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ATK at Home

Practical Home-Cooking Resources You Can Count On

When life gets hard home cooks get cooking.
By Published Mar. 13, 2020

Staying at home and cooking for yourself, your family, and your neighbors has never been more important. As always, you can rely on all of us in the test kitchen for resources to help you plan, shop, and cook for yourself and your loved ones. We are committed to serving as a resource to you every day.

We'll be using this page to post articles and recipe collections that we think will help you feed the people you love in this unpredictable time. We post about topics you're looking for now: pantry-friendly inspiration, info on ingredient substitutions, and big-batch recipes you can freeze. We'll even provide an occasional break from the norm by way of a dispatch from our test cooks and kitchen staff, who are all currently working from home.

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We're all in this together. Let’s roll up our sleeves, wash our hands, and stay busy in the kitchen.

Jack Bishop

P.S. To make our content even more accessible, we've taken some unprecedented measures. As part of our $19.99 Cookbook Sale, we’ve slashed our cookbook prices to—you guess it—$19.99 or less (yes, even new ones!) and they're ready to ship. We've also opened up our ATK Kids website (so many recipes and fun activities, now free). And of course, you can get every recipe, rating, and resource on AmericasTestKitchen.com, CooksIllustrated.com, and CooksCountry.com with an all-access membership.

ATK Kid's Kitchen Classroom

Kitchen Classroom 2021

See the Kitchen Classrooms we've published in 2021—and check back every Friday when we add a new one.  
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Kitchen Classroom 2020

See all of the Kitchen Classrooms we published in 2020!  
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Web Articles

7/17/20, by America's Test Kitchen

Cooking for One: Reliable Recipes, Time-Saving Tips, and Other Helpful Resources

Many people are regularly cooking for one during this time. These tips from our new cookbook will help you do it successfully.
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7/8/2020, by Amanda Luchtel

7 Recipes for a Memorable At-Home Date Night

Staying home doesn't have to be a drag if you cook something fun.  
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6/25/20, by Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm

The Shoes Every Serious Cook Needs for the Kitchen, According to Our Opinionated Test Cooks

Cooking more at home? A good pair of shoes is an underestimated piece of kitchen equipment.
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6/17/20, by Cook's Country

Ten of Our Favorite Restaurants Serving Great Food in Tough Times

We travel the country visiting small local restaurants. Here are 10 keeping the good food coming.
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5/28/20, by Cook's Country

Ten Thrifty Tricks for Reducing Waste In the Kitchen

We hate wasting food, time, and money. Here are some ways we make the most of what we've got.
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5/26/20, by Avery Lowe

9 Famous Restaurant Dishes You Can Make At Home

Can't get to your favorite restaurant? Turn your craving into an at-home dining experience.
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5/20/20, by Mari Levine

No Party, No Problem: 9 Recipes That Will Make Your Memorial Day One to Remember

All you need is a grill and some nice weather.
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5/18/20, by Mari Levine

Hang Out, Have Fun, and Learn Something New with ATK's New YouTube Series

Cancel your 3 o’clock, you’re cooking with Jack.
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5/14/2020, by Miye Bromberg

How to Make Your Own Cocktails Without Any Special Equipment or Ice

Want a cocktail? You’re going to have to make it yourself. Here’s how to do it with what you already have.
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5/13/20, by Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm

The Lotions That Save Our Hands After Days in The Kitchen

Testing equipment means a lot of dishwashing—and dry hands. These lotions have our backs—er, hands.
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5/12/20, by Alexxa Benson

Test Kitchen Tips for Organizing Your Spices

Now is the time to take back your spice collection.
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5/11/20, by Mari Levine

9 Bread Recipes (Beyond Sourdough) That Don’t Call for Yeast

They don't call 'em "quick breads" for nothing.
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5/7/20, by Gina McCreadie

Recipes and Tips That Will Help You Cook Less and Eat More

With a few made-ahead items at the ready, you can minimize and enjoy your time in the kitchen.
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5/6/20, by Julia Collin Davison

Recipes That Make the Best Leftovers You Can Eat Cold

My favorite dishes to cook once and eat twice (or more).
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5/5/20, by Kaumudi Marathe

Community, Produce, and Cooking for One During the Coronavirus Quarantine

For the first time in 20 years, I live alone. Here’s how food is helping me stay connected.
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5/4/20, by Mari Levine

