America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation (2022– ) User Reviews

A new look into ATK

[cb-77528 · 7/10 · 24 January 2023]

It's really fun to see the inside of the America's Test Kitchen building and kitchens, which we don't get to see on the other shows. And I love watching the ATK hosts like Elle, Jack, and Dan give feedback in a new setting.

I'm a big fan of cooking competition shows, so this show is right up my alley. It doesn't have the borderline aggressive edge of a lot of current Food Network shows, but it's more aligned with that style than with The Great British Baking Show. The contestants are friendly with each other mostly because they're not cooking the same dishes side by side. There's a lot of creativity coming from the contestants themselves.

What A Great Show

[elisek-42796 · 10/10 · 25 December 2022]

I am a 70 year old man who never watches cooking shows, I was reading the sports page of our local newspaper and my wife and my wife happened to have America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation on Freevee. I'm a sports fan and I like competition, it never occurred to me that I could find a competitive thrill in a cooking show. This show has drama, tension, suspense and most of all I was surprised to find that I actually cared about the competitors. Maybe my favorite part of the show was the judging. It was genuinely refreshing to have somebody face to face listening to fairly blunt critique of their performance. It made me think of ice skating competitions except the judges would actually tell the skaters directly how they messed up. Seeing this kind of competitive drama was surprisingly involving and I asked my wife to be sure and mention when the next episode airs.

Poor Casting

[free101girl · 3/10 · 8 January 2023]

It's hard to believe that these were the best candidates they could find for this competition. There is constant emphasis on how the winner will be "joining the ATK family," but it's clear that most contestants are interested only in boosting their own social media presence and/or independent careers, not in working for ATK. Look at how they say they would spend the $100k winnings - generally it's on a project that would let them build a career with no relevance to working at ATK, such as opening a restaurant. None of the contestants are all that appealing, nor do they seem like the kind of dedicated food educators ATK is known for. I'm not rooting for anyone after watching four episodes. I'm very puzzled about a show called "the next generation" including a 49-year-old contestant! I think I'm done watching this show.

A Cut Above the Cooking Show Standard!

[artlang-09558 · 10/10 · 25 December 2022]

As an interested home cook and a fan of ATK, I was delighted to see this fast paced, high end competition that is fun to watch, introduced me to new ingredients and actually taught me a thing or two. The judges are amazing in their ability to hone in on the good and the bad. The tone remains instructive. No humiliation! The show moves quickly, as each episode has two challenges. The food photography is absolutely amazing. Shot in America's Test Kitchen, the pantry will make your mouth water, and the stations are near each other, creating a homey comfy environment. This show has really upped the ante and moved competitive cooking to the next generation!

This Show's Recipe Needs an Overhaul

[coco12345 · 2/10 · 20 January 2023]

ATK excels b/c of it's professionalism and trustworthiness. I trust these people. They aren't fashionable or pretty or trendy or slick. They're cooking nerds and that's why I watch.

So who did they choose to host their first competition show? IDK, (some D-list blogger?) but she's terrible. She doesn't appear to have any culinary knowledge and is about as authentic as a street corner Rolex. That's what producers think the ATK audience wants? It throws everyone at ATK's credibility out the window.

This woman has no idea what chicken tinga is, she stands right in front of competitor's stations while they're frantically working, and actually asked someone what's going inside their ricotta dumplings. Why couldn't any of the many competent, knowledgeable, and authentic ATK cooks host this show?

Examples of her comments: "That sounds bomb!", "Sounds good dude!" while strategically baring her cleavage. But hey, she can count down! That's about the only contribution she makes and that could be done by a clock on the wall. She's no Padma, that's for sure.

Also, sorry, but what is the point of this show? Seems like they're trying to knock off Top Chef. Why not shoot for something fresh and relevant to ATK? ATK is all about technique but the individual competitions have little to do with technique. How is Nonna's meatball dish going to get anyone hired as an ATK host? I don't need to know an ATK chef's culinary POV. I have no idea what Julia eats for dinner and that's fine.

And while I stopped watching, it would've been nice if after the winner is announced they show the winning dish. I'm probably not alone when I say I don't remember each contestant's dish.

Back to the drawing board, ATK.

Engaging and Heartwarming

[romannturner · 10/10 · 20 January 2023]

This show has been such a blast to watch with the family. With each challenge we find ourselves surprised and rooting for all the contestants as we get to learn everyone's story.

Unlike other cooking shows, this one brings some humanity to the table; you empathize with the contestants and see their passions on display.

