FORCE OF NATURE

the secrets of the test kitchen Take a look at what goes into developing

and testing 4,500 recipes each year—recipes average three to five tests before being published. 10 KITCHEN BAYS 6 CULINARY SPECIALISTS 2 NUTRITION SPECIALISTS 7 FOOD EDITORS 480 CUPS OF SUGAR 1,000 CUPS OF FLOUR 288 DOZEN EGGS 480 POUNDS OF BUTTER 240 CUPS OF MILK 144 POUNDS OF ONIONS 12 JARS OF CINNAMON 50 WOODEN SPOONS 6 STAND MIXERS

TIP #3

CAKES SING?

You bet! Sarah leans in to listen for some sweet sizzle. If you hear it, the cake is still cooking and needs a few more minutes to reach light and fluffy perfection.

TIP #4

CREAMY DRESSING, NO DAIRY

Here’s a little mind-blower: Nutrition specialist Carla Christian whirls toasted walnuts into vinaigrette to create a rich, emulsified texture that doesn’t separate.

TIP #5

COOKIE TRICKS

Sammy’s secrets: Use an ice cream scoop for shaping. Freeze scoops until firm, then bake. Leaving them on the cookie sheet for a few minutes after baking makes them both crispy and chewy.

No-stick secret: In a small bowl whisk together equal parts cooking oil, shortening, and flour. Use the paste to coat pans so you never have to worry about baked

goods sticking. Q

THE KITCHEN

COOKBOOK

The food edit team joins members of the Test Kitchen for a tasting review.

An early tasting session in the fi rst test kitchen. THE ROAD TO RECIPE PERFECTION

One of the goals of the early Testing-Tasting Kitchen was to nudge . "ʞ', # (*/&## (.)(1ġ'),-#(. #Ȑ,)  ))%# (!ġ1"#" included an overhaul of how recipes were written. Until then, writers of ,#*-"--/'. ".&& ))%-% (1")1.)'%*# , /-. ),0( ")1&)(!-)'. "# (!(.) ))%Ġ̙/. ,&3 ))%-# ( . "-.#. "( % (1. ".1-(Į. . "-ķ. ",1,.))' (3+/-. #)( -Ġ"( ( ()1ġ. "̙-.#. "("'*#)( --. 3&) ,#*1 , #. # (!. ".&0- (). "# (!.)" (Ġ) 3ġ&&. " ))%- ,.,# ( )) *,) --#)( &- with degrees in food science, food and nutrition, culinary arts, or #. . #-Ġʞ&&/ (,-.  (. "-#("# (. " ,. )  ))%# (! (&)0 .)!. .) . " )..)') ")1,#*-1),%Ġ"%#. "(*,) --#)( &. -. -  (0,!) Ȑ0,#*-#&3Ġ"(&&. -. ,#*- ,#. 3)/ , . ') )) #.),- (0(. /&&3** ,# (1# ,,3) ̙.. , )'- ( ,( -Ņ*/&#. #)( -Ġ

BHG TEST KITCHEN THROUGH THE AGES

1928

The Testing-Tasting Kitchen opens. Two years later My Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book is published.

1933

The Prize Tested Recipes Contest is created to recognize outstanding recipes created by readers.

1938

The Cook Book fi rst notes: “Every Recipe Tested in the Better Homes and Gardens Testing-Tasting Kitchen.”