13 Recipe Ideas For Your Next Movie Night at Home

What you eat is just as important as what you watch.
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4/30/20, by Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm

12 Kitchen-Related Mother’s Day Gifts That Are Under $25

Not all quality kitchen equipment has to (or should) cost a lot.
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4/29, by Afton Cyrus

Make-Ahead Breakfasts That Will Brighten Your Morning (and Give You Something to Look Forward To)

Try these make-ahead breakfasts to get your day at home off to a great start.
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4/27/20, by Steve Dunn

Why Making Pasta Is My Quarantine Project of Choice

At the close of each work-from-home day of cooking projects for ATK, I turn to a cooking project just for me.
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4/23/20, by Tucker Shaw

No More Boring Breakfast Recipes

A few of our favorite ways to start the day.  
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4/22/20, by Sarah Wilson

On-the-Fly Substitutions for 35 Common Ingredients

When supplies are running low, a good substitution can be your best friend.  
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4/21/20, by Annie Petito

How to Use Ingredients You Might Normally Toss

Here’s what to do with everything from cheese rinds and cilantro stems to meat trimmings and pickle juice.
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4/20/20, by Eric Haessler

3 Creative Ways to Make Family Meals Fun

In a cooking rut? Let kids’ creativity run wild and turn dinner into a fun, themed event using what you have on hand.
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4/18/20, by Lauren Savoie

The Cats of America’s Test Kitchen That Have Been “Helping” Us Work From Home

More like America’s Test "Kats," amiright?
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4/16/20, by Avery Lowe

The Best Banana Bread Recipes for Every Type of Cook

Banana bread is so hot right now. Our library of recipes includes the loaf you’ve been craving—and others you might not have thought of.
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4/15/20, by Annie Petito

How to Refresh Stale Ingredients

We’re all trying to minimize the amount of trips to the grocery store. Here’s how to save the foods you’ve already got in the kitchen.
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4/14/20, by Christa West

10 Basic Recipes to Get You Cooking

Having reliable recipes will build your confidence and basic skills in the kitchen.
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4/13/20, by Tess Berger

What America's Test Kitchen Book Editors and Test Cooks Are Cooking at Home

Like many of us, it includes bread, bread, and, um, more bread, along with some comfort-food staples and pantry-friendly, thrown-together meals.
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4/12/20, by Danielle Lapierre

5 Ways to Use the Cans of Chickpeas in Your Pantry

These versatile legumes are a kitchen essential.
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4/11/20, by Katy O'Hara

6 Hands-on Activities to Encourage Learning in the Kitchen

Even if school isn’t in session, there’s lots of learning to be done in the kitchen. These six hands-on STEAM activities bring learning to life for kids ages 5 and up.
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4/10/20, by Tucker Shaw

Make Your Vegetables Last Longer: Pickle Them!

Keeping produce fresh can be a challenge. One solution: Pickling.
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4/9/20, by Mari Levine

12 Pies, Cookies, and Cakes That Don’t Call for Flour

Can’t find flour at your grocery store? We’ve got a recipe for that.
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4/8/20, by Tucker Shaw

Four Easy One-Pan Pantry Suppers

Spend time enjoying your meal, not cleaning up afterwards.
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4/7/20, by Katy O'Hara

Cooking Challenges for Cooped-Up Kids

These pantry-friendly cooking challenges are simple enough for kids to complete on their own.
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4/6/20, by Hannah Fenton

Easy Easter Recipes for Smaller Celebrations

Easter dinner must go on. And with these recipes, it will—whether you’re an experienced host or cooking for the first time.
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4/5/20, by Chad Chenail

Great Kids' Podcasts Your Whole Family Will Enjoy

Kids' podcasts are a solution to screen time in an age of impromptu social distancing.
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4/4/20, by Sarah Wilson

8 Cooking Skills and Techniques You Should Practice During Your Time at Home

Make the most of your free time by honing new skills.
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4/2/20, by Mari Levine

Simple Passover Seder Recipes For First-Time Hosts

Cooking your own seder meal this year? Here are some recipes you can handle, no matter your cooking ability.
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4/1/20, by RIDDLEY GEMPERLEIN-SCHIRM

