The Finest Meals Podcasts (And How To Hear)

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I’ve been obsessive about podcasts since my nephew launched them to me a couple of years again. I typically pay attention whereas operating boring errands, whereas strolling the canine within the evenings, and whereas doing tedious cooking duties like chopping greens or beating whipped cream.

A few of the greatest meals podcasts are about cooking, whereas others are in regards to the fascinating world of meals outdoors of the kitchen. In case you’re studying this put up, although, I’m guessing each would attraction to you, and meaning it is best to learn on. As a result of on this article, I’ll talk about what makes a superb podcast, advocate 11 of the very best meals podcasts on the market, and inform you how one can begin listening to them.

What Makes a Good Podcast

First off, what are the substances that make a meals podcast value listening to apart from a usually attention-grabbing premise? I’m not calling podcasts that don’t meet the next 5 standards “dangerous,” however I feel any podcast may enhance by adhering to them.

The extra preparation a podcast does for every episode, the higher. And a part of that preparation is digging into the topic in cookbooks or on the web for background info on the topic being mentioned. That is a type of conditions the place the lengthy preamble earlier than the recipe in cooking articles actually is useful.

podcast ought to have a brand new visitor on at the very least as soon as each few episodes to maintain issues recent. There’s nothing mistaken with listening to the co-hosts each episode, however bringing in new blood from time to time retains issues recent and likewise permits new viewpoints and fields of experience to be placed on show. This issue is particularly essential with meals podcasts, as a result of the identical outdated views on cooking episode after episode can simply get stale.

It’s comprehensible if the primary few episodes of a podcast happen in one of many hosts’ residence, however, as soon as it has over a thousand listeners, it actually ought to transfer right into a extra skilled recording studio or at the very least a really quiet sound-proof room. Somebody also needs to be modifying out ambient noise within the recording. All of this actually contributes to the listening expertise.

Even when a meals podcast is well-researched, it’s not going to carry your curiosity whether it is fully devoid of humor. And I don’t simply imply jokes; a sprinkling of quirkiness or innovation in the best way tales are instructed are additionally types of humor. Briefly, the podcast ought to have some distinct taste that attracts in listeners and retains them there.

Maybe a very powerful a part of a podcast so far as I’m involved is the flexibility of the hosts to have an excellent back-and-forth. It ought to make them seem to be actual mates – not solely of one another but in addition of the listener. They want distinct personalities that you simply take an immediate liking to but in addition develop to like much more as you take heed to extra episodes.

The 11 greatest meals podcasts are listed beneath. To take heed to them, simply obtain one of many cell apps proven within the “the way to pay attention” part on the finish of the podcast description and enter that podcast’s identify within the app’s “search” operate.

1. Burnt Toast

Each week, present host Micheal Harlan Turkell appears at a unique meals or side of meals tradition, from the historical past of the tuna soften to the myths behind milk consumption to a primer on ready time at eating places. Turkell is sensible and has a number of consultants on the topic come on each episode that give useful insights. The present is enjoyable, well-produced, and full of info, which is why it takes the #1 spot on this listing.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Participant FM, aCast, Overcast, Stitcher, Radio Public, RSS, and extra.

2. Food People

Firstly of every episode, host Amanda Shapiro asks a single query about cooking or meals and the remainder of the episode is devoted to exploring the reply. Some questions just lately explored embrace “what are our secret weapon substances?”, “why are individuals obsessive about Dealer Joe’s?”, and “what’s one of the best ways to grill rooster?”

Since Meals Folks is the primary podcast of Bon Appetit, an enormous cooking journal, the crew behind the present has entry to a few of the biggest cooks and meals students on the planet, which makes the present immensely informative. Since Shapiro is the journal’s editorial director, she is nice at choosing instructions to go together with every installment.

Bon Appetit used to do one other common podcast, The Check Kitchen, however they stopped in 2020. I’d encourage you to take a look at the back-catalog.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and extra.

3. Black Girls Eating

Candace and Tannoria, two very achieved African American cooks, began this podcast in 2021 as a spot to debate the contributions of black tradition to the American culinary scene. Since then, the forged has developed right into a considerate have a look at black tradition typically by inviting on a unique particular person of shade each week and exploring their story. Even for non-black listeners, although, it’s an effective way to benefit from the wealthy cultural variety that has made cooking what it’s at the moment.

What actually makes this podcast stand out is the chemistry between Candace and Tannoria. You’ll be able to inform by their voices that they are surely long-time greatest mates who thought it could be enjoyable – and culturally impactful – to sit down behind some microphones and talk about issues they’re keen about.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher.

4. Spilled Milk

The 2 hosts of this podcast, Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton, are each comedians, and it reveals. Every week, they take a selected sort of meals or kitchen implement, like boba tea or cheese graters, and speak about it in constantly hilarious methods for 30-60 minutes. The podcast is well-researched and the hosts typically have visitors that assist them discover the subject additional, however the true draw of the present is how humorous it’s. It’s an excellent one to have on within the background when you’re doing one thing which may sometimes distract you from a extra information-heavy podcast.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, RSS, and extra.

