Show cover for America's Test Kitchen

The Best Episodes of America's Test Kitchen Season 5

Every episode of America's Test Kitchen Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of America's Test Kitchen Season 5!

Equipment reviews, taste tests, and recipes from the test kitchen to the home cook. A team of test cooks that viewers have come to love...
Genre:Documentary
Network:PBS

Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Appetizers" is the best rated episode of "America's Test Kitchen" season 5. It scored N/A/10 based on 0 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 1/1/2005. This episode is rated NaN points higher than the second-best, "Simple Soups".

  • Appetizers
    NaN/100 votes

    #1 - Appetizers

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/2005

    We've chosen recipes that deliver big flavor without much work. Recipes - Spiced Pecans with Rum Glaze - Pita Chips - Creamy Spinach Dip - Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce - Beef Satay Equipment Corner - Meat cleavers Tasting Lab - Store-bought Salsa

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Simple Soups
    NaN/100 votes

    #2 - Simple Soups

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 1/8/2005

    Have you ever been tempted to prepare a restaurant recipe only to be disappointed with the results? The recipe sounded great, but once you got to work you realized it was never tested in a home kitchen. Recipes - Quick Chicken Stock - Chicken Noodle Soup - Pasta e Faigoli Equipment Corner - Fat separaters

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Soup Supper
    NaN/100 votes

    #3 - A Soup Supper

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 1/15/2005

    Soup for supper is an appealing concept, especially on a cold, snowy night. But for soup to work as a main course, it better be hearty. A light, clear broth simply won't do. Recipes - Quick Cheese Bread - Hearty Lentil Soup Equipment Corner - Vegetable peelers Tasting Lab - Mail order bacon

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Regional Classics
    NaN/100 votes

    #4 - Regional Classics

    Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 1/22/2005

    On occasion local dishes become so popular that they transcend their region. Gumbo is a taste of Louisiana in a big old bowl. Its distinct aroma and flavor are like a quick trip to the bayous outside of New Orleans. Recipes - Creole-Style Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo - Cincinnati Chili Equipment Corner - Useful kitchen gadgets Tasting Lab - Long-grain white rice

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Pork Chops and Gravy
    NaN/100 votes

    #5 - Pork Chops and Gravy

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 1/29/2005

    It sometimes seems like the simplest recipes suffer the worst fate in modern cookbooks. Maybe it's because no one really cares enough about these dishes to get them right. Recipes - Stuffed Pork Chops - All-Purpose Gravy - Glazed Carrots

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Two Roast Chickens
    NaN/100 votes

    #6 - Two Roast Chickens

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 2/5/2005

    Despite its apparent simplicity, roast chicken is a hard recipe to get right. Recipes - Crispy Roast Lemon Chicken - Chicken Under a Brick with Roasted Potatoes Equipment Corner - Countertop Rotisserie ovens

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Flash in a Pan
    NaN/100 votes

    #7 - Flash in a Pan

    Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 2/12/2005

    Dinner in less than 20 minutes is the holy grail of weeknight cooking. Many recipes make good on this promise, but most ultimately reflect the minimal effort exerted on the part of the cook. They are fine in a pinch but rarely worth making again. But it doesn't have to be this way. Recipes - Chicken Paillard - Pan-Seared Shrimp with Garlic Lemon Butter Equipment Corner - Cookware cleaning products Tasting Lab - Chicken cutlets

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Family Favorites
    NaN/100 votes

    #8 - Family Favorites

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 2/19/2005

    Cooking for a family isn't as easy as it was once. In Norman Rockwell pictures, the entire clan (with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents) is gathered around the table with a dozen different dishes in front of them. No one has soccer practice or is working late. No one is on a weird diet, and the kids seem to eat the same thing as the adults. Recipes - Sweet and Tangy Oven-Barbecued Chicken - Classic Macaroni and Cheese Equipment Corner - Stain removal products Tasting Lab - Microwave popcorn

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Restaurant Cooking Comes Home
    NaN/100 votes

    #9 - Restaurant Cooking Comes Home

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 2/26/2005

    Have you ever been tempted to prepare a restaurant recipe only to be disappointed with the results? The recipe sounded great, but once you got to work you realized it was never tested in a home kitchen. Recipes - Flambéed Pan-Roasted Lobster - Crab Towers with Avocado and Gazpacho Salsas

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Texas Rib House
    NaN/100 votes

    #10 - Texas Rib House

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 3/5/2005

    In Texas, good beef ribs are the secret handshake between experienced grillers. Recipes - Texas-Style Barbecued Ribs - Southern Cornbread Equipment Corner - Cast-iron skillet care Tasting Lab - Corn bread mixes

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Grill-Roasted Beef Tenderloin
    NaN/100 votes

    #11 - Grill-Roasted Beef Tenderloin

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 3/12/2005

    We don’t part easily with money, but we will on occasion break the bank and buy a beef tenderloin. The tender, buttery interior is the big draw, and the combination of a healthy dose of seasoning and the flavor from the charcoal grill is a perfect solution to a rather mild-tasting (boring) piece of meat. Recipes - Grill-Roasted Beef Tenderloin - Salsa Verde - Broiled Asparagus Equipment Corner - Kitchen gadgets

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • New Flavors from the Grill
    NaN/100 votes

