter Camilo Garzón reports.

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Strawberry Fields, Forever? Jul 28, 2022

As one of the most commonly consumed berries in the world, strawberries are a beloved household snack. But this soft, sweet fruit has a rocky history. From immigration to incarceration, Japanese Americans are integral to the California Strawberry origin story. Through three generations of Japanese strawberry farmers, reporter Hannah Kirshner brings us a story of ingenuity and resilience.

To learn more about Japanese Americans and Strawberry farming, read:

A Taste for Strawberries, by Manabi Hirasaki with Naomi Hirahara
Strawberry Days, by David Neiwert

For more about Japanese American history, check out:

Japanese American National Museum
Densho.org
Nature Behind Barbed Wire, by Connie Y. Chiang

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Season 11 Starts on July 28th! Jul 14, 2022

This season, we’re bringing you food stories from all over--from South America to the South Side of Chicago. We travel to Colombia to find out why leaf cutter ants–a common snack in the country–are disappearing. We drive around Chicago in search for one of the city's most famous culinary exports (and no, it's not deep-dish pizza or hot dogs). And we ask: Why does a Dungeons and Dragons recipe book have almost as many positive reviews as America’s Test Kitchen’s best-selling title? All that, and so much more on Season 11 of Proof from America’s Test Kitchen.

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[Bonus] Best of Proof Harklist Jun 23, 2022

This week, we're bringing you a collection of some of our favorite Proof episodes. Our friends at Hark Audio curated this list so you can relive or be introduced to some of the best moments from our feed. Hark editors pick and choose these compelling podcast moments and transform them into one-of-a-kind playlists--kind of like creating a special mixtape of all of your interests in podcast form. Download the Hark app and check out our host Kevin Pang's Harklist on the origins of fast food chains. You can also check out the Forbidden and Dangerous Foods, Cocktail Histories, or Little Known New York Food History Harklists.

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[Bonus] New Orleans: Anybody’s Gumbo from the Not Lost podcast Jun 16, 2022

Here’s a special preview of Not Lost, a new podcast about finding yourself in places you’ve never been from our friends at Pushkin Industries! Host Brendan Francis Newnam takes us around the world, learning about new places by getting invited to a stranger’s house for dinner. From Montréal to Mexico City, Brendan and his guests drink, dance, and eat, learning as much about themselves as the places they visit. In this preview, Brendan and his friend Danielle Hendersen head to the Big Easy and discover that it’s anything but. Carousel bars, gospel choirs, voodoo readings, and a visit to a slavery memorial plunge the duo into conversations about the good life with local luminaries like jazz-great Kermit Ruffins, voodoo priestess Madame Cinnamon, and a chef who dreams about gumbo.

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Your Trash? My Treasure Jun 09, 2022

For the season finale, we're bringing you three short stories on the theme: One person's trash is another person's treasure. Reporter Stephen Calabria digs into the story of a famous half-eaten piece of toast, ATK assistant editor Eden Faithful goes dumpster diving, and reporter Eliza Rothstein traces the life cycle of a pastry that turns into a spirit. Proof will be back for Season 11 late July, and in the meantime, we'll post other exciting content in our feed!

You can view what items Christie's auctioned off from Sue Houghton's Beatles collection here. And if you’re curious about what Misadventure's vodka tastes like, head to misadventure.com and use the code PROOF2022 for 15% off vodka bottles.

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The Seeds Worth Saving Jun 02, 2022

Baskets of bok choy, galangal, collard greens, epazote. We often take these United Nations of produce for granted, but it’s the deliberate work of farmers cultivating heritage seeds that ignites the growing diversity of fruits, grains, and vegetables. In this episode, reporter Jean Trinh chronicles the lives of three farmers who have made it their mission to plant seeds that sow a sense of home, cultural preservation, and belonging.

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They Know What You'll Eat Next Summer May 26, 2022

The McDonald’s vegan cheese slice. Botanical flavors for your next latte. A patent to cure meats with...celery juice. Many of the next it-food innovations are engineered by a company you’ve probably never heard of but touches almost food product you know: The Kerry Group. Reporter John Ringer goes behind the scenes at this food factory and lab, as he traces the history of Kerry’s humble roots as an Irish dairy cooperative to a worldwide ingredients company.

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How to Water a Food Desert May 19, 2022

Black Americans have deep historical connections and ownership over vegan and plant-based cuisines. But after the Great Migration, many left farms and the Jim Crow South to cities where urbanization and the advent of fast food changed the landscape of accessibility to fresh foods. In this episode of Proof, writer Gabrielle Lawrence-Cormier reconnects with their family's pre-Great Migration gardening traditions and reclaims their plant-based culinary roots.

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The Pho Must Go On May 12, 2022

Many of us have family recipes that have been passed down for generations. For reporter Anh Gray, it's her late mother's piping hot bowl of beef pho. But what do we do when we need to amend these recipes? Is something lost when we make substitutions, or can we iterate and build upon that which is sacred? Anh dives in.

Thanks to our sponsor, Naked Lunch. It's a new podcast hosted by Phil Rosenthal of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil, and music journalist David Wild. Listen and subscribe to Naked Lunch wherever you get your podcasts.

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You're Invited: A Wine Tasting in Ancient Japan May 05, 2022

Who were some of the first people ever to make wine? Images of ancient people of the Caucasus or France might come to mind. But what if we told you that wine was being made in ancient Japan, around the same time--or even earlier--than it was in the Caucuses? And even before sake was being made in Japan? Reporter Hannah Kirshner investigates.

You can read Hannah's article on the history of winemaking in Japan for Food & Wine, and her latest book is Water, Wood, and Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain Town. Eric C. Rath’s latest book is Oishii: The History of Sushi. Edward Slingerland’s is Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization.

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The Stew that Stirred Things Up Apr 28, 2022

Welcome to Bear Grass, North Carolina, where moonshine, tobacco, and bootlegging were once king. Today, a storied dish called chicken mull is a staple of the town's identity and for years, Bear Grass held an annual chicken mull-making contest to see who made the best mull. What happens though, when this humble dish almost tears the small, close-knit community apart? Reporter Allison Salerno reports.

Interested in making chicken mull? Find our Cook's Country recipe here.

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Get Rich or Die Cracking Apr 21, 2022

Black walnuts are probably nature's toughest nut to crack. But one man--television producer and newbie farmer Mike Trinklein--is determined to prove that it's a crop worth farming for. In this episode of Proof, Mike walks us through the history and benefits of these nuts, and shares his own scheme to get rich...slow off the land.

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Season 10 Starts on April 21st! Apr 07, 2022

Proof from America's Test Kitchen returns Thursday, April 21st! We kick off Season 10 by traveling to the midwest in search of a tough-to-crack crop. We ask: Who has the right to tweak a national dish? We also try to solve the mystery of The Beatles' George Harrison's piece of toast. All that, and much more on the new season of Proof!

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The Somali Farmer Rises Jan 06, 2022

Muhidin Libah was living in Syracuse, New York when he received a call from a Somali Bantu community in Maine. They wanted his help setting up a non-profit organization that would run a farm aimed to serve the growing Somali Bantu émigré community in the Pine Tree State. As Muhidin answered the call, he wondered whether they should stick to setting the organization up with a strictly for-us-by-us mentality, or whether they needed allies in a place that had shown hostility to his people. What does it mean to set up a farm--for and by a minority community--in a predominantly white region? Reporter Ashia Aubourg digs in.

This story is based on Ashia's story in Cuisine Noir. Visit the Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine's website to find out more.

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Dumplings in Iowa Dec 16, 2021

What does it look like when you uproot yourself from a familiar culinary place to an unknown city? The Moth performer and writer Aaron Pang dives in with this audio diary that chronicles his move from San Francisco to Iowa City.

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My Father, The YouTube Star Dec 09, 2021

One day in 2012, Proof host Kevin Pang received an email from his father, urging Kevin to watch a video on YouTube that he'd just sent. Reluctantly, Kevin opened it to discover that somehow, his retired father had created a YouTube cooking channel that had nearly a million views. This would kick off a series of events that would forever change Kevin's relationship with his father. This week's episode is a story about family, what happens when immigrants move to a new country, and how Kevin's dad became an unlikely YouTube star. (This story is based on Kevin Pang's article in the New York Times Magazine.)

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So What Do You Feed the Dead? Dec 02, 2021

Around the world and throughout history, we’ve celebrated the departed with rituals that involve food. Pharaohs were buried with feasts. We pour out drinks in honor of fallen friends and family. But the precision and thought that Zoroastrian priest Marziban Hathiram puts into preparing meals for the departed is in a league of its own. Author Varud Gupta takes us through the intricacies of the stum death ritual in Gujarat, India, and walks us through what foods are--and aren’t--appropriate for the afterlife.

Read more of Varud's journey in his book, Bagwaan Ke Pakwaan: Food of the Gods.

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Should I get my Lobster High? Nov 18, 2021

Charlotte Gill was anguished by the way the lobsters at her lobster pound died a slow death in vats of boiling water. ‘There must be another way,’ she thought. ‘How about getting them high?’ In this episode of Proof, science reporter Sarah Vitak tracks Gill’s quest, invokes David Foster Wallace, and considers the lobster.

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Will Jewish Delis Survive? Nov 11, 2021

Jewish delis are a staple of many American cities and neighborhoods. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the restaurant industry, Jewish delis were already on the decline. In 1931, there were an estimated 2,000 delis in the Big Apple. Today--almost a century later--there’s fewer than a few dozen. So what accounts of this deli decline? Reporter Rebecca Rosman samples delis across the United States in search for answers.

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Season 9 Starts November 11! Oct 28, 2021

We kick off the new season by asking: Why are Jewish delis disappearing? We consider the lobster, and the most humane way to treat them before we eat them. We look at literal soul food--food that's served to the departed, and you'll hear a story from host Kevin Pang about how his dad became an unlikely YouTube cooking star. All that, and much more on Season 9 of Proof from America’s Test Kitchen.

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[Bonus] Mystery Recipe Season Four Oct 21, 2021

Today we have a special episode from our friends over at Mystery Recipe, a podcast from America's Test Kitchen Kids for young chefs ages 4-10. This episode features Proof host Kevin Pang! If you like Mystery Recipe, you can find their fourth season anywhere you get your podcasts.

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One Man's Fight for Old Bay Seasoning Sep 16, 2021

Old Bay Seasoning is a hallmark of mid-Atlantic food culture. The yellow and red branding has stood the test of time, and remained unshakably present in grocery stores across the country. It's sprinkled on seafood, fries, and even used in ice cream. But despite its renowned fame and recognition, very few people actually know the man behind this iconic seasoning and his battle with the spice industry. Reporter Claudia Rosenbaum digs into the the David-and-Goliath origins of Old Bay Seasoning, and how the spice blend has endured today.

Take our season 8 survey to get a 30% off coupon code at the America's Test Kitchen online shop.

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Why Be Vegetarian? Sep 09, 2021

How we speak, what we wear, and what we eat are influenced by our upbringings, our cultures, and our roots. But what happens when we peel the curtain back on all the things we thought we knew about ourselves? What would we find? In this episode, reporter Sheila V Kumar interrogates her own vegetarianism and asks what consequences our food choices have in the political sphere and in our own lives. Take our Season 8 survey here.

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The Drink that Wouldn't Die Sep 02, 2021

Few drinks have gone through the ringer the way Chartreuse has. Since the 1700s, a silent group of monks in the Southeast of France have produced and protected this elixir-turned-liqueur through evictions, natural disasters, and other trials and tribulations of history. Today, Chartreuse is a crucial ingredient that helped spur the modern craft cocktail movement. Proof's managing producer and self-professed "pro-sumer" of cocktails, Yumi Araki, digs into the history of the spirit that just wouldn't die. Take our Season 8 survey here.

For further reading on the history of Chartreuse: Chartreuse the Liqueur.

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The Spice Blend That Takes You Home Aug 26, 2021

The smell of certain foods imprint themselves in our brains and can transport us to different places and our past. One scent in particular--the smell of za'atar--brought two Palestinian women together through social media. Nadia Tommalieh and Lulu Abura instantly shared a bond over their love for the herb and the spice blend that reminds them of their homeland. Reporter Haley Gray reports. Take our Season 8 survey here.

Follow Nadia Tommalieh on Instagram here.

Follow Lulu Abura on Instagram here.

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The Food Here Is No Joke Aug 19, 2021

On a cold night in January 2017, five comedians gathered around a table in the back of a cramped restaurant in New York’s Greenwich Village called the Olive Tree Cafe. The comedian weren't scheduled to perform at the downstairs Comedy Cellar that night, but they had come to hang out at a place they called home: a family dinner around the most important table in American stand-up comedy. This restaurant--and the famous comedian's table--have long served as home base for comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Aziz Ansari, and Dave Chappelle--the five comedians who ended up performing at what would be remembered as the Billion Dollar Comedy Night. Reporter Stephen Calabria digs into the history of the Olive Tree Cafe and how it fuels some of America's most famous stand-up comedians.

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How Far Would You Travel for An Apple? Aug 12, 2021

June Pinks. Candy Stripes. Leather Britches, and Fall Roses. These are the names of just a few apple varieties that have been lost to time. But one man, Tom Brown, is on a mission to find them—and especially one variety called the Junaluska—before it’s too late. Will Tom Brown succeed? Claire Donnelly reports.

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How Pineapples Became A Hashtag Aug 05, 2021

Pineapple cakes. Pork-wrapped pineapple. Pineapple bento boxes, and beef pineapple noodle soup. Reporter Kai McNamee started seeing the spiky fruit everywhere—at restaurants, at convenience stores and at bakeries—after China banned pineapple imports from Taiwan earlier this year. A pineapple-related hashtag also took social media by storm. So what was the #FreedomPineapple campaign all about? Kai investigates in this episode of Proof.

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Why Did Jello Salad Go Out Of Style? Jul 29, 2021

Ethereal, contained, and rife with ingredients like cottage cheese, whipped cream, and fruit. The Jello salad was a mainstay of many American households throughout the 1950s and the '60s. They were a feast for the eyes, with mixed results about whether they were a feast for the stomach. Still, housewives made them, until a shift happened that upended the way women--and men--thought about cooking. In the season eight premiere of Proof, producer Karen Given tells us about the rise and fall of Jello and gelatin. It’s a story that begins in the Middle Ages, features handsome door-to-door gelatin salesmen on horseback, and goes all the way to Julia Child.

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Season 8 Starts July 29 with a new host! Jul 22, 2021

This season, we're back with a new lineup, and a new host, Kevin Pang! We kick off the season with a story about gelatin and the heyday of Jell-O. We ride along an apple hunter’s journey in search of a lost apple variety. We look at the place--and the food--that’s nurtured some of the best comedians in America, and how a drink made by a silent group of monks has survived over centuries, against all odds. All that, and more on season 8 of Proof from America’s Test Kitchen.

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Sakura and the Wild Boars Jun 10, 2021

In the town of Yamanaka in Western Japan, wild boars are a threat to local farming. With the extinction of natural predators, the boars run rampant, leaving hunters like Sakura Yoshida to patrol the area. This pits boars against humans, but Sakura approaches the boars with veneration and a deep understanding of the ecosystem they both inhabit. In this episode of Proof, author Hannah Kirshner takes us along for a ride with Sakura and recounts the history of meat eating in Japan.

This episode draws on the "Year of the Boars" chapter in Hannah Kirshner's Water, Wood, and Wild Things.

For further reading about human-wildlife relations in Japan, read The Lost Wolves of Japan by Brett L. Walker and Waiting For Wolves in Japan by John Knight.

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Reclaiming the Fifth Sense Jun 03, 2021

Our five senses--sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell--can feel intrinsically linked to who we are. But when aspiring chef Molly Birnbaum lost her sense of smell in a traumatic accident, she resolved to get it back through smell training and learning how our olfactory systems are connected to the brain. In this episode of Proof, Editor-In-Chief of ATK Kids Molly Birnbaum, walks us through her journey, and talks to others who lost their sense of smell--from Covid-19 and other causes--along the way.

Read Molly's book, Season to Taste: How I Lost My Sense of Smell and Found My Way.

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No Us Without You May 27, 2021

Hospitality and and serving others were at the heart of Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco's bar consulting business in Los Angeles. When the pandemic hit, the duo noticed that undocumented workers, who serve as vital back of house staff at restaurants and bars, weren't eligible or able to get the help that they needed. The two decided to start a nonprofit organization and called it No Us Without You. In this episode of Proof, reporter Jean Trinh talks to two individuals who have been helped by No Us Without You and chronicles how Damián and Othón resolved to serve those who have served us for years.

A version of this story was originally reported in The Washington Post.

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A Baloney Redemption Story May 20, 2021

Baloney is one of the most well-known--and divisive--meat products in the United States. Many synonymize it with "fake" or "synthetic," but there are some who defend the maligned meat to its core. What makes this iconic American food so controversial, and how did it fall from its former glory? In this episode of Proof, Reporter Rebecca Rosman travels to Bologna, Italy to trace the origins of the city's namesake meat, and talks to the people in the United States who are at the forefront of revitalizing the meat's reputation.

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Nixtamalization and Indigenous Science May 13, 2021

Tortillas, tortilla chips, and tamales—these are all foods that are easy to enjoy but not as easy to make from scratch. There's a process called nixtamalization that occurs, which unlocks nutrients from corn and makes it ready to use in the foods we love. Nixtamalization is a crucial step, yet it's not well-known. It's a testament to the ingenuity of Indigenous science, which has been subject to erasure throughout history. In this episode of Proof, Navajo reporter Andi Murphy walks us through her journey of nixtamalizing blue corn, and embarks on an Indigenous information exchange with chefs, scholars, and poets in the process.

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Feeders, Eaters, and A Neither May 06, 2021

For many of us, food and family are an intertwined bridge of our identity. We can trace so many things about ourselves and personalities to our family members and the meals we’ve shared. There are the dedicated feeders of the family, the thankful eaters, and the confusing neithers--they neither eat nor feed. Writer Ahmed Ali Akbar was a neither. At an early age, he didn’t eat or prepare much of his family’s Pakistani food. However, an unexpected meal changed his entire perspective. In this episode of Proof, Ahmed confronts his pickiness while solidifying an undeniable connection he shared with a beloved feeder.

