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ATK’s Best-Kept Secret Is the Reason Our Recipes Are So Good

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Published Feb. 9, 2023.

ATK’s Best-Kept Secret Is the Reason Our Recipes Are So Good

As a research analyst on the Consumer Insights team here at America’s Test Kitchen, I work with all different parts of the company. But my favorite part of the job? Watching a recipe grow from a seed of an idea into a fully-fledged, perfected dish. 

Test cooks play an important role in the process—they create the recipes after all. But our recipes wouldn’t be home cooktested and –approved without you: the home cooks. This is something that makes our recipes truly unique and what is ATK’s best-kept secret: the recipe testing program.

This vibrant community of home recipe testers is what transforms our recipes from good to amazing. Through this program, home cooks of all skill levels and ages come together to test recipes in development and provide detailed feedback. 

Here are just some of the reasons why our recipe testing program is so great.

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Become a Recipe Tester Today!

Join the passionate group of recipe testers in exploring new recipes and cuisines, all while helping us bring home cooks like you the best recipes possible. 
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Reason #1: It’s Free!

A range of pretested and pretasted recipes from our kitchen are delivered to your inbox a couple times a month for free. Simply make any recipes that interest you and fill out a quick survey. That’s it!

Reason #2: It Provides Exclusive Sneak Peeks at What’s to Come

That cookbook coming out next year? The Cook’s Illustrated issue a few months down the road? You’ll be the first to see the newest recipes before they’re published.

Reason #3: It Gives You Exposure to New Techniques and Cuisines

One week, Jamaican Pepper Steak, the next week, Pici Alla Boscaiola (Handmade Pasta with Mushrooms and Sausage). And ever try the cold-start frying method? Life-changing.

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Reason #4: It’s an Opportunity to Help Shape Recipes We Publish for Home Cooks Like You

Our recipes are made for home cooks, so why shouldn’t they be tested by home cooks? And if testers don’t like a recipe—meaning less than 80% of testers would make it again—we send it back to the kitchen for further testing until it’s perfect.

Reason #5: It Takes the Guesswork Out of Mealtime

Gone are the days of trying to decide at the last minute what to make for dinner, only to default to the same old baked chicken. Besides, doesn’t One-Pot Pork and Cabbage Stew with Cheddar Dumplings sound so much better, anyway? (It did to the 92% of testers who said they would make it again).

I hope you join this passionate group of recipe testers in exploring new recipes and cuisines, all while helping us bring home cooks like you the best recipes possible. In the meantime, I’ll be cooking up this smoky, maple-y double-glazed salmon to lean into the cozy winter season—recipe testers gave it a 90% “make again” score!

Want to learn more? See the recipe testing program in action!

→ Want to join in on the fun? Click here to sign up to be a recipe tester.

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