    #12 - New Flavors from the Grill

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 3/19/2005

    Even expert grillers can get in a rut. They make the same four or five recipes over and over again. Sure, the steaks are great, but isn’t there something a bit more exciting? Recipes - Thai Grilled Chicken with Spicy, Sweet, and Sour Dipping Sauce - Grilled Salmon with Maple-Soy Glaze Equipment Corner - Portable gas grills

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Mexican Favorites
    NaN/100 votes

    #13 - Mexican Favorites

    Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 3/26/2005

    There's a significant disconnect between real Mexican food (as prepared in Mexico) and the food served in "Mexican" restaurants in the United States. Recipes - Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chili Sauce - Mexican Rice Equipment Corner - Spice grinders

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Quick Pasta
    NaN/100 votes

    #14 - Quick Pasta

    Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 4/2/2005

    Pasta is usually quick, but all too often quick pasta dishes taste like little time or effort was expended during their preparation. Recipes - Farfalle with Tomatoes, Olives and Feta - Campanelli with Asparagus, Basil, and Balsamic Glaze - Pasta with Three Pestos Tasting Lab - Sun-dried tomatoes

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Passage to India
    NaN/100 votes

    #15 - A Passage to India

    Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 4/9/2005

    Indian food has a reputation for being spicy (most of it is not) and hard to prepare at home (tell that to one billion Indians). However, it is true that many recipes require a long list of spices and other ingredients. Recipes - Chicken Biryani - Mulligatawny Soup Tasting Lab - Curry powder

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Pissaladière
    NaN/100 votes

    #16 - Pissaladière

    Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 4/16/2005

    Pissaladière is Provençal street food, a fragrant, pizza-like tart prized for its contrast of salty black olives and anchovies against a backdrop of sweet caramelized onions and thyme. Recipes - Pissaladière Equipment Corner - Baking stones - Pizza cutters

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • In an Italian-American Kitchen
    NaN/100 votes

    #17 - In an Italian-American Kitchen

    Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 4/23/2005

    In the test kitchen, we enjoy authentic Italian dishes such as pasta all'amatriciana (episode 18-Italian Classics) and osso buco and polenta (episode 19-Winter Supper). But we also like to prepare Italian-American dishes. Recipes - Eggplant Parmesan - Pasta with Chicken and Brocoli

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Italian Classics
    NaN/100 votes

    #18 - Italian Classics

    Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 4/30/2005

    There seems to be an endless supply of "classic" Italian dishes. Just when we think we've mastered the canon, we realize there are more seminal Italian dishes to learn-recipes as important as pesto, steak fiorentina, or pasta with garlic and oil. Recipes - Pasta all'Amatriciana - Mushroom Risotto Equipment Corner - Rotary cheese graters Tasting Lab - Jarred pasta sauces

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Winter Supper
    NaN/100 votes

    #19 - Winter Supper

    Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 5/7/2005

    Stew and starch is a familiar and comforting winter combination. Stew-and-starch pairings include everything from beef stew and mashed potatoes to chicken paprikash and egg noodles. Our favorite Italian stew-and-starch combo is osso buco and polenta. Recipes - Osso Buco - Basic Polenta Tasting Lab - Bottled water

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Bistro Classics
    NaN/100 votes

    #20 - Bistro Classics

    Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 5/14/2005

    Who doesn't like bistro food? It offers the panache of fine French cooking but in a casual setting. The dishes are rustic, hearty, and satisfying. Recipes - Baked Goat Cheese Salad - French Onion Soup Equipment Corner - Santoku knives Tasting Lab - Goat cheese

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Ultimate Sticky Buns
    NaN/100 votes

    #21 - Ultimate Sticky Buns

    Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 5/21/2005

    Sticky buns are things of breakfast-time debauchery. In bakeries, they are often plate-size buns, warm and glistening, heady with brown sugar and spices. In our opinion, anything less than a great one is not worth its calories. Recipes - Sticky Buns with Pecans Equipment Lab - New-generation Coffee Makers Tasting Lab - Supermarket coffee

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Bake-Sale Favorites
    NaN/100 votes

    #22 - Bake-Sale Favorites

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/28/2005

    Every afternoon around three, editors come sniffing around the test kitchen looking for cookies fresh from the oven. Given how many cookies we make, our test cooks appreciate bar cookies. Recipes - Classic Brownies - Congo Bars Equipment Corner - Baking Pans Tasting Lab - Boxed Brownie Mixes

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Holiday Cookies
    NaN/100 votes

    #23 - Holiday Cookies

    Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 6/4/2005

    Making cookies is a favorite holiday activity. Many people who bake infrequently during the year throw themselves into marathon cookie projects. Recipes - Glazed Butter Cookies - Walnut Cresent Cookies Equipment Corner - Handheld verses standing mixers

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • There's a Hole in Your Cake
    NaN/100 votes

    #24 - There's a Hole in Your Cake

    Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 6/11/2005

    Cakes baked in Bundt pans and tube pans are popular for a variety of reasons. Recipes - Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake - Angel Food Cake Equipment Corner - Bundt Pans

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Pumpkin Cheesecake
    NaN/100 votes

    #25 - Pumpkin Cheesecake

    Season 5 Episode 25 - Aired 6/18/2005

    Pumpkin cheesecake stands second to the traditional pumpkin pie as a holiday dessert. Those who suffer from pumpkin pie ennui embrace pumpkin cheesecake as "a nice change," but the expectations are low. Recipes - Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake - Brown Sugar and Bourbon Cream Tasting Lab - Cream Cheese

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A