As a passionate home cook, it is great to see some self-taught chefs on the main stage. There is something so genuine about chefs who make mistakes but can recover, adapt, and succeed in a highly stressful situation.

I will enjoy watching the winner grow into their position as a new host for America's Test Kitchen for years to come.

California and Massachusetts Exclusive

[tootie-8 · 1/10 · 18 December 2022]

This was a really disappointing show. As much as I love ATK and CC, this is an abomination. Most of the cooks are from either California or, to a lesser extent, Massachusetts. This is one more show that caters to the coasts and to hell with the rest of the country. I don't know or care who wins but I'll only see any of them when they get to ATK.

The level of inexperience for several of the contestants is laughable. On a dish that one cook mentioned he did in dedication to his Dad was horrible. Not only did he overcook the salmon that he said he has prepared many times but he failed to even get his rice done. How is it that you don't start the rice immediately - all of the rice cookers I am aware of can keep the rice warm until the protein is done. It all resulted in a plate that would have been better presented as salmon nachos - at least there wouldn't have been a nearly empty plate.

Others had their own set of afflictions. Bottom line, I watched through about 1/2 of the meal presentations and turnedd it off, not likely to ever watch again. I learned a great deal from ATK and CC and I feel lke this denigrates their "exalted" position in the cooking TV world. Sorry Elle, Julia, Dan, and Jack but this is beneath you!

A breath of fresh air in reality competition TV

[dilleygreenleaf · 10/10 · 11 February 2023]

The contestants like each other, the judges are honest, but not cruel, the made real food real people would make and that is what ATK does best I guess this show is not for everyone, but it was for me.

I hate reality shows because of the created drama and the not -seen-coming eliminations that are done for drama and not to promote the best and weed out the worst.

ATK the next generation is truly authentic, in the food the contestants created to the points the judges critiqued them on

so if you are sick of the drama, and the fake high and lows this is the show for you so say boring , I say a breath of fresh air.

Bland and boring

[djensen-55226 · 1/10 · 29 December 2022]

America's Test Kitchen has always been different and innovative. It stands out against the slew of other cooking shows. I was so looking forward to the Next Generation, hoping it would do the same. It is a carbon copy of 20 other cooking competition shows. Nothing different or new to speak of. Timers counting down, crazy challenges, and way to many "confessional" cutaways. The vegetarian contestant has to cook shrimp just to manufacture drama. I was so disappointed. The judges and host are the best part. There isn't a single contestant to root for, they are all so similar. The producers basically picked the same 3 types of contestants. I expected so much more.

This show makes me happy

[paigerindone · 10/10 · 22 January 2023]

As a TV buff and fan of cooking competitions, I've seen a huge variety of shows. ATK Next Gen brings some of my all time favorite elements from any show: humanity, vulnerability, people going after their dreams, sprinkles of comedy and of course yummy food! The competitors are diverse and I find myself rooting for them all. And I am a big fan of the amazing Jeannie Mai, bringing her awesome personality, style and sense of humor to every episode- and she is so kind and supportive to all competitors. This show draws me in with just enough drama but keeps me wanting more because of its chill and wholesome vibes.

First step in the demise of another cooking show?

[banelsen68 · 2/10 · 28 April 2023]

Remember when Food Network used to show programs about cooking, then the entire network turned into a slate of pathetic and inane competitions? It seems like ATK is about to travel down that same sad, sorry road if this horrid show is an example of what to expect.

The main host is horribly cast. Why is she shrieking and screaming at the contestants? Okay, I'm sure the producers want to generate some enthusiasm on the set but seriously? Her shrill voice is like nails on a chalkboard! At least we have one sensible, serious judge along the way.

And where do they find some of these cooks? I would expect someone wishing to obtain a position with ATK would have a touch more than basic food knowledge. We hear several times "I've never cooked that before". The worst was the contestant that seemed unable to comprehend the brief for the challenge in addition to their horrible time management. Just because your parent was a chef doesn't endow you with those skills.

I was really looking forward to watching this program but after two episodes I'm done.

The best reality cooking show period

[wrightmichele-04832 · 10/10 · 8 July 2023]

This cooking competition was far better than the others. All the contestants were likable and talented, the judging was fair, and the challenges were both creative and interesting. There was a lot of tips and great advice without the slapstick comedians other cooking competitions have. I can't wait to see the winner on a future ATK episode! I'm surprised at some of these negative reviews. They obviously haven't seen other cooking competitions. This show blows them all away. I hope there is an update eventually on the contestants that didn't win. They all had so much talent! This is definitely worth watching.