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The Curious Curator of Culinary History Apr 29, 2021

The Food Timeline has been a valuable resource for food professionals and laypeople alike. The website chronicles the origins of everything from emmer grain (which, dates back to 17,000 BC), to the modern-day cake pop. Most impressively, the Food Timeline was the creation of one single individual: Lynne Olver. In 2015, however, the future of the Food Timeline suddenly becomes uncertain. In this episode of Proof, we go back in Internet history to witness the Food Timeline's birth and learn about the amazing woman behind it.

Explore the Food Timeline for yourself here: http://foodtimeline.org/

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France, Tin Cans, and the Missing Man Apr 22, 2021

Canned foods are an essential part of our pantries. From pasta sauce, to pumpkin puree, to corn and beans, these ready-to-open options give cooking more ease. That is exactly what Nicolas Appert wanted when he invented the airtight art of food preservation. During the 19th century, this French chef identified ways to hold nature’s greatest gifts in bottles year-round. Yet, after this transformative discovery, Appert’s legacy is still unknown by the majority of the world. In this episode of Proof, we unpack the story of Appert’s non-perishable contributions to society.

Read Malcolm Summers' biography of Nicolas Appert here.

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Season 7 Starts April 22 Apr 08, 2021

Who was the man who helped revolutionize the way we eat? What does it mean to be an ambassador of a food culture and a pickiy eater at the same time? Why is a boar hunter in Japan conflicted? Tune in to find out on Season 7 of Proof beginning April 22.

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[Bonus] The Sporkful: Mission: ImPASTAble 1| Spaghetti Sucks Mar 11, 2021

Dan Pashman is on a mission to make--and sell--a new pasta shape. Our friends at The Sporkful have a new five part series on Dan's journey (and in this episode, find out why he hates Spaghetti). You can find the rest of the series in The Sporkful feed wherever you listen to podcasts.

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[Bonus] Rebel Eaters Club: Food is a Bridge with Francis Lam Jan 28, 2021

Our friends a Transmitter Media have a body-positive and unapologetically food-positive show that is about breaking up with diet culture. Host Virgie Tovar talks to amazing ‘rebel eaters’ who will change the way you think about food and your body. Their second season just launched and features great conversations with guests like Francis Lam from The Splendid Table, as well as fascinating stories about why we eat what we eat. Listen now in your favorite podcast app or at rebeleatersclub.com

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An Ice Cream Truck Music Controversy Jan 21, 2021

Nichols Electronics has a monopoly on the ice cream truck music box market. When you hear the familiar sound of ice cream truck music ringing through your neighborhood, chances are extremely high that it’s coming from a box that Mark and Beth Nichols created. For decades, they’ve been in the business of evoking nostalgia and happy memories. Until recently, when it was revealed that one of the most popular songs on their boxes has a dark history. Today on Proof, we tell the story of how one small family business faced the biggest controversy to rock the ice cream truck industry.

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How Orange Juice Was Built Jan 14, 2021

When you see “not from concentrate” on a carton of OJ, you might assume it’s healthier than other brands. But actually, that’s a relic of a decades-long juice brand battle and deceptive marketing that sold customers the promise of a "balanced breakfast." In fact, the behemoths behind orange juice popularity have constantly shape-shifted and reinvented themselves in order to bring our favorite breakfast juice to the proverbial table. In this episode of Proof, we chronicle Minute Maid and Tropicana’s decades-long tête-à-tête, that firmly solidified orange juice as a permanent fixture of the American diet.

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Considering Blue Food Jan 07, 2021

The color blue doesn’t really occur naturally in food. Think about it: when was the last time you ate something blue? Maybe a piece of candy or an ice pop that was “blue raspberry” flavored. Food marketing teams have steered their companies away from blue labels and blue colored foods (except in a few cases), often citing studies on the psychology of color and perception of taste. But one popular study might not be all it’s cracked up to be. This week we teamed up with Slate’s Decoder Ring podcast to dig deeper and find out why blue isn’t a common color on our plates.

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[Bonus] Ask This Old House: Insulating Your Attic Dec 21, 2020

Our friends at This Old House have a new podcast "Ask This Old House". The show features home enthusiasts around the country, who ask questions about the toughest projects in their homes.

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Sizzler and the Search for the American Dream Dec 17, 2020

When Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee and her family moved to America from Korea in the 1980s, they were immersed in a whole new world. New schools, friends, jobs, and new food. None was more remarkable than the salad bar at Sizzler, with its small yellow cubed pieces of cheese and Thousand Island dressing. In this memoir, Cecilia and her siblings recall their first few years in the US, and how food shaped their family’s pursuit of the American Dream.

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France's Forbidden Wine Dec 10, 2020

Hervé Garnier owns a small vineyard in the tiny French town of Beaumont making winefrom hybrid Franco-American grape varieties. But this fruity, floral, rich red wine he makes… is illegal. According to outdated French and EU law, the wine made from these hybrid vines is dangerous, that it induces madness. But they also claim the wine just doesn’t taste good enough to be sanctioned as “French Wine.” Hervé calls these excuses absurdités. For decades, he has fought the restrictions to no avail. So, what is French Wine? And who gets to say?

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The Case of the Snail in the Ginger Beer Dec 03, 2020

Modern personal injury lawsuits are now considered frivolous, at best. But 66 years before the infamous spilled McDonald’s coffee, May Donoghue drank a ginger beer in Paisley, Scotland and changed personal injury law forever. May, a humble shopkeeper, discovered a snail in her drink and decided to sue. No such lawsuit had ever been won before. She was slandered in the press, and criticized in court, but to the surprise of many, she won. In Proof’s first ever docu-drama episode, we explore the unspoken trust between consumer and seller through a dramatized retelling of May Donoghue’s story.

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Season 6 Starts December 3 Nov 27, 2020

Illegal wine, food color psychology, a snail in a soda, and an immigrant family's food story. We're back with more of the food stories you love. Tune in for Season 6 of Proof beginning December 3.

