Cook's Country Magazine

[torakris]

I love Cook's Illustrated and have vaguely heard of Cook's Country before but wasn't aware it was actually a magazine. This morning I received e-mails with special offers for both of these, buy the 2006 bound editions and the 2005 edition is sent with it for free.

Since I stopped my Cook's Illustrated subscription in 2004 because the shipping prices to Japan were so high I pulled out my credit card quite fast. Then I moved on the Cook's Country e-mail (coming from the exact same place, America's Test Kitchen) and it sounds exactly like Cook's Illustrated. Finding the the "best" recipe, product reviews. etc.

So is it different in anyway?

Do the same things appear in both magazines?

Is it worth purchasing the 2005 and 2006 editions for $26.95?

[Andrew Fenton]

I received in the mail the "charter issue" of Cook's Country. I'd describe it as basically Cook's Illustrated for Dummies. There's very little discussