Airing on PBS for the first time on August 4, 2001, “Americas Test Kitchen” was something few viewers had ever seen before. Filmed in a real test kitchen, this almost half-hour-long program shows cooking enthusiasts the best ways to make delicious recipes, which equipment is best suited for their kitchens, and the science behind why different foods pair well with one another. The series, founded by Christopher Kimball, is affiliated with all Americas Test Kitchen brands, including “Cooks Country” and “Cooks Illustrated” magazines. The widespread hype behind the series is well deserved, considering the show was still going strong in 2023, with competition series “Americas Test Kitchen: The New Generation” building traction of its own.
What seems like a seamless workflow of kitchen experts on television is not what goes on behind the scenes, though. Few viewers know of the extreme preparation that goes into making just one episode, how each piece of equipment is vetted, and how the series producers decide on the recipes they will share with the audience. Oh, and do people know the real reason Christopher Kimball up and left something so special behind? Start reading for the behind-the-scenes scoop on “Americas Test Kitchen.”
Leftover food gets put in this community refrigerator and scooped up by hungry employees. This system ensures food gets tracked and recirculated, when possible. So you know which products are worth your money (and we know which ones to stock in the Test Kitchen).
The real reason Christopher Kimball left the show
Christopher Kimball founded the series “Americas Test Kitchen,” becoming one of the first hosts when it aired back in 2001. While he was not seen in each episode, viewers knew who he was and took his food and recipe expertise to heart. Sadly, Kimball decided to leave “Americas Test Kitchen” in 2015. The real reason: he and David Nussbaum, chief executive of Boston Common Press (a parent company of “Americas Test Kitchen”), could not come to a contract agreement. Although Kimball had already filmed the 2016 season of the series, he was asked to leave the test kitchen immediately after negotiations did not turn in his favor.
According to Nussbaum, he offered Kimball multiple contracts he deemed reasonable, considering the former hosts contributions to “Americas Test Kitchen” and its affiliated magazines. Nonetheless, Kimball was not appeased and decided to leave. In an email sent to the employees of “Americas Test Kitchen,” it was announced that while Kimball would have no on-air time or even operational involvement in the publications or television series, he would still be a minority owner of the company.
A significant number of recipes are sent back to square one
As it so often goes with other things in life, not every recipe that goes through the testing process and the at-home testers gets approved. In fact, according to Bishops interview with The Kitchn, at least 20% of recipes get sent back for a revamp. Of course, the reasons recipes return to the drawing board can vary. Sometimes, it might be a confusing phrase in the instructions that needs to be cleared up. Other times, a recipe needs a visual aid to help the chef really understand what they are meant to be doing.
It all comes down to what the at-home volunteers say in their end-of-recipe survey. If the numbers do not come back to “Americas Test Kitchen” in the recipes favor, then its clear that something went wrong with a majority of the volunteers, and the recipe is not ready for the general public. It is a team effort that gets ready-for-home recipes published. Ultimately, committed as the team is to quality, they agree there is little harm in saying they tried their best, researched all sides, and concluded that it just did not work out as they had hoped.
Inside America’s Test Kitchen
FAQ
What happens to all the food on America’s test kitchen?
Why is Chris no longer on America’s test kitchen?
Does America’s test kitchen still exist?
Who pays for America’s test kitchen?
What happened to America’s Test Kitchen?
When a company is acquired, there are bound to be organizational changes and setbacks. That is exactly what happened to “America’s Test Kitchen” in 2023 when Marquee Brands, the owner of various well-known culinary and lifestyle brands, stepped in and decided to take the brand in a different direction.
How does ‘America’s test kitchen’ work?
From there, a recipe must earn an 80% approval rating from in-home testers before it’s moved forward. Part of the widespread appeal of “America’s Test Kitchen” is the equipment portion of the show, where experts chime in on what people should really purchase for their at-home kitchens.
How many recipes does America’s Test Kitchen have?
“America’s Test Kitchen” notes that it has only published a little over 15,000 recipes due to its mission to produce quality food and not merely sprint towards a high quantity. With best-selling cookbooks and a well-received television show, “America’s Test Kitchen” is all about churning out the best of the best.
Why is America’s Test Kitchen not ready for the public?
It all comes down to what the at-home volunteers say in their end-of-recipe survey. If the numbers do not come back to “America’s Test Kitchen” in the recipe’s favor, then it’s clear that something went wrong with a majority of the volunteers, and the recipe is not ready for the general public.