The BEST episodes of America's Test Kitchen season 4

Every episode of America's Test Kitchen season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of America's Test Kitchen season 4!

In "America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated," a team of expert chefs continue to provide viewers with practical recipes and recommendations that they can use to save money, time and effort in the kitchen. With its uniquely scientific flavor, the show uses blind tasting judges, flash animations and laboratory procedures to answer a variety of kitchen questions. Putting everything from pasta and pasta pots, cheese and cheese graters, as well as host Chris Kimball to the test, this series offers surprises that often defy price points and move beyond fancy packaging and brand expectations.

Last Updated: 12/3/2024Network: PBSStatus: Continuing
Italian Classics
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - Italian Classics

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/24/2004

Americans love Italian food - and rightly so. Recipes: Chicken Diavola; Frico; Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Labs: Balsamic Vinegar

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Freedom from Red Sauce
star
10.00
1 votes

#2 - Freedom from Red Sauce

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/7/2004

Skip the marinara and try these two vegetable sauces. Tired of the same old marinara sauce? Recipes: Pasta with Mushrooms; Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage Equipment Center: Herb Choppers Tasting Lab: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

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French Food in a Flash
star
9.00
2 votes

#3 - French Food in a Flash

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/1/2004

We bring two classics into the home kitchen for great results in a fraction of the time. Recipes: Simplified Cassoulet with Pork and Kielbasa; 30-Minute Tarte Tatin Tasting Lab: Diced Canned Tomatoes

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The Pancake Show
star
8.75
4 votes

#4 - The Pancake Show

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/22/2004

Few recipes deliver so much pleasure for so little work as pancakes. The batter comes together in minutes, and the cooking time is brief. Why, then, do most Americans never make pancakes from scratch? Recipes: Blueberry Pancakes; German Apple Pancakes Equipment Corner: Electric Gridles Tasting Lab: Fresh vs. Frozen Blueberries

Watch Now:Amazon
Stir Fry 101
star
8.50
2 votes

#5 - Stir Fry 101

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/10/2004

Stir-fries at home that are better than takeout. Ordering Chinese takeout is like playing Russian roulette. Recipes: Stir-Fired Pork with Eggplant; Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli Equipment Center: Electric Woks Tasting Lab: Oyster Sauce

Asian Noodles
star
8.50
2 votes

#6 - Asian Noodles

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/17/2004

Say goodbye to bad Americanized versions of pad Thai and sesame noodles. We no longer think of noodles as just Italian. Recipes: Pad Thai; Cold Sesame Noodles Equipment Center: Flat Bottom Woks

Cookie Jar Favorites
star
8.50
2 votes

#7 - Cookie Jar Favorites

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/29/2004

Good cookies don’t really require any more work than bad cookies. Unless, of course, you are willing to consider dry, crumbly, tasteless packaged cookies from the supermarket - but we aren’t. Recipes: Thin and Crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies; Coconut Macaroons Equipment Corner: Potholders Tasting Lab: Refrigerator Cookie Dough

Easy Sheet Cakes
star
8.33
3 votes

#8 - Easy Sheet Cakes

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 6/12/2004

We solve the problem of dry, sticky, flavorless cakes. A sheet cake is like a cake with training wheels--it's hard to fall off. Recipes: Chocolate Sheet Cake; Carrot Cake Tasting Lab: Milk Chocolate

Salad 101
star
8.00
2 votes

#9 - Salad 101

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/2004

We give much needed makeovers to two classic salads. Salad seems so easy. Just dress some leafy greens and serve, right? Recipes: Basic Tossed Green Salad; Greek Salad; Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing Tasting Lab: Red Wine Vinegar

Truck Stop Classics
star
8.00
3 votes

#10 - Truck Stop Classics

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/6/2004

We perfect two roadside classics: chicken-fried steak and coconut cream pie. Truckers often know where to find the best home cooking. Recipes: Chicken-Fried Steak with Gravy; Coconut Cream Pie Tasting Lab: Graham Crackers

Chicken in a Skillet
star
7.50
2 votes

#11 - Chicken in a Skillet

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/13/2004

A skillet can turn out hundreds of chicken dinners. For most Americans, chicken breasts are the holy grail of weeknight cooking. (We think thighs are more flavorful, but that’s another story.) Recipes: Pan-Roasted Chicken Breasts; Almond-Crusted Chicken Breasts with Wilted Spinach Equipment Corner: Traditional Skillets

Steak Tips
star
7.50
2 votes

#12 - Steak Tips

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/3/2004

Steak tips and steak fries sound like bad menu offerings from your local low-rent steakhouse. We rescue steak tips and fries from low-rent steakhouses. Recipes: Steak Tips; Steak Fries Equipment Center: Grill Brushes