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[Bonus] Antiques Roadshow's Detours Podcast Nov 23, 2020

Our friends at GBH and Antiques Roadshow have a new podcast called Detours, where you'll get some insider info on objects you've never seen before, and why. We're excited to share their first episode with you: The Hardest Fact I Ever Checked.

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The Villain of Trader Joe's Nov 12, 2020

The Trader Joe's subreddit is a place for friendly conversation and helpful tips for how to use Trader Joe's products. But what happened when a villain caused trouble in the online community?

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Thanksgiving Times in Crises Nov 05, 2020

Becky Krystal of The Washington Post joins Bridget to talk about what Thanksgiving has looked like in the past during times of crises like the World Wars, economic disasters, and more.

Read Becky's article The Washington Post.

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[Bonus] The Genius Recipe Tapes: The #1 Way to Eat More Vegetables Oct 31, 2020

Our friends at Food52 have a great new podcast about the uncut gems of their weekly "Genius Recipes" column and video series. Bridget talks with host Kristen Miglore before playing an episode of the show.

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The Genetics of Taste Oct 29, 2020

Bridget speaks with Dr. Danielle Reed from the Monell Chemical Senses Center about the genetics of taste perception. To learn more about the Monell Center’s research, visit monell.org.

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Famous Death Row Meals Oct 22, 2020

Ashley Lecker, Author of the Serial Killer Cookbook, joins Bridget to talk about Famous Death Row Meals. Warning: this episode may not be suitable for children. You can purchase Ashley's book here: https://ulyssespress.com/books/the-serial-killer-cookbook/

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Proof Presents: The Walk-In Oct 01, 2020

In this special episode of Proof, Bridget Lancaster talks with America’s Test Kitchen Executive Editor Elle Simone Scott about Elle’s new podcast, The Walk-In. Then, food historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris steps into The Walk-In with Elle.

Food historian, author, and educator Dr. Jessica B. Harris gives Elle advice only an Auntie can. They talk about growing up as an only child, the magic of HBCUs, and how the pandemic has changed Dr. Harris' perspective.

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Hive Heist Sep 24, 2020

A new branch of crime has emerged in central California under cover of mass almond groves: the theft of beehives. Why? Because they’re really valuable. The American honey economy has crashed, leading beekeepers to find other sources of income for their bees. The burgeoning US Almond industry was just the key. But it's a dangerous gig for the bees, making their hive rental fees steep and a perfect target for organized crime.

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You're a Good Man, Brady Keys Sep 18, 2020

After Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in 1968, Civil Rights leaders, fast food corporations, and the Nixon administration began an unlikely collaboration: to promote “Black Capitalism” in the fast food industry. The idea was this: promoting Black franchise business ownership in Black neighborhoods could improve the quality of Black life in America. Brady Keys was the king of Nixon’s Black capitalism. He received upwards of 9 million dollars in federal money to develop his fast food franchise, All-Pro Chicken, and collaborated with KFC and Burger King in ground-breaking franchise deals. Keys’ story is a case study of Black business ownership in the ‘60s, when the path to Civil Rights was paved with profits.

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The Case of the Disappearing Franchise Sep 10, 2020

Historian/Fast-food Detective Marcia Chatelain is our guide as we explore the cases of American fast food franchises that once were, until they vanished without a trace. The Mid-century was the height of fast-food franchising: McDonalds, KFC, White Castle. But what about the chains that didn’t survive? From pyramid schemes and copycats to acquisitions and fish wars, we explore the culprits in the cases of the disappearing franchise.

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The Mysterious Yamei Kin Sep 03, 2020

Dr. Yamei Kin was orphaned by her parents at a young age, and adopted by missionaries. She became one of the first Chinese women to receive a medical degree. In the 1910s, the USDA hired Dr. Kin to research high-protein foods in light of World War I shortages. But she was never able to position tofu as a respectable ingredient in the American diet. Why wasn’t the West ready for Tofu?

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Will The Real Mr. Oreo Please Stand Up? Aug 27, 2020

A collaboration with Business Insider’s Brought To You By. In this three-part story, we tell the history of the Biscuit Wars of the early 1900s. Then, we learn of one woman’s relationship with Oreos as an expression of rebellion to her Jewish roots’ Kosher rules. Lastly, we also uncover the real story behind Mr. Oreo, the man who somehow got credit for inventing the current Oreo cream filling.

Read Marjorie Ingall's essay about the Oreo

Stella Parks, BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts

Read from Business Insider: How the Oreo cookie went from unknown knock-off to the world's most popular cookie, as a result of a sibling rivalry between baker brothers

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The Search for the Queerest Food Aug 20, 2020

In John Birdsall’s 2014 article, "America, Your Food is so Gay," he describes a particularly indulgent cheese burger as "unflinchingly queer." For reporter Chad Chenail, this sparked a journey of self-discovery through queer theory, all in an attempt to answer the question: What is the Queerest food?

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Season 5 starts August 20 Aug 06, 2020

Queer food, beehive theft, Nixon-sponsored fast food, and searching for Mr. Oreo. We're back with more of the food stories you love. Tune in for Season 5 of Proof beginning August 20.

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Summer Cocktails 101 Jul 30, 2020

According to cocktail expert Dan Zucarello, the basic Daiquiri might be the queen of all cocktails. Learn these cocktail fundamentals, and your summer will be filled with delicious drinks.

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Wine and Whisky Copycats Jul 23, 2020

Some new wines and spirits are being created in the lab, not the cask. Using flavor technology, companies are able to replicate artisan wines and spirits at a fraction of the price. But, is there art in that too?

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Quaran-tiny Sourdough Starter Jul 16, 2020

Creating a sourdough starter can be difficult during a pandemic. Sourdough Guru, Andrew Janjigian is here to help.

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Science Diction: Umami Jul 09, 2020

Science Diction host Johanna Mayer joins Bridget to talk about the history of Umami and MSG.

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[Bonus] Brought To You By from Business Insider: Jack Daniel's Jun 04, 2020

While we work on our next season, here's another podcast to check out: Brought To You By from Business Insider. Jack Daniel’s is the top-selling whiskey in the world. For more than 150 years, it’s been made using time-honored methods that go back to when Jack Daniel made the whiskey himself. (Yes, he was a real person.) But who taught “Mr. Jack” how to make that whiskey? Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man. Unlike Jack Daniel, though, most people don’t know his name, so one woman has made it her mission to tell the world his story one sip at a time.

