What America's Test Kitchen does

America's Test Kitchen (ATK) is a privately held, multi-platform cooking media company founded in 1992 and headquartered at 21 Drydock Avenue in Boston's Seaport district, operating through America's Test Kitchen Limited Partnership and America's Test Kitchen, Inc. The company serves home cooks through a vertically integrated content ecosystem built around a rigorous recipe and equipment testing methodology: 60+ test cooks and editors work in a 15,000-square-foot test kitchen facility, supported by a 70,000+ volunteer at-home recipe tester network that requires recipes to achieve an 80% make-again score before publication. The brand portfolio includes Cook's Illustrated (founded 1993, no advertising), Cook's Country (launched 2005), ATK Kids, the ATK Recommended licensing program (launched 2022), and operating sub-brands Proof and In The Test Kitchen podcasts plus an Online Cooking School.

The platform surface spans a subscription-gated website and iOS/Android apps, two PBS television shows (America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country), streaming distribution on Netflix, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, and Prime Video FAST channels, a YouTube channel launched in 2007, podcasts, social media presence across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, Threads, and X, and a physical and digital cookbook publishing operation with 10+ new titles annually and cumulative sales above 10 million units. The technology stack is standard consumer media infrastructure: Algolia for site search, Salesforce for email, Google Analytics and Meta Pixel for measurement, BlueConic for personalization, and Amazon Login for authentication, with no proprietary AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

Revenue is generated through nine identified streams: digital subscriptions, magazine subscriptions, cookbook sales, PBS show underwriting, streaming platform content licensing, podcast advertising, ATK Shop e-commerce, ATK Recommended badge licensing, and affiliate commissions. The subscriber base is a long-tail of consumer home cooks with no disclosed enterprise customers; pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed. The company underwent a substantial leadership overhaul in 2023, recruiting CEO Dan Suratt, COO Evan Silverman, CMO Lee Boykoff, and CFO Patrick Kelly, all with senior media-industry experience at Roku, A+E Networks, and This Old House, followed by the hire of SVP of TV, Video, and Podcast Nina Giannelli in August 2024.

Name

America's Test Kitchen

Legal name

America's Test Kitchen Limited Partnership

Website

https://americastestkitchen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

America's Test Kitchen is a privately held multi-platform cooking media company founded in 1992 that serves home cooks through rigorously tested recipes, equipment reviews, magazines, PBS and streaming TV shows, podcasts, cookbooks, and a subscription website and app, supported by a 70,000+ volunteer recipe tester network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookline

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Subscription revenue from americastestkitchen.com website and ATK App access to recipes, reviews, and content
2. Magazine Subscriptions: Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazine subscriptions. Cook's Illustrated runs no advertising.
3. Cookbook Sales: More than 10 million cookbooks sold with 10+ new titles published annually
4. TV Show Underwriting: PBS shows (America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country) funded by third-party underwriting per PBS National Program Funding standards
5. Streaming Platform Content: Content distribution on Netflix, FAST channels (Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video), YouTube, and social media platforms with ad-supported models
6. Podcast Revenue: Proof and In The Test Kitchen podcasts with advertising
7. ATK Shop: E-commerce store for cookbooks, deals, kits, swag, prints, and merchandise
8. Content Licensing: Licensing of ATK intellectual property including the ATK Recommended badge
9. Affiliate Revenue: Affiliate commissions when subscribers purchase recommended products through provided links

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

America's Test Kitchen is a multi-platform cooking media company that produces rigorously tested recipes, equipment and ingredient reviews, cookbooks, magazines, television shows, podcasts, online cooking classes, and digital content for home cooks. Its core subscription platform (americastestkitchen.com and the ATK mobile app) and the Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines deliver failproof recipes validated through a network of 70,000+ at-home testers requiring an 80% make-again score before publication.

Product overview

America's Test Kitchen operates as a multi-platform cooking media company built around rigorous recipe testing and equipment reviews. The core product is the AmericasTestKitchen.com subscription platform, which provides access to recipes, equipment reviews, and video content. This platform is complemented by Cook's Illustrated Magazine (the foundational print publication since 1993), Cook's Country Magazine (featuring regional American recipes), ATK TV Shows (PBS television programs including America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country), ATK Podcasts (Proof and In The Test Kitchen), ATK Cookbooks (over 10 million copies sold), ATK Classes (online cooking instruction), ATK Shop (e-commerce for cookbooks and merchandise), ATK Mobile App, and ATK Kids (children's content). The company also runs a Recipe Tester Program with over 70,000 volunteer home cooks who test recipes before publication, requiring an 80% make-again score for recipes to be approved.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ATK Shop: E-commerce platform for cookbooks, merchandise, kits, and ATK products
• America's Test Kitchen Kids
• Proof
• Online Cooking School

Products and services

• AmericasTestKitchen.com Digital Membership Subscription-based digital platform providing access to tested recipes, equipment reviews, cooking classes, video content, and podcasts for home cooks.
• Cook's Illustrated Magazine Print magazine featuring rigorously tested failproof recipes and unbiased product reviews without advertising, serving home cooks.
• Cook's Country Magazine Print magazine featuring failproof American recipes including classic, heirloom, and regional favorites, unbiased product reviews, and time-saving tips with no advertising.
• ATK TV Shows (America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country) Television programs broadcast on PBS and streamed on Netflix, FAST channels, and YouTube, recognized as the most-watched cooking shows on public television.
• ATK Podcasts (Proof and In The Test Kitchen) Audio content series including the Proof food journalism podcast and In The Test Kitchen podcast, supported by advertising.
• ATK Cookbooks Published cookbook titles with over 10 million copies sold, available for purchase through the ATK Shop.
• ATK Online Cooking School (Classes) Online cooking classes offering structured instruction and guidance for home cooks of various skill levels.
• ATK Shop E-commerce storefront for ATK cookbooks, deals, kits, swag, prints, and merchandise.
• ATK Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android providing access to tested recipes, videos, cooking classes, and ATK content on the go.
• ATK Kids Children's cooking content and educational materials designed for young home cooks, with separate privacy policy for COPPA compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% 'make-again score' required from home testers before recipe publication
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Cruise LinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting ATK's mission. Logo displayed on ATK website as a sponsor.
• GreenPanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCookware brand sponsor supporting ATK's mission. Logo displayed on ATK website as a sponsor.
• Monument GrillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrill brand sponsor supporting ATK's mission. Logo displayed on ATK website as a sponsor.
• PlugraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerButter brand sponsor supporting ATK's mission. Logo displayed on ATK website as a sponsor.
• SmitheyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCookware brand sponsor supporting ATK's mission. Logo displayed on ATK website as a sponsor.
• Black and DeckerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAppliance brand sponsor supporting ATK's mission. Logo displayed on ATK website as a sponsor.
• Haley HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization focusing on local farming, reducing hunger, and cooking education. Part of ATK Cares charitable initiatives.
• Community ServingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank/organization that receives holiday pies from ATK's annual Holiday Pie Drive. Part of ATK Cares charitable initiatives.
• Future ChefsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooking education organization partner. Part of ATK Cares charitable initiatives focused on strengthening communities.
• No Kid HungryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHunger relief organization that receives fudge and baked goods from ATK's annual February Baking Drive. Part of ATK Cares charitable initiatives.
• The Home for Little WanderersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare organization that receives holiday gifts and meals through ATK's annual Holiday Gift Drive. Part of ATK Cares charitable initiatives.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform distribution partner for exclusive ATK cooking shows. Content distributed to Netflix subscribers globally.
• Roku (Roku Studios, This Old House)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFAST channel distribution partner. ATK launched America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country channels on The Roku Channel. CEO Dan Suratt previously led This Old House Ventures before Roku acquisition.
• Samsung TV PluscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFAST channel distribution partner for ATK's streaming content.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFAST channel distribution partner for ATK's streaming content.
• PBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic television partner for America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country shows. Programming funded by third-party underwriting per PBS National Program Funding standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bon Appétit: Premier cooking media brand from Condé Nast producing recipes, equipment reviews, and video content. Direct competitor to ATK in the cooking magazine and digital content space with similar editorial positioning around tested recipes.
• Food52: Cooking content and commerce brand combining recipes, community, and curated cookware retail. Closely comparable to ATK's integrated recipe + shop + content model, with overlapping audiences and similar monetization through commerce and affiliate.
• NYT Cooking: Subscription-based recipe and cooking platform from The New York Times. Closest direct competitor to ATK's digital subscription product, with similar paywalled recipes, equipment reviews, and cooking class content serving engaged home cooks.
• Yummly: Recipe discovery and meal planning platform with smart appliance integration. Direct competitor in the digital cooking space, with overlapping audiences and similar monetization through affiliate commerce and content partnerships.
• Taste of Home: Family-focused cooking magazine, website, and cookbook brand. Comparable to ATK in operating both a print magazine and a digital recipe platform with home-cook audiences, though positioned around family recipes rather than lab-tested methodology.
• Allrecipes: Largest user-generated recipe platform in the US. Direct competitor in the digital recipe and home-cook audience, with a community-driven model that contrasts ATK's editorial-testing approach but competes for the same subscription and advertising dollars.
• Serious Eats: Recipe and equipment testing publication known for rigorous, science-driven recipe development. Highly comparable to ATK's editorial methodology — both sites test recipes extensively and produce trusted equipment recommendations for home cooks.

Emerging players

• Whisk (Samsung Food): Recipe platform and meal planning tool acquired by Samsung. Comparable in digital recipe and meal planning space, with overlap on affiliate and commerce monetization but a more tech-platform rather than editorial-brand orientation.
• Cookpad: Global recipe community platform with strong presence in Japan, Spain, and Latin America. Comparable in the home-cook recipe and subscription space, but operating primarily outside the US market where ATK is concentrated.

Broad incumbents

• Food Network: Largest food media brand in the US with cable TV, streaming, website, and magazine properties. Broad incumbent competing with ATK across TV, digital, and video but with much wider category scope beyond home cooking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TestKitchen
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AmericasTestKitchen
• Facebookfacebook.com/americastestkitchen
• Instagraminstagram.com/testkitchen
• TikToktiktok.com/@testkitchen
• Pinterestpinterest.com/testkitchen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about America's Test Kitchen