America's Test Kitchen is the Most Informative Cooking Show on Television
Even though the Food Network has some great programming of its own, the best cooking show on television can be found on PBS.
Perhaps the most inviting aspect of America's Test Kitchen is that the show comes to viewers as a result of the ongoing work and tireless kitchen testing of a team of up to 40 full-time cooks and product testers. So by the time a fully produced show hits the air, a tremendous amount of work has already occurred to ensure that the recipes and the equipment that air on the show have been tested myriad ways and that only the very best recipes and products are touted on the air.
The on-air personality of Christopher Kimball and the rotating group of cooks and product testers that are featured on each show creates a very engaging chemistry for viewers. The cooks explain in detail some of the failed attempts that went into making the final recipe - the why behind the how. The interaction between the host and the professionals makes for a nice variety of viewpoints as well as an opportunity to have questions answered that viewers would likely have on their own.
America's Test Kitchen typically focuses its attention on practical dishes, or at least those that most Americans have enjoyed at one time or another. As a result, there is usually a very utilitarian approach to the recipes and to the dishes presented by the show. They are almost never going for flair with the recipes. Rather, the focus is almost always on the best and easiest way to make great-tasting meals. Whether you are a cooking novice or a seasoned expert in the kitchen, the no-nonsense approach the show takes will probably speak to you.
In addition to an array of accessible recipes and step-by-step cooking instructions, America's Test Kitchen also devotes a portion of most shows to reviewing specific kitchen products or food items. Testers will bring a variety of a type of kitchen tool or food product that range in price from very cheap to very expensive. They will explain in great detail how products were tested and what testers were looking for when sampling each item.
When kitchen tools are tested, the tester usually identifies at least two exceptional pieces of equipment - one that is very expensive and one that is much less expensive but functions almost as well, sometimes better. This approach ensures that viewers get information about the best product available to them, regardless of their budget.
When food products are tested, the tester will explain the differences in the types of products that are presented in the line-up. For example, one episode dealt specifically with different varieties of barbecue sauce that are available in most major grocery stores. Because the products all contain different ingredients, the tester took the time to explain what the testers were looking for among the various types of sauce and what they believed defined good sauces versus bad sauces. Eventually Christopher Kimball is given a blind test of a few of the products and he picks his favorite among them. The reveal offers the testers' picks as well as the prices and the overall value associated with each product given its cost.
If you are functional in a kitchen setting or if you prepare your own meals on a regular basis, it is almost assured that you will take something meaningful away from every episode of America's Test Kitchen. The show can be a bit tricky to find on your cable dial, as it is only available through the local Public Broadcasting System in the area of Maryland where I live.
The on-air personality of Christopher Kimball and the rotating group of cooks and product testers that are featured on each show creates a very engaging chemistry for viewers. The cooks explain in detail some of the failed attempts that went into making the final recipe - the why behind the how. The interaction between the host and the professionals makes for a nice variety of viewpoints as well as an opportunity to have questions answered that viewers would likely have on their own.
America's Test Kitchen typically focuses its attention on practical dishes, or at least those that most Americans have enjoyed at one time or another. As a result, there is usually a very utilitarian approach to the recipes and to the dishes presented by the show. They are almost never going for flair with the recipes. Rather, the focus is almost always on the best and easiest way to make great-tasting meals. Whether you are a cooking novice or a seasoned expert in the kitchen, the no-nonsense approach the show takes will probably speak to you.
In addition to an array of accessible recipes and step-by-step cooking instructions, America's Test Kitchen also devotes a portion of most shows to reviewing specific kitchen products or food items. Testers will bring a variety of a type of kitchen tool or food product that range in price from very cheap to very expensive. They will explain in great detail how products were tested and what testers were looking for when sampling each item.
When kitchen tools are tested, the tester usually identifies at least two exceptional pieces of equipment - one that is very expensive and one that is much less expensive but functions almost as well, sometimes better. This approach ensures that viewers get information about the best product available to them, regardless of their budget.
When food products are tested, the tester will explain the differences in the types of products that are presented in the line-up. For example, one episode dealt specifically with different varieties of barbecue sauce that are available in most major grocery stores. Because the products all contain different ingredients, the tester took the time to explain what the testers were looking for among the various types of sauce and what they believed defined good sauces versus bad sauces. Eventually Christopher Kimball is given a blind test of a few of the products and he picks his favorite among them. The reveal offers the testers' picks as well as the prices and the overall value associated with each product given its cost.
If you are functional in a kitchen setting or if you prepare your own meals on a regular basis, it is almost assured that you will take something meaningful away from every episode of America's Test Kitchen. The show can be a bit tricky to find on your cable dial, as it is only available through the local Public Broadcasting System in the area of Maryland where I live.
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