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Exodus Bagels: A Small Business and COVID-19 May 28, 2020

The restaurant industry has been especially hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. 8 million restaurant jobs have disappeared around the country and some are projecting $80 billion in lost revenue in March and April alone. But behind the numbers and headlines are real people. This is the story of one family, struggling to save their bagel cafe in Boston.

Take our Season 4 survey!

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The Reconstruction of A Royal Cake May 21, 2020

In 1947, the Peek Freans bakery of Bermondsey made a beautiful royal wedding cake for Queen Elizabeth’s nuptials to Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh. It was a showstopper: 6 feet tall, 6 tiers, and covered in beautiful white royal icing and exquisite decorations. The Peek Freans bakers were so proud of the cake, that they immediately made a replica, which sat on display for decades. Queen Elizabeth’s replica wedding cake would end up in a museum. Until one day in 2015, when it was destroyed by vandals. They turned it upside down, splashed it with red paint, and marked it with “A” for anarchy. But that wasn’t the end of the story. Over the next two years, hundreds of people would come together to make yet another replica of the replica royal wedding cake: For the Queen, for craft, or for Bermondsey.

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Cheater Cheater Chili Eater May 14, 2020

For competitive chili cooks, the ultimate accomplishment is taking home first prize at the Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler Memorial Championship Chili Cook-off. The Terlingua chili cooks are a tight-knit group. And in 2003, they were suspicious of newcomer Don Eastep. And it turns out, they were right to be. Because Don didn’t cook chili at that cook-off. Instead, he turned in a cup of chili to the judges, filled with samples of everyone else’s chili mixed together. And then, he won first place. The 2003 Terlingua Cook-off would go down as the most scandalous event in the history of chili cooking. After the chili cheater was revealed, Don was banned from Terlingua, the Eastep family name was scorched, and the chili-cooking community was forced to answer the question: Can the ultimate chili crime be forgiven?

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The Journey of the Nem May 07, 2020

How did the nem, a Vietnamese Spring Roll, become a prominent feature on Senegalese restaurant menus in New York City? The Journey of the nem is one of war, love, hardship, and chasing a dream. Over the last century, the nem has traveled thousands of miles, from Vietnam, to Senegal, and eventually, to find its new home in New York. The diaspora and the collective knowledge that traveled with it, shared over generations and across international cities, helped propel spring rolls from foreign novelty to everyday snack.

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Who Owns Nature? Apr 30, 2020

The Plant Patent Act of 1930 is cited in a landmark Supreme Court case that extended patent rights to genetically engineered plants, animals, and bacteria. But it all started with Luther Burbank, aka the “Wizard of Horticulture.” Burbank rose to fame in the early 20th century for his plant inventions like the Russet Burbank Potato. But, unlike his friends Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, Burbank was never able to patent his creations. After Burbank’s death, his supporters would push a controversial bill through Congress legalizing patents on plants. But have these laws had unintended consequences in the modern age?

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Yelp Therapy Apr 23, 2020

Bryce has put his blood, sweat, and tears into building his business, a Williamsburg restaurant called Black Flamingo. This plant-based Latin-inspired restaurant is home to a basement disco, and widely celebrated tacos and cocktails. So when Tanya leaves a scathing Yelp review about her bad experience at the restaurant, Bryce is discouraged. A Yelp rating is proven to affect restaurant profit, which can make even one bad review devastating to a business owner like Bryce. When the Yelp platform does little to help facilitate resolution, is Bryce and Tanya’s only hope of reconciliation to take their dialog “offline” and come face to face?

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Raiders of the Lost Yeast Apr 16, 2020

Seamus Blackley is the creator of the Xbox. He’s also an ancient Egypt enthusiast and baking hobbyist. Yes, you heard that right. Via Twitter, he assembled a rag-tag team of specialists: an archeologist (Dr. Serena Love) and a biologist (Rich Bowman). Together, they created a grand scheme: extract dormant yeast from the nooks and crannies of ancient Egyptian pots stored in the vaults of the world’s most prestigious museums and bake bread with it.

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Atomic Peanuts and Gamma Grapefruit Apr 09, 2020

In 1927, more than 50 years before the first GMO crop hit the market, a scientist named Louis Stadler shot X-rays at barley. The result was a random mutation—a change in the color of the plant. While not particularly useful, it showed that with radiation, scientists could roll the genetic dice, press fast-forward on natural selection, and with enough rolls, maybe even uncover something new- a useful mutant. The Atomic Age would inspire a generation of scientists to blast crops with Cobalt-60 radiation. Even civilians got in on the action. But today, this type of breeding is all but forgotten. Is the possibility of an “Atomic Garden of Eden” worth the nuclear gamble?

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Season 4 Starts April 9 Apr 02, 2020

4,500 year old yeast, atomic peanuts, and a cheating scandal at a chili cook-off. Season 4 goes even deeper to reveal what’s on our plates and how it got there. Tune in for Season 4 of Proof beginning April 9.

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[Bonus] The Bitter Southerner: Waffle House Mar 20, 2020

We want to share with you a podcast from our friends at The Bitter Southerner called "The Ways of Waffle House" that attempts to answer a large question: How could a 2,000-store restaurant chain become, to Southerners, something more than just another place to eat?

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Introducing Mystery Recipe, a New Podcast from America's Test Kitchen Kids Mar 16, 2020

Mystery Recipe is a new podcast from America's Test Kitchen Kids! With new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, this short-form podcast will help kids AND their grown-ups uncover the fun, fantastical, and fascinating sides of food. Each week will have a different ingredient theme, which builds to the grand finale: a mystery recipe cook-along. Get excited about cooking (and eating) by digging into the deliciously silly and unexpectedly educational.

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[Bonus] Introducing Clearstory from This Old House Feb 06, 2020

Our friends at This Old House have a new podcast called Clearstory. Hosted by Kevin O'Connor, Clearstory is a podcast that sheds light on the surprising stories behind our homes. The episode we bring you today, "Wood: Dead in the Water?", is all about old-growth wood found at the bottom of riverbeds that's used for beautiful furniture and flooring.