Dull, strange, and uncomfortable. No one asked for this.

[therealkimtae · 2/10 · 14 January 2023]

This is the unfortunate work of ATK's new Vice President of Television, Video, and Podcasts: Mark Levine. His entire Food Network career was spent stacking the slate with competition cooking shows like "Worst Cooks in America", "The Great Food Truck Race" and "Cutthroat Kitchen". He also has the inglorious honor of being the guy that thought that putting little kids in dangerous, high pressure cooking situations for TV drama was an ethical idea.

So it's no surprise that this feels very much at home with the tired, cookie-cutter content he's been churning out for well over 10 years as part of Food Network's post-instructional era. You can even see the direct lineage and combinations of ideas, concepts, and presentation taken from his earlier works.

That said, even though this is a weird, uninspired mixture of his previous programs, namely "Food Network Star" & "Cutthroat Kitchen", it doesn't work with the talent that ATK possesses and their usual on-screen personas. He's making nearly every ATK personality come off as incredibly petty and condescending; qualities that wouldn't make me vie for a job at ATK.

The contestants themselves are making the best of a weird situation but each Cutthroat-esque twist thrown their way doesn't add to the drama, it just makes things awkward as they refuse to play along with the production. I applaud them, throwing people under the bus during a job interview is never a good idea. If only the producers understood that too.

To top it all off, the promised rewards at the end of the series are confusing and make it plain that whomever wins will probably have as much lasting impact at ATK as the average Food Network Star winner had on the channel over it's 14 seasons, which is to say nearly none.

Just to drive this home, during the various confession cam segments the contestants talk not about their dreams of working under the ATK brand but what independent ventures they hope to finance using the $100K prize. I wish them the same luck that ex-ATK personalities like J. Kenji Lopez-Alt or Christopher Kimball have had after escaping ATK's clutches. Maybe they'll actually be able to win a James Beard award! :P

My advice: Stick to instructional content based around exhaustive experimentation and tough-love hardware reviews; this show is a bad look that was tired well before Mark left Food Network.

ATK- Reduced to Game Show Level

[bmccarthy-41135 · 9/10 · 24 March 2024]

Why? When you have a show that is as perfect as its recipes, why did they lower its standards to GAME SHOW LEVEL? One viewing was all I needed to turn off this show forever.

Now, ATK and CC have always given us new talented cooks, but they tested these folks behind the scenes before putting them in front of the camera. Think Dan of "Whats Eating Dan" segments. He is wonderful and young with great ideas and interesting dishes. His tryout was in the kitchen working with the regulars before he hit the camera ready stage.

I guess ATK wants to look cool and compete with other game show formats. Dont mess with perfect. This dish is a fail! This soufflé flopped in the oven!

Could have skipped to the finale, so obvious they chose the winner beforehand

[vljohnson-65207 · 1/10 · 5 March 2023]

I love cooking competition shows. There always seems to be something new or interesting to learn. The majority are also fun and exciting to watch. The banter between the judges and the host usually provide some entertainment. The dishes the contestants come up with and the plating which seems so impossible to achieve at home is so inviting. I've just recently found this network, it is new to my area, so this is the first show I've watched that they offer. BAD choice, I could have done almost anything else with my time! So disappointed in ATK, the host is absolutely terrible and I feel like I wasted my time. There was no way they were going to pick a real winner. Just really too bad, because there were so many great options. Garrett or Marc would have been so wonderful. Instead they choose the seemingly pre-identified winner, a social influencer "ringer" who has nothing fresh or fun to offer. Not sure if I'll give this network another chance.

Different take on cooking shows

[roblujan · 9/10 · 21 February 2023]

I really enjoyed this show. It's different from some of the others in that the skill levels of the contestants are truly home cook level. Which to me was enjoyable to see novice cooks try to elevate their food. That's what gives this show it's charm. Other shows bring on chefs that are already at a high level and fancy plating. I'd rather see what regular try to come up with. It was a fun show to watch in my opinion. Me being a home chef myself, it was fun to see common mistakes the chefs would make as well as seeing a few little tricks that I hadn't seen before. Thanks ATL for something a little different.

THE WORST!!!

[ahorsepower · 1/10 · 30 January 2023]

How could you make a HORRIBLE Show like this? America's test kitchen the original show is just fantastic. I just can't believe that you guys would put a joke. Why I ask? Most of these contestants are so annoying when they speak I could barely handle it. I couldn't make it past 5 minutes of the 1st episode before I had to change it. This is so bad, you guys keep to your original script, that's what works!!! If it works, don't fix it! I don't know why you guys would do this I just don't know why? If some of these contestants were on your original show, I probably would stop watching it and cancel my subscription with you!

Not ATK as we know it

[uncleclaw · 4/10 · 7 January 2023]

I was expecting more of the great analytical insight, experience and a little science behind what makes certain dishes "work" as they are intended... or dont work if not done right. A bit of deconstruction, alternate techniques, importance of certain ingredients and whatnot to achieve desired results (taste and texture). I was hoping to learn something.

This show isn't about educating the audience as before, but the contestants learning and growing - like any other cooking competition game show. And that's fine, except that hasn't been what ATK was about and what I was expecting. I found the 1hr slot seemed long and drawn out, whereas with the old ATK format time seemed to go by too fast.

It's not a bad show as far as a cooking competition goes, I guess, but it is not ATK as we have known it. It's just another cooking competition. But I must say the host kept me watching just to get a glimpse of her entirety... knowmsayn? She fine!!

But I am into the more advanced cooking competition shows, and kinda have a full plate on that subject, to make pun. Again, I was hoping for some insightful, educational cooking tips, do's and dont's, etc. Not delivered in that respect.

Just weird but I liked some of the people

[MamasnottellingU · 4/10 · 22 October 2023]

I enjoyed the creative challenges but they needed to be more impactful and some of the contestants were really nice and likeable. I applaud the producers for going for diversity, too, but I think that was really a focus of the show that became distracting and dominated the seasons. And they kept people who played to the camera in an odd way rather than keeping people who were really good and coachable for TV. I guess I wanted a certain contestant to go who they kept on too long and he gave me the creeps. And I think they chose undeserving winners. I won't say who, I don't want to give spoilers.

Broke my heart

[sonofjuliet-88330 · 2/10 · 11 September 2023]

This show broke my heart. I love ATK and Cooks Country. It is so well researched and i enjoy most of the cooks on it. This show was a joke. I wouldn't want to watch anyone of these people. Not one of them seemed qualified to work at a show that is the definition of chefs at the peak of their craft. All of the personalities of the contestants were generic fenemies, annoying ironic sense of humors, and self centered that had no idea what they were doing. Also, the Identity casting was pretty obvious. Not casting on skill but by race, gender, race, sexuality, race, gender, sexuality, gender, race... You get the point. It's pretty bad when you're hoping no one wins and the judges come out and say "y'all suck, just go home." Cut the OTF shots out, no one cares what they think hours after the cooking had ended just to act like they're in the moment. Stop with the shake up, surprise twist in the challenges, and find cooks that are likeable and talented and not based on whatever minority DEI check box. Look to Great British Bake Off, the early years, to see how to get an audience care about your contestants. Smh.

So sad

[mousamlady · 1/10 · 27 October 2023]

You made a Huge mistake. Garrett would have been the best choice. He had way more personality, more interesting dishes and would have been way more fun to watch! Annette came across as fake and pushy, and I do not think she will be a good fit with the other staff. I think you are going to regret choosing her to be a part of your cast. I know that I will no longer be watching, and I have been a fan for 20 years! So sad as there are so few real cooking shows.

Have loved the rest of the staff for their approachable personalities.

I don't really have that much more to say, but you are requiring way too many words for me to submit my opinion.

Disappointed, A loyal viewer.

Utter garbage

[jimcancook · 29 August 2023]

This show has nothing to do with America's Test Kitchen. Yes, they got some of the America's Test Kitchen regulars to show up to introduce segments and judge the dishes. It appears the prospect of an easy paycheck was irresistible.

This competition format is alien to what is at the heart of the real America's Test Kitchen. The real America's Test Kitchen serves to educate America's home cooks. The cooks on the original show demonstrate recipes, provide some background information, explain the science behind the food (news alert, cooking is chemistry and physics).

And the cast of contestants are off-putting. Everyone overacts to an almost comedic extent. The fake plastic excitement is repulsive. And seriously, I don't want the lady who has never cooked a scallop teaching me how to cook scallops because "for someone who has never cooked a scallop before you did surprisingly well".

Whoever decided this show was a good idea should never be allowed near a TV show in the future. And it would probably benefit mankind if they didn't have children.