We Used Science to Cook the Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipes | America’s Test Kitchen
From America’s Test Kitchen.
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Master culinary science for an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast! In this deep dive, Dan Souza breaks down the food science of four essential holiday dishes. First, learn why cooking turkey confit--in fat--is gentler than water and better at locking in flavor. Explore cranberry science and learn how pectin, acidity, and precise sugar concentrations can produce a luscious cranberry tart and tangy shrub syrup. Dan also explains potato starch and breaks down which potatoes are best to use to achieve the ultimate fluffy mashed potatoes.
Finally, Dan explains the Asian tangzhong (water roux) technique, showing how pre-gelled flour paste yields pillow-soft dinner rolls that stay fresh for days. Lastly, he explains the importance of a bright, fizzy cocktail to complement the fat and flavor of the Thanksgiving meal.
00:00 Culinary Science Behind the Ultimate Thanksgiving Meal
00:31 How to Make Turkey Thigh Confit
07:33 Make the Best Cranberry Shrub & Cranberry Curd Tart
16:37 The Science of Starch in Mashed Potatoes
20:20 5 Rules for Perfect Mashed Potatoes
22:07 The Ultimate Thanksgiving Sparkling Spritz Cocktail
25:05 Tangzhong Technique: The Secret to Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Turkey Thigh Confit with Citrus-Mustard Sauce Recipe: https://cooks.io/4BZ2HYH
Garlic Confit Recipe: https://cooks.io/4sU6AtW
Cranberry Curd Tart with Almond Crust Recipe: https://cooks.io/4keii0o
Cranberry Shrub Syrup Recipe: https://cooks.io/4zLfqgl
New Englander Recipe: https://cooks.io/3WBZMoY
Holiday Spritz Recipe: https://cooks.io/4keif4I
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes Recipe: https://cooks.io/4iD8POX
Fluffy Dinner Rolls Recipe: https://cooks.io/4iOeh0h
Easy Braid Challah Recipe: https://cooks.io/4sUcFqi
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At America’s Test Kitchen, we investigate every aspect of cooking—recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques—with a goal to empower and inspire home cooks. Since 1992, our team of 50+ cooks, editors, and culinary creatives ask a lot of questions—and do a lot of testing—so that you get dependable, delicious recipes, comprehensive guidance, and thorough and unbiased equipment and ingredient reviews. You can find us in the pages of Cook's Illustrated magazine, on our television shows America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country, in dozens of best-selling cookbooks, and via the 14,000+ recipes, reviews, and classes available on our website and app. Whether you’re in search of a great weeknight meal or an impressive dinner-party dish, we’ve done the testing to deliver reliable recipes and comprehensive cooking info to your home kitchen. Bring your curiosity, and we’ll make you a better cook.
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Finally, Dan explains the Asian tangzhong (water roux) technique, showing how pre-gelled flour paste yields pillow-soft dinner rolls that stay fresh for days. Lastly, he explains the importance of a bright, fizzy cocktail to complement the fat and flavor of the Thanksgiving meal.
00:00 Culinary Science Behind the Ultimate Thanksgiving Meal
00:31 How to Make Turkey Thigh Confit
07:33 Make the Best Cranberry Shrub & Cranberry Curd Tart
16:37 The Science of Starch in Mashed Potatoes
20:20 5 Rules for Perfect Mashed Potatoes
22:07 The Ultimate Thanksgiving Sparkling Spritz Cocktail
25:05 Tangzhong Technique: The Secret to Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Turkey Thigh Confit with Citrus-Mustard Sauce Recipe: https://cooks.io/4BZ2HYH
Garlic Confit Recipe: https://cooks.io/4sU6AtW
Cranberry Curd Tart with Almond Crust Recipe: https://cooks.io/4keii0o
Cranberry Shrub Syrup Recipe: https://cooks.io/4zLfqgl
New Englander Recipe: https://cooks.io/3WBZMoY
Holiday Spritz Recipe: https://cooks.io/4keif4I
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes Recipe: https://cooks.io/4iD8POX
Fluffy Dinner Rolls Recipe: https://cooks.io/4iOeh0h
Easy Braid Challah Recipe: https://cooks.io/4sUcFqi
Discover more recipes through the America’s Test Kitchen App: https://cooks.io/41TUSTK
Get exclusive access to every recipe, review, and more via our homepage: https://cooks.io/4BReJUd
Buy The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001–2026
Discover the latest recipes, tips, and tricks from Cook’s Insider: https://cooks.io/4kPvuJ4
Subscribe to Cook's Illustrated: https://cooks.io/4iuKLxC
Subscribe to America's Test Kitchen: https://youtube.com/@AmericasTestKitchen?sub_confirmation=1
Watch full episodes of America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country for free on our new YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@ATKFullEpisodes
Watch More!
In The Test Kitchen: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eLxup9tEP0M&list=PLnbzopdwFrnZsva37L040wy1u2RTOhqiF&pp=0gcJCWMEOCosWNin
The Taste Test: https://youtube.com/watch?v=SkqhwZqnA8s&list=PLnbzopdwFrnZ3usQguuxS2qWxlwj-9aN8
Techniquely With Lan Lam: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnbzopdwFrnYyvwrqTB_5AhufdOMisGnF
Most Popular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2guC4Badq2s&list=PLnbzopdwFrnZcFFuiSDnaymlMCb9ANwC5
Follow America's Test Kitchen:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/testkitchen
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/testkitchen
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@testkitchen?lang=en
Facebook: http://facebook.com/americastestkitchen
Twitter: http://twitter.com/testkitchen
At America’s Test Kitchen, we investigate every aspect of cooking—recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques—with a goal to empower and inspire home cooks. Since 1992, our team of 50+ cooks, editors, and culinary creatives ask a lot of questions—and do a lot of testing—so that you get dependable, delicious recipes, comprehensive guidance, and thorough and unbiased equipment and ingredient reviews. You can find us in the pages of Cook's Illustrated magazine, on our television shows America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country, in dozens of best-selling cookbooks, and via the 14,000+ recipes, reviews, and classes available on our website and app. Whether you’re in search of a great weeknight meal or an impressive dinner-party dish, we’ve done the testing to deliver reliable recipes and comprehensive cooking info to your home kitchen. Bring your curiosity, and we’ll make you a better cook.
#AmericasTestKitchen #CookingTutorial #FoodScience
When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission.