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Oyster Mushroom Revolution Jan 02, 2020

In Rwanda 26-year-old Christian has turned his mom’s backyard into an oyster mushroom cultivation lab, with mushrooms sprouting here and there. And he’s not alone. For a country still known internationally for its 1994 genocide, Rwanda’s booming mushroom industry reflects hope for a brighter future. In Rwanda, is a better tomorrow just a mushroom farm away?

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Underground Aams Trade, Part 2 Dec 26, 2019

In part two of this investigation, reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar explores the underbelly of the secretive mango distribution industry. He uncovers the historical and economic reasons that importing mangoes from Pakistan has been so difficult — from regulation to irradiation. And he finally traces product to supplier.

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Underground Aams Trade, Part 1 Dec 19, 2019

Pakistani-American communities in the U.S. rely on dealers on WhatsApp to gain access to their most coveted treasure: Pakistani mangoes. And they pay a premium for it. In part one of this two-part investigation, reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar searches for answers. Why are Pakistani mangoes so hard to find? And why is the Pakistani community resorting to deals on WhatsApp to procure them?

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Jamon, Y'all Dec 12, 2019

In 2015, Will Harris, a farmer in southwest Georgia, partnered with Spanish entrepreneur father and son to bring Iberian pigs to the United States. The climate would be different (from hot, dry Spain to wet, humid Georgia) and so would the pigs' diet (they would eat Georgia pecans instead of acorns), but Harris figured this expensive gamble could pay off. Can jamón ibérico can be reduced to a simple formula (pigs + pasture + acorns), or is there more to the story?

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Tracing Jambalaya Dec 05, 2019

Reporter Kayla Stewart attempts to trace Gulf Coast dish Jambalaya back to its rumored roots in West Africa’s Jollof Rice. Kayla’s journey to find a connection between the two dishes takes her from her mother’s Houston kitchen to the streets of Accra. But instead of a link, she finds that the history of African American food ways cannot be separated from the influences of slavery and colonialism.

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Why Not Eat Bugs? Nov 21, 2019

A South African Entrepreneur, Leah Bessa, discovers that processing Black Soldier Fly larvae produces a milk-like substance, dubbed Entomilk. Can Leah’s entomilk ice cream succeed as a dairy-alternative? Although South African populations have a traditional history of bug-eating, can modern society overcome its ick-factor to take advantage of all bugs have to offer?

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Prepping for the Worst Nov 14, 2019

In a deep dive into “prepper” culture, we learn what makes up the ultimate survival cuisine. We investigate the motivation of this subculture that stocks up on non-perishables for the end-of-times. Should the desire to survive be reduced to a quirky paranoia, or is the quest to prepare for survival in dire circumstances more noble than we give it credit for?

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The True Cost of Mezcal Nov 07, 2019

Mezcal has recently enjoyed a spike in popularity, which brought a welcome surge to the Oaxacan economy, the southern Mexican state where Mezcal is produced. But is the demand for Mezcal outgrowing the supply? What can be done to ensure it survives for years to come without sacrificing the agave plants and land that sustain it? Can mezcal avoid becoming the next tequila?

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Season 3 Starts November 7th Oct 17, 2019

An underground mango industry, the hidden costs of your favorite Mezcal, and ice cream made from bugs. Season 3 goes deep to challenge our ideas about what we eat and uncover where it comes from. Tune in for Season 3 of Proof beginning November 7.

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Can You Prevent Brain Freezes? Oct 03, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: does eating ice cream slower prevent a brain freeze?

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Can Pistachios Spontaneously Combust? Sep 26, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: do pistachios spontaneously combust?

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What Food Should I Wish For On A Deserted Island? Sep 19, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: If I was stranded on a deserted island, what's the best food to wish for?

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What Weird Things Did Presidents Eat? Sep 12, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: What are the weirdest things US presidents ate?

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Can You Bake A Cookie In Space? Sep 05, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: If you flung a cookie dough ball into space, how long until it bakes into a cookie?

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Why Is Ranch So Addictive? Aug 29, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: why is ranch so addictive?

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Are We All Victims of Food Fraud? Aug 22, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: In a world fraught with food fraud, how do you know what you're buying?

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Can You Get Drunk Off Kombucha? Aug 15, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: How much kombucha would it take to get you drunk?

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Is Cereal Soup? Aug 08, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: Is cereal soup?

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Why Does OJ Taste Bad After Using Toothpaste? Aug 01, 2019

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: Why are some flavor pairings divine (chocolate + coffee) and others horrible (orange juice after toothpaste)?

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The Plan to Kill the Chinese Restaurant Jul 18, 2019

Chinese restaurants are an essential part of the American landscape -- even more ubiquitous than McDonald’s. But a century ago, they were almost extinguished by legislation passed around the country that barred young white women from eating at chop suey houses. This is the story of an organized effort to wipe out Chinese eateries altogether and how these restaurants survived in spite of it.

We want to get your feedback about Proof. Please take this survey so we know what you like and what we can do better: http://bit.ly/proofpodcast2.

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The Pretty Big Problem of Ugly Food Jul 11, 2019

“Ugly Food” subscription boxes propose to solve a very big problem: nearly half of all the food produced in the United States is being wasted, even while many struggle to put food on the table each day. But can delivering a box of three-legged carrots and misshapen squash really address the root causes of food waste? Or is the Ugly Foods movement actually doing more harm than good?

We want to get your feedback about Proof. Please take this survey so we know what you like and what we can do better: http://bit.ly/proofpodcast2.

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The Quest for Mystic Makgeolli Jun 27, 2019

Makgeolli is a quintessentially Korean alcohol, but few people outside of the Korean peninsula have ever heard of, much less tasted it. Even within Korea, it’s mostly known as an overly sweet, low quality drink available at every corner convenience store. But the real version of Makgeolli is the product of centuries of traditional Korean brewing techniques -- an elegant, complex, and balanced brew easily made in any home kitchen with only three ingredients: water, rice, and a fermentation starter called nuruk. How did Korean history shape Makgeolli production? And can a new generation of brewers revive the lost art of the “true” Makgeolli?

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The OGs of America’s Oranges Jun 20, 2019

Eliza Tibbets was ahead of her time. She was a suffragist, an abolitionist, held regular seances in her home, and lived in a utopian community. And in Riverside, California, she was also considered the unofficial queen of the orange industry. As local legend has it, every navel orange tree in the Golden state can be traced back to cuttings from the two parent trees in Eliza’s front yard. This is the little known story of how an amateur farmer with utopian dreams launched an entire industry.

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Hidden Valley Wine Jun 13, 2019

Great wine begins with high quality grapes, careful fermentation, deft blending techniques, and, in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe, a group of puritanical Russian immigrants called the “molokans.” Learn how this region’s earliest settlers escaped from religious persecution in tsarist Russia and how a culture of innovation and experimentation has transformed this humble strip of land near the Pacific coast into one of the most fawned over and exciting wine destinations in the world.

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Frankenfish Jun 06, 2019

The snakehead has been described as one of the ugliest fish in the world. It has a thick neck and razor-sharp teeth. It's been rumored to bite little kids and walk on land. It’s also an invasive species that’s been plaguing the Potomac river system for nearly two decades. Can turning this monster into a local delicacy save the Potomac?

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Welcome to the Microbiome May 30, 2019

Probiotics are everywhere, but the science that explains the mechanism of the gut-brain connection still isn't there. Harvard PhD candidate Cary Allen-Blevins is researching everything from breast milk to kombucha to better understand the role of probiotics in gut health. This episode is a collaboration between Proof and Veritalk from Harvard's Graduate School for Arts and Sciences. The original version is part of a series on food that Veritalk produced recently. Check it out at: https://gsas.harvard.edu/veritalk*

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Who Killed the Miracle Berry? May 23, 2019

In the 1970s, the Miracle Berry was poised to become the sugar replacement of choice. It was hailed as the solution to the diabetes epidemic, and was preferred to every other sugar alternative in blind taste tests. The fruit contains a taste-altering protein, miraculin, that makes sour foods taste sweet. So why haven't you heard of it? Did "big sugar" engineer its downfall? And can modern food entrepreneurs reposition the miracle berry as the future of sweet?

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Season 2 Starts May 23rd May 02, 2019

An FDA conspiracy, an invasive species threatening our waterways, and an emerging wine region that shouldn't work. If you thought Season 1 changed the way you thought about food, stay tuned. Season 2 of Proof starts May 23rd.

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AMERICAN BARBECUE Apr 11, 2019

A conversation with culinary historian Michael Twitty about the history of American Barbecue.

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CELERY TONIC Mar 21, 2019

Jack Bishop discusses the history and unique flavor of celery tonic.

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NATURAL VS. ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS Mar 07, 2019

You've seen them on labels, but what are natural and artificial flavors anyway? Reporter Sara Joyner explains.

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TEST COOK CRAVINGS Feb 21, 2019

How do the test cooks at America's Test Kitchen manage their cravings? Jack Bishop heads into the kitchen to find out.

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NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS Feb 07, 2019

Ketchup isn't just a popular condiment, it's also scientifically fascinating. Bridget sits down with Jack Bishop to talk about the physics of ketchup.

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ZEPPOLES Jan 24, 2019

Zeppoles are a staple of the San Gennaro street fair in New York city. Jack Bishop has a special connection to the Italian fritters.

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KETCHUP Dec 20, 2018

Do burgers need ketchup? The birthplace of the burger, Louis’ Lunch, doesn’t think so. The family-run business has maintained a strict no-ketchup policy since they opened in 1895. We infiltrate this notorious ketchup resistance cell to try to understand why ketchup is such a polarizing condiment.

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BOWLS Dec 13, 2018

We are living through a fascinating moment in culinary history: the swift and relentless takeover of the [blank] bowl. These days, you can go an entire week of eating all of your meals in bowl form and never overlap once. Why are we bowl happy and how (or when) did adding the word bowl to everything from grain to breakfast become a thing? In this episode, we do a deep dive into bowl culture.

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FAIR FOODS Dec 06, 2018

State fairs have become the site of a novelty fried foods arms race, with vendors clamoring to outdo themselves (and each other) every year. We set out to learn why the adrenaline-seeking foodie in each of us wants to try deep-fried kool-aid at the fair, even if we eat sensibly in our real lives.

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BEANBOOZLED, Part 2 Nov 29, 2018

In part 2 of our Beanboozled story, we go inside Givaudan, one of the largest flavor houses in the world, to uncover how stinky sock flavored jelly beans are made.

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BEANBOOZLED, Part 1 Nov 22, 2018

Jelly Belly's popular "Beanboozled" game is an edible version of Russian roulette. You might score a tutti frutti bean, or you might get stuck with a stinky sock-flavored bean. But how in the world did Jelly Belly distill these disgusting flavors into a tiny, innocent looking candy? This curiosity leads us into the strange hidden world of commercial flavor chemistry, secret societies of flavorists, and so-called flavor artists. This is part 1 of an engrossing journey into the weird science of flavor.

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TIKI Nov 15, 2018

Wait... the mai tai was invented in Oakland?! We follow the popular cocktail on a historical journey through the rise and fall of tiki culture in America.

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CRAVINGS Nov 08, 2018

We've all been there - the moment when an overpowering food craving descends upon you and takes possession of your body, mind, and wallet. But where do food cravings come from? Are they cultural, genetic, gender-specific? We find out if science has the answer.

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CELERY Oct 31, 2018

Celery was the "it" vegetable of the Victorian era - celery tonics claimed to cure everything from overstrained nerves to a sluggish liver, and upper-class Victorians had special dishes for serving and displaying their celery. So how did celery go from fashionable to forgettable? We trace celery's fall from grace and ask the important question: is it poised for a comeback?

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Proof from America's Test Kitchen Oct 25, 2018

Proof is the flagship narrative podcast from America's Test Kitchen, where we take ATK's inquisitive and relentless approach to telling unexpected, funny, and thought-provoking stories about food and drink. It's not a recipe show. And it's not a show about celebrity chefs. Proof plunges into history, culture, and science--through the lens of food--to reveal more about our world. Hosted by Kevin Pang.

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