Summer Berry Desserts
star
7.50
2 votes

#13 - Summer Berry Desserts

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 6/5/2004

When local berries are in season, we like to showcase them in simple desserts. Two simple showcases for fresh summer berries. Recipes: Summer Berry Pie; Berry Gratin with Lemon Sabayon Equipment Corner: Ice Cream Makers

Steak and Potatoes
star
7.33
3 votes

#14 - Steak and Potatoes

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/27/2004

We take the mystery out of properly grilled steaks. It’s hard to beat steak and mashed potatoes for both simplicity and flavor. Recipes: Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions; Grilled Steaks Equipment Center: Kitchen Shears Tasting Lab: Mail-Order vs. Supermarket Steaks

One-Pot Wonders
star
7.00
4 votes

#15 - One-Pot Wonders

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/17/2004

The notion of dinner made in a single pot is certainly alluring. Two complete meals from a pot; one a classic, the other a surprise. Recipes: Beef Chili with Kedney Beans; Indoor Clambake Equipment Center: Crock Pots Tasting Lab: Tomato Puree

Quick Classic Pastas
star
7.00
1 votes

#16 - Quick Classic Pastas

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/14/2004

Everyone knows pasta is quick. That's one of the reasons Americans (and Italians) love it. Recipes: "Quick" Bolognese; Four Cheese Pasta Tasting Lab: Tomato Paste

Chicken in a Pot
star
7.00
1 votes

#17 - Chicken in a Pot

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/20/2004

Two French takes on an American promise. Herbert Hoover may have promised Herbert Hoover may have promised Americans a chicken in every pot, but no ne said that chicken couldn't be French. Recipes: Chicken Provencale; Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic Equipment Corner: Kitchen Shears Tasting Lab: Vermouth

Showstopper Desserts
star
6.50
2 votes

#18 - Showstopper Desserts

Season 4 - Episode 26 - Aired 6/26/2004

Two desserts that pull out all the stops yet are easy to prepare. Recipes: Chocolate Mousse Cake; Chilled Lemon Souffle Tasting Lab: Unsweetened Chocolate

East Coast Seafood
star
6.50
2 votes

#19 - East Coast Seafood

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/24/2004

We solve the problem of porridge-like chowder and bready crabcakes. Clam chowder and crab cakes are available in most every seafood restaurant in the country. These dishes both have their origins along the East Coast and have been subjected to numerous changes (most not for the better) as they became more popular. Recipes: New England Clam Chowder; Maryland Crab Cakes Tasting Lab: Mayonaise

Lemon Cheescake
star
6.50
2 votes

#20 - Lemon Cheescake

Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired 6/19/2004

Light, creamy, and great lemon flavor--neither too fleeting nor too harsh. Recipe: Lemon Cheesecake Equipment Center: Springform Pans

Pot Roast
star
6.00
1 votes

#21 - Pot Roast

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/21/2004

Pot roast can be the ultimate comfort food or a huge waste of time. We solve the problem of dry, gray, tough meat. Recipes: Pot Roast with Root Vegetables; Skillet Green Beans Equipment Center: Vegetable Choppers

New Orleans Menu
star
0.00
0 votes

#22 - New Orleans Menu

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/31/2004

We bring a taste of New Orleans into the home kitchen. Jambalaya and bananas Foster are two of our favorite dishes from New Orleans. Recipes: Jambalaya; Bananas Foster Equipment Center: Ice Cream Scoops Tasting Lab: Vegetable Broth

Summer Tomatoes
star
0.00
0 votes

#23 - Summer Tomatoes

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/10/2004

Say goodbye to thick, bland gazpacho and soggy tomato tarts. It’s feast or famine when it comes to good tomatoes. Recipes: Gazpacho; Quick Summer Tomato Tart Tasting Lab: Mozzarella Cheese

Maple-Glazed Pork Roast
star
0.00
0 votes

#24 - Maple-Glazed Pork Roast

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/28/2004

Say goodbye to dry, tough, candy-like roasts. The marketing of the “other white meat” would be amusing if today’s pork weren’t so lean and flavorless. Recipes: Maple-Glazed Pork Loin; Wild Rice Pilaf Equipment Center: Food Storage Containers

Tea Time
star
0.00
0 votes

#25 - Tea Time

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/8/2004

Say goodbye to leaden scones and pound cake. In the test kitchen, we think afternoon (or morning) tea is an excellent excuse to whip up a batch of scones or a golden loaf of lemon pound cake. Making these simple baked goods at home certainly yields better results than what you can buy. Recipes: Lemon Pound Cake; Oatmeal Scones Equipment Center: Citrus Juicers and Reamers Tasting Lab: Supermarket Teas