5. Home Cooking

That is my favourite cooking podcast, arms down. The hosts are Samin Nosrat, the writer of award-winning cookbook Salt Fats Acid Warmth, and skilled podcaster Hrishikesh Hirway, and the upbeat rapport between the 2 of them on each single episode is just a pleasure. The visitors and callers they’ve on every episode are uplifting and hilarious too. Sadly, there have been solely 16 episodes, every below an hour, the final of which aired in November 2021. It’s best to positively take heed to what’s on the market, although, as a result of the episodes have achieved almost legendary standing.

Every episode, Samin and Hrishikesh give attention to one model of cooking or one ingredient and speak about how it may be used to scrumptious impact. Samin Nosrat is particularly nice at advising house cooks listening to the podcast on how they’ll up their cooking recreation, and Hirway excels at injecting each dialog with some humor – typically by use of delightfully tacky puns. I can’t stress sufficient how each episode of this podcast is like cooking in a heat, aromatic kitchen together with your greatest mates.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Radiotopia, and extra.

6. A Taste of the Past

This one’s extra in regards to the historical past of meals (and food-adjacent subjects) than about cooking. It’s hosted by Linda Pelaccio, who has been a culinary historian for many years and was one of many founding members of the TV Meals Community. The episodes have a extra educational tone than most meals podcasts, which makes them good for all you cooks on the market who additionally love historical past. 

The tales are largely fairly fascinating, they usually demand sufficient consideration to make your journey to the fitness center or your wait in line on the DMV fly by when you lose your self within the narratives offered. Plus, the podcast has been airing since 2009, so that you’ll have fairly a couple of episodes to take heed to.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RSS.

7. Good Food

The scope of KCRW’s Good Meals podcast is fairly unimaginable. Each week, host Evan Kleiman does a sequence of well-researched tales on various subjects. A lot of them are exposees that reveal the impression of overseas cuisines on American cooking, however others are about subjects like nonstick pans, the significance of watering vegetable gardens, and the way European potato farmers carry a few extra scrumptious product. The present even will get tons of well-spoken consultants to return on to discuss the whole lot they cowl. The ten minute tales that make up every episode can be found on the Good Meals podcast web site, they usually make for great bite-sized listening experiences.

Notice that the BBC additionally produces a podcast known as Good Meals, however I choose the KCRW one.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and extra.

8. The Sporkful

The Sporkful’s slogan is “It’s Not for Foodies, It’s for Eaters” and you’ll inform why for those who look by their catalog. Most of their tales take a “popular culture” method to cooking, protecting easy meals ideas like the way to make an excellent peanut butter and jelly sandwich or the depiction of meals on The Simpsons… subjects that you simply don’t must be a prepare dinner to take pleasure in. Thus far, the sequence’ magnum opus is “ImPASTAble,” a seven-part sequence the place host Dan Pashman created a brand new pasta form primarily based on background analysis and interviews with pasta firm gross sales reps.

The Sporkful is tons of enjoyable, and it’s an excellent window into the extra human facet of the culinary scene. It’s not an excellent podcast to study cooking, nevertheless it’s a pleasant break after I wish to take heed to one thing extra purely entertaining than most meals podcasts.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, RSS.

9. A Hotdog is a Sandwich

As you might be able to inform by the identify, A Hotdog is a Sandwich is all about culinary debates – extra particularly, the food-related arguments continually raging on the web. Hosts Josh and Nicole have a look at each side of contested questions like “Is the ocean a soup?”, “Is chilly brew espresso a rip-off?”, “Is meatloaf only a lengthy meatball?”, “What time does brunch truly begin?”, and extra. It’s a reasonably foolish idea, however the viewpoints are surprisingly nicely thought out and the chemistry between the hosts is nice. My son is serious about each cooking and web tradition and he loves this present. I do know subsequent to nothing about web tradition and I discover it fairly entertaining, too.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Ramble, Audible, Deezer, Audacy, Amazon Music, RSS.

10. Doughboys

This podcast is all about chain eating places, together with quick meals joints – how they market themselves, how they make their meals scrumptious on a budget, how they develop, and extra. The 2 hosts are comedians, and their observations are each attention-grabbing and hilarious. It’s a reasonably bingeable present as a result of the fare is so gentle, so that you’ll like it if you wish to get right into a meals podcast that may actually take your thoughts off issues when you’re listening.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS.

11. Recipe Club

In case you’re in search of meals podcasts that can truly introduce you to new recipes, that is the one for you. Every week, the big panel of hosts prepare dinner a preferred meal earlier than dissecting the recipe, debating it, after which making tweaks that make the recipe style higher or make it faster and simpler. I’ve been cooking for many years, however I nonetheless be taught so much from this podcast each week. It’s accessible for starting and superior cooks alike, and it’s one of many first meals podcasts I like to recommend to my mates who’re studying the culinary arts.

How you can pay attention: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, and extra.

Meals For Thought

For individuals who wish to encompass themselves with the culinary world somewhat than simply go to it after they’re cooking, meals podcasts are an effective way to spend time. Figuring out the very best meals podcasts on your particular person tastes and maintaining them on the again burner for at any time when you’ve gotten time to kill has the potential to enhance your cooking abilities and offer you a whole lot of hours of high quality leisure.