Bark Break: The Dogs of America’s Test Kitchen Would Like to Say Hi

We take a break from our normal programming to remind you that like our actual office, our home offices are also dog friendly.
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4/1/20, by Scott Kathan

The Power of Mindful Cooking

Cooking more deliberately can have a profound impact.
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3/31/20, by Molly Birnbaum

What Some America’s Test Kitchen Editors Are Cooking With Their Kids

We’re all at home, many of us with kids. Here’s what we’re cooking.
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3/30/20, by Andrea Geary

10 Easy Work-from-Home Lunch Ideas That Don’t Need a Recipe

Simple, satisfying dishes that break up the hectic workday.
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3/29/20, by Bridget Lancaster

My Favorite Baking Projects

I’ve got the time. As soon as I'm able to find the ingredients, this is what I'll be baking.
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3/28/20, by Avery Lowe

How to Optimize Fridge, Freezer, and Pantry Space in Your Kitchen

The ways in which we organize and maintain our kitchen are always important, but recently they’ve become absolutely essential.
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3/27/20, by Kristin Sargianis

Resources for Keeping Kids Active and Healthy at Home

Here’s a handful of healthy, kid-friendly snacks and physical activities for indoor (or outdoor) fun.
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3/26/20, by Andrew Janjigian

Make Your Own Mini Sourdough Starter With the #Quarantinystarter Project

Want to make a sourdough starter and conserve flour in the process? Let our resident breadhead walk you through his sourdough "quarantinystarter" recipe.
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3/25/20, by Matthew Fairman

Ask Matthew: How to Use Canned Bean Liquid

Don't just dump that canned bean water down the drain. It has more to offer. So do a lot of other things in your kitchen.
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3/24/20, by Sarah Wilson

24 Common Ingredients and Their Substitutions You Might Be Looking for Right Now

So you can keep on cooking.
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3/23/20, by Camila Chaparro

10 Breakfast Recipes You Couldn’t Normally Make on a Weekday Morning

Let’s take our extra time in the morning to start our day as we always should (but never have time to), with a breakfast that nourishes the belly and buoys the spirits.
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3/21/20, by Lauren Savoie

How We’re Supporting Our Local Restaurants During the Shutdown

Restaurants are hurting right now. Here's what our staffers are doing to help.
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3/20/20, by Elle Simone

9 Kitchen Tasks You Should Take Care of While You Have the Time

Being home is more relaxing when things are tidy and organized. For me, that starts in the kitchen.
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3/19/20, by Danielle Lapierre

Great-Tasting Recipes That Use 5 or Fewer Ingredients

You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make a delicious dish.
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3/18/20, by Matthew Fairman

Ask Matthew: How to Use Tuna Fish

Your favorite cooking advice columnist is back! And he's got some thoughts about—and recipes for—canned tuna.
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3/17/20, by Kristin Sargianis

Now Is the Time to Cook with Kids (And 5 Recipes to Use)

Staying indoors with kids for the foreseeable future? Need a way to pass the time? Head to the kitchen.  
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3/16/20, by Kate Shannon

How to Be a Good Neighbor During an Unpredictable Time

My neighbors are self-quarantining after returning from a trip abroad. Here's how I'm planning to help.
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3/15/20, By Mari Levine

9 Recipes That Use 10 or Fewer Ingredients That You (Probably) Already Have

If you're hunkering down at home, there's a good chance you already have everything you need to make at least a few of these recipes—no matter what you consider "pantry" ingredients.
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3/14/20, by Lisa McManus

5 Cozy Cooking Projects

If you're feeling trapped in the house, you'll feel better if you get cooking. Here are five simple, mostly hands-off ways to fill your house with good smells and comfort.
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3/13/20, By Danielle Lapierre

Anything-but-Boring Recipes to Make With That Package of Chicken Breasts

Already have a package of chicken breasts in your freezer? Take it to the next level.  
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Recipe Collections

Cook's Country

20 Recipes That Use the Canned Beans in Your Pantry

Chickpeas and beans are some of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen.
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Cook's Country

25 Baking Recipes That Are Made with Pantry Staples

Get baking without having to go to the store.
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America's Test Kitchen

30 Comfort Food Recipes

In stressful situations, food can be a comfort.
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Cook's Country

25 Fun Family-Friendly Recipes That You Can Make Together

Looking for activities the whole family can do together? There's no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen with these recipes.
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Other Helpful Information