America's Test Kitchen

Season 3 Episode 20 - Quick Breads

2003 · 25 min

TV-G

The appeal of such quick breads as cinnamon buns and banana bread is clear. They are quick, sweet, and, well, quick. Of course, just because something is fast doesn't mean you want to eat it. Supermarket cinnamon buns often have an odd, artificial flavor and spongelike texture that no one likes. And just because banana bread starts with over-the-hill bananas doesn't mean it should taste like leftovers.

Subtitles: English

Starring:Jack Bishop Julia Collin Davison Bridget Lancaster Adam Ried

Directed by:Herb Sevush

S03:E01 - Party Foods

Who doesn't like a plate of good nachos or Buffalo wings? We discover when you can use supermarket products versus when only good, fresh ingredients will do. A simple, sweet-tart sangria finishes our party menu.

S03:E02 - Hearty Soups

On a cold day, few dishes are as comforting as a hearty soup, unless it turns out starchy or gluey. Watch as we make thick and creamy versions of two of our favorites: ham and split pea, and rustic potato-leek.

S03:E03 - Dressing Up Vegetables

Our goal was simple: Rescue two favorite fancy vegetable dishes twice-baked potatoes and stuffed bell peppers from the clutches of cafeterias, bad steakhouses, and frozen food manufacturers.

S03:E04 - Bistro Basics

Bistro classics, such as steak au poivre and creme brulee, offer a taste of real French cooking without pretension. We show you how to create these dishes without spending all day in the kitchen.

S03:E05 - Steak House Dinners

The perfect steakhouse dinner salad with creamy blue cheese dressing and seared filet mignon is often a fantasy. In the real world, the lettuce is limp, the dressing gluey or watery, the steak overcooked or not properly browned, and the sauce characterless. The test kitchen shows you how to solve each of these problems.

S03:E06 - Fried Rice and Kung Pao Shrimp

We show you how to prepare fried rice and kung pao shrimp. Our findings about rice cookers and long-grain white rice guarantee perfect rice every time.

S03:E07 - Chicken in a Flash

Simple yet interesting, both chicken Milanese and chicken piccata are reliable test kitchen favorites. And we're intrigued by recipes that pan-roast chicken parts that is, start them on the stovetop but finish the cooking in the oven. Our goal was to make this chef's technique work at home.

S03:E08 - Pasta Classics

The test kitchen provides foolproof recipes for two classic pasta sauces: puttanesca and Bolognese.

S03:E09 - Pasta Quick and Easy

Every cook needs quick pasta recipes in their repertoire. Pasta with garlic and oil is perhaps the most famous quick pasta dish. It starts with ingredients on hand garlic, good olive oil, hot red pepper flakes and turns them into something special and uncommonly good.

S03:E10 - Beef Burgundy

We uncover the secrets to beef Burgundy at its best and also show you a way to make portions of it ahead of time.

S03:E11 - Texas Chili

We traveled to chili country, cooked with various experts in their kitchens, and tried out dozens of recipes in the test kitchen. We wanted a chili that would be hearty, heavy on the meat, and spicy but not overwhelmingly hot.

S03:E12 - American Casseroles

Macaroni and cheese and turkey Tetrazzini are two classic casseroles, but they are rarely as good as they could be. We knew we could do better much better in the test kitchen.

S03:E13 - Pork Chops, Two Ways

Pork chops are leaner than they used to be, which poses new problems for home cooks. We explain which chops to buy and how to cook them, ensuring perfectly cooked meat that is both crispy and juicy.

S03:E14 - Backyard BBQ

On a hot summer's day, life doesn't get much better than a big, juicy, smoky slab of spicy, mouth-watering ribs. But more often than not, baby back ribs cooked at home come out tasting like dry shoe leather on a bone. Our goal was to produce flavorful, juicy, tender ribs that would be well worth the time, money, and effort.

S03:E15 - Barbecued Salmon

We were intrigued with the notion of barbecuing a whole side of salmon. Our goal was to have this large piece of fish spend enough time over the coals to pick up some real wood flavor. A bright cucumber salad adds cool, tart, and creamy flavors to complement the smoke-flavored salmon.

S03:E16 - Thanksgiving From the Grill

We move the turkey out of the oven and onto the grill, freeing up precious cooking space for other Thanksgiving dishes and giving us a better tasting bird. Our sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce have all the flavor and texture that make them must-have holiday side dishes.