Now that the cooks have made a crucial first impression, the pressure ramps up in the ATK kitchen. For the Task Challenge, contestants choose a Dutch oven that contains a mystery side dish, which they’ll recreate down to the very last detail. Then, for the Test Challenge, each cook receives a protein and a specific cooking technique, which they’ll have to incorporate in their final dish.

America’s Test Kitchen is an institution for home cooks everywhere, testing recipes to perfection and sharing those tasty results with the world. For the first time ever, 11 passionate home cooks compete in the job interview of a lifetime. The winner has a chance to join the ATK cast, author a cookbook, and earn $100,000! Hosted by Jeannie Mai Jenkins, this competition is about to be lit!

It’s the start of a search for the newest face of ATK. For the Task, 11 cooks are thrown into a media challenge. Then in the Test challenge, they must prepare a dish that made them fall in love with cooking. One cook will be sent home. Season 1 Winner, Antoinette Johnson, joins Dan Souza, Jack Bishop, Julia Collin Davison and Elle Simone Scott for the start of a fiercely battled competition.

The competition really starts to heat up, as the ten remaining home cooks battle it out to stay in the competition. For their Task Challenge, the contestants must create a gourmet appetizer that includes at least three frozen ingredients. Then, for the Test Challenge, things get even trickier, when the competitors must transform a difficult “fussy dish” into a weeknight recipe.

Nine cooks remain and the stakes are rising as the home cooks prove they have what it takes to remain in the competition. For the Task challenge, the cooks must prepare a themed food board with at least two cooked elements. Then for the Test challenge, the home cooks are asked to create two appetizers that represent who they are and where they are from on a plate.

Eight cooks remain in the competition, and the pressure is on to think outside the box. In Task Challenge, the contestants must make a classic dish without a foundational ingredient. How do you make pizza without the dough? In the Test Challenge, our cooks must turn leftovers into culinary masterpieces. Halfway through, the cooks are dealt a shocking twist that could change everything!

This week, 7 remaining home cooks tackle their first on-camera demos, and then take on baking without recipes?! The Task Challenge is a baking hack demo, while the Test throws two textures at them they’ll need to combine into a baked dish. Guest Kwame Onwuachi and Dan Souza taste all of the bakes. They must choose one winner and one cook to pack up their apron.

This episode is all about kid-friendly food! For the Task Challenge, each cook will have to create a lunchbox meal inspired by a global cuisine. After the cooks have made lunch for the kids, it’s time for dinner! In the Test Challenge, our contestants will pair up for the first team challenge, and cook family-friendly dishes using one protein in two separate ways.

Say hello to the fabulous final five! The stakes have never been higher as our remaining home cooks inch closer to that incredible grand prize. For the Task Challenge, our cooks must prepare a three-minute cooking demo sharing how to repurpose a dish gone wrong. For the Test Challenge, the contestants must upgrade and elevate a classic ATK recipe. No easy task when it comes to these iconic dishes!

The final four will be joined by an all-star cast of judges who have seen their progress: Dan Souza, Jack Bishop, Karen Akunowicz, and Elle Simone Scott. This week, there is no Task Challenge but instead a mega Test Challenge where the home cooks must create a show stopping three-course meal for the judges during a grueling, marathon cook.

The grand finale is here! In the final challenge, three remaining home cooks must make two dishes from their future cookbook, photograph them with a pro, host a seven-minute on-camera demo, and pitch the judges on why they deserve to win this opportunity. A cookbook, role in the cast and $100,000 prize are on the line! Jack Bishop, Elle Scott Simone, and Dan Souza join forces to select a winner.

It’s only week two in the test kitchen and the competition is fire! Head Judge Dan Souza is back with Cook’s Country’s Morgan Bolling and Jeannie Mae hosts. The Task examines the cooks' egg techniques. It’s no yolk! Then, the Test challenges the cooks to make comfort food with a twist! Baker and television personality, Bryan Ford, joins the kitchen as the guest judge.

It’s health week in the kitchen. First, the remaining nine cooks must create a 90-second solo demo with a blender and a mystery ingredient. Then in the Test challenge, the cooks must pick from one of ATK’s cookbooks and create a dish that could seamlessly fit in. Chef and model, Ronnie Woo guest judges.

This week, the 8 remaining cooks must team up in pairs to tackle a media challenge showcasing simple how-tos. Then in the Test challenge, they team up again to create a meal fit for a modern dinner party. Guest Judge, Melissa King, along with Dan Souza and Jack Bishop, will decide which team is on top, and which cook from the bottom team will be leaving the Test Kitchen for good.

This week, the Task challenge has the cooks faced with mystery ingredients picked by ATK's beloved cast. Cooks Country star Bryan Roof stops by to offer his favorite ingredients and help judge the cooks' dishes. In the Test, the legendary Pati Jinich presents our cooks with the unique challenge of creating a dish with only four ingredients!

It’s a party this week at America’s Test Kitchen! The 6 remaining cooks compete in challenges revolving around party food. The Task dares them to make an appetizer version of popular ATK main courses. Then Jeannie recruits the cooks’ own family members to bring the holidays to the Test Kitchen. Chef Joe Sasto joins judges Dan Souza and Julia Collin Davison in an emotional and celebratory episode.

After a surprising test with no elimination, 6 cooks still remain. This week, the Task is to create, style and photograph a gift basket with a unique flavor profile. The winner gets a secret advantage! Next, we're going around the world in the Test with three-dish cuisine-themed food towers. Comedian Punkie Johnson guests.

We’re down to the Final Five and the competition is fierce. This time, the cooks are going on a field trip! After spending a wonderful morning at Island Creek, the cooks must prepare two cooked oyster dishes in the Task Challenge. For the Test Challenge, the cooks are asked to impress guest judge Vivian Tu with their use of expensive ingredients and fine dining cuisine skills.

Today in the Test Kitchen, the final four cooks have four hours to put together a cohesive, three-course meal. The catch: they must include one affordable cut of meat. Guest Richard Blais joins judges Dan Souza, Jack Bishop, and Elle Simone Scott in deciding which three cooks will make it to the finale, and who will be saying goodbye to the Test Kitchen for the final time.

It all comes down to this. The three remaining cooks must impress the judges as they prepare two dishes that represent their cookbook’s theme. Then, they produce a photo shoot of their dishes before doing a live 7-minute demo alongside Julia on the ATK stage. Finally, our cooks must pitch the judges why they should join the ATK team. In the end, one winner is crowned!