America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated: Season 8
Season 8 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated Season 7.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 8 Progress Shield
Rainy Day BBQ Pork Chops
Jan 5, 2008 · 25 min
We wanted juicy pork chops slathered with a smoky, tangy barbecue sauce. But how would we replicate the savory crust of a grilled pork chop indoors? We set out to solve this puzzle
Lemon Layer Cake
Jan 12, 2008 · 25 min
Layer cakes are desserts to be savored at birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations. Ideally, the cake’s tender layers offset the bracing, citrusy filling, and the whole i
Italian-American Classics
Jan 19, 2008 · 25 min
Stuffed manicotti makes a hearty and delicious main course, but in most cases its preparation is best left to a practiced and patient Italian grandmother. We wanted a simpler, easi
Cookie Jar Favorites
Jan 26, 2008 · 25 min
We turn our attention to two favorite cookies: a triple chocolate cookie so chocolaty it’s almost a brownie, and the humble brown sugar cookie, moist, chewy, and packed with butter
Kansas City BBQ
Feb 2, 2008 · 25 min
It’s hard to choose a best-loved style of ribs, but we’d be willing to bet that smoky, sweet Kansas City ribs are a top contender. These meaty ribs are slow-smoked for their tradem
French Classics
Feb 9, 2008 · 25 min
Coq au vin’s appeal is timeless, but its preparation can be intimidating for the home cook. We set out to make this dish a little less overwhelming—but just as delicious as we reme
Coffeehouse Treats
Feb 16, 2008 · 25 min
In this episode, the test kitchen perfects two breakfast treats: blueberry scones and rich bran muffins. Recipe: Blueberry Scones, Better Bran Muffins Equipment: Commuter Coffee
Asian Take-Out at Home
Feb 23, 2008 · 25 min
We develop a Thai-style chicken soup that uses supermarket ingredients without sacrificing authentic flavors, and we make a vegetarian stir-fry so hearty even carnivores will be sa
Holiday Beef Tenderloin Dinner
Mar 1, 2008 · 25 min
Holiday Beef Tenderloin Dinner Add a rich stuffing to beef tenderloin, and you’ve got the ultimate main course, at least in theory. But making a tenderloin through can be a challe
Pasta and Tomatoes, Reimagined
Mar 8, 2008 · 25 min
We don’t have anything against spaghetti and meatballs or pasta with marinara, but the world of pasta and tomatoes extends far beyond these popular standbys. Enter Penne alla Vodka
A New Way with Turkey
Mar 15, 2008 · 25 min
Brining is the best way to guarantee a moist turkey, but it isn’t always the most practical way. We rethink our brine-at-all-costs philosophy and find that salting, a kind of “dry-
White Chicken Chili Supper
Mar 22, 2008 · 25 min
Chicken chili might sound like heresy—after all, isn’t chili supposed to be made with beef?—but this Southwestern dish is a light, bright alternative to tomato-rich beef chili. The
French Apple Tart
Mar 29, 2008 · 25 min
A tart should be easier to prepare than the typical double-crust American pie. But developing a flaky crust sturdy enough to support the fruit is a bit tricky. And getting the appl
Chicken in a Skillet
Apr 5, 2008 · 25 min
It’s not a surprise that so many cooks turn to chicken breasts for dinner. They’re convenient, low in fat, and, when made right, juicy and satisfying. To keep boredom at bay, one o
Pizza Party
Apr 12, 2008 · 25 min
We set out to develop a better-than-takeout pizza in which the crust gets equal billing with the toppings and each is full of flavor—not grease. Recipe: Pepperoni Pan Pizza, Antip
Old-Fashioned Breakfast Cakes
Apr 19, 2008 · 25 min
Bakery versions of crumb cake often fall short. The crumb topping can be skimpy or dry and brittle. And the cake can suffer too, baking up too dry or not sturdy enough, so that the
Bistro Steak Dinner
Apr 26, 2008 · 25 min
Cutting into a steak to find that the rosy meat is confined to a measly spot in the center—with the rest a thick band of overcooked gray—is a great disappointment. Our surefire met
Lightening Up Chocolate Desserts
May 3, 2008 · 25 min
Skipping dessert or eating a piece of fruit is an obvious way to cut calories, but where’s the fun in that? We set our sights on lowering the fat and calories in two favorite choco
Fish on the Grill
May 10, 2008 · 25 min
Fish fillets might look innocent, but once their delicate flesh hits the grill, there’s no getting them off without a fight—simply put, fish sticks. And because fish is delicate, i
Indian Favorites, Simplified
May 17, 2008 · 25 min
We develop home-cook-friendly versions of two Indian favorites: vegetable curry and chicken tikka masala. Recipe: Indian-Style Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peas, and Chickpea
Grilled Cornish Game Hens
May 24, 2008 · 25 min
We’ve always enjoyed roasting game hens and thought the grill might deliver even more flavor to the tender meat, grilling poultry is full of challenges—especially whole birds. Rec
Easy Skillet Suppers
May 31, 2008 · 25 min
Easy Skillet Suppers Streamlined methods for Beef Stroganoff and Baked Ziti condense all the steps into one skillet—yes, even the noodles. Recipe: Skillet Baked Ziti, Skillet Bee
Four-Cheese Lasagna
Jun 7, 2008 · 25 min
The problem with four-cheese lasagna? Too often it’s heavy, greasy, and bland. Watch as we create an elegant lasagna with the right combination of cheese and a smooth and creamy sa
Two Ways with Shrimp
Jun 14, 2008 · 25 min
We explore two elegant approaches to shrimp—one hot dish and one cold—and find the best way to prepare each. Recipe: Garlicky Shrimp with Bread Crumbs, Shrimp Salad Equipment: Ki
Drive-In Specials
Jun 21, 2008 · 25 min
Food safety concerns have many of us now grilling burgers to medium-well and beyond. Unfortunately, grilling burgers for so long results in disappointingly dense, dry meat. We were
Favorite Slow Cooker Classics
Jun 28, 2008 · 25 min
Most of us think of the slow cooker as a kitchen workhorse best reserved for weeknight simple stews, hearty soups, and the like. But what about pulling the slow cooker out for ente