Episodes

  • Episode 12: How do you build the perfect hot dog?

    Episode 12: How do you build the perfect hot dog?
    Jul 30 2026
    Hotdogs are a reliable and convenient option at cookouts. But adding an extra ingredient or two can really level them up. So, how do you do it at home? Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey break down the components that can elevate the beloved cookout go-to. Recipes Mentioned: Chicago-Style Hot Dog Sonoran Dog Homemade Corn Dogs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Episode 11: What makes a good taco a great taco?

    Episode 11: What makes a good taco a great taco?
    Jul 16 2026
    Tacos take all kinds of shapes and forms; crispy shelled tacos, tacos dipped in consommé, there’s even taco ingredients eaten over rice. It’s not just the shapes they take; what kind of meat is used, what ingredients you add to the taco have endless variations. Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey come together to discuss the qualities that make a good taco a great taco. Recipes Mentioned: Crispy Tacos (Tacos Dorados) Quesabirria Tacos Okinawan Taco Rice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Episode 10: What makes the best steak?

    Episode 10: What makes the best steak?
    Jul 2 2026
    Lots of cultures and countries love steak, but it has this almost iconic status in American culture. There are so many different cuts and so many different ways to cook them. Lan, Bryan, Nik and Lidey dive into three recipes and discuss the cooking techniques that go into making them seamlessly at home. Recipes Mentioned: Pan Seared Strip Steak Shio Koji-Marinated Flank Steak Slow-Roasted Medium-Rare Short Ribs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Episode 9: What makes rice the world’s staple?

    Episode 9: What makes rice the world’s staple?
    Jun 19 2026
    Every couple of months at America’s Test Kitchen, an informal poll emerges among test cooks about which starch–bread, pasta, or rice–reigns supreme. It’s always a tight race, but it’s no surprise why rice is often a top contender: it’s a beloved staple across the world. In this episode, Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey eat their way through 3 rice dishes and ask: What makes rice the world’s most popular dish? Recipes Mentioned: Hoppin’ John Simple Fried Rice Arroz con Pollo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Episode 8: What makes the perfect meatball?

    Episode 8: What makes the perfect meatball?
    Jun 4 2026
    Meatballs span cultures and come in all shapes, sizes, and sauces. Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey try three recipes from around the world and ask: What makes the perfect meatball? Recipes eaten in episode: Meatballs and Marinara Lion’s Head Meatballs Albóndigas (Spanish-Style Meatballs in Almond Sauce) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Episode 7: What Makes the Best Sandwich?

    Episode 7: What Makes the Best Sandwich?
    May 21 2026
    Most people say a sandwich is filling stuffed between two layers of bread. But what about hotdogs, or a loaded pocket of pita bread? Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey get into a heated debate about what exactly defines a sandwich on this week’s episode of In the Test Kitchen. Recipes Eaten in episode: Italian Sub Diner-Style Sheet-Pan Tuna Melts Ultimate Grilled Vegetable Sandwich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Episode 6: What Makes a Salad Exciting?

    Episode 6: What Makes a Salad Exciting?
    May 7 2026
    Salads often get a bad wrap as the thing you have to eat before the rest of the meal. In today’s episode of In the Test Kitchen: Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey finally give salads their due, and reveal how to make them the star of the show. Recipes Mentioned: Ultimate Wedge Salad Horiatiki Salata Neorm Sach Moan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Episode 5: What Makes the Best Muffins?

    Episode 5: What Makes the Best Muffins?
    Apr 23 2026
    Making muffins used to be a rite of passage for test cooks and applicants who applied to work at America’s Test Kitchen. So we’ve eaten a lot of them; sweet, savory, and everything in between. In this episode, Lan, Bryan, Nik, and Lidey take on the debate: What is a muffin, and what makes it great? Recipes and reviews mentioned: Best Blueberry Muffins Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Muffins Sausage-Herb Stuffing Muffin Achieving generously sized bakery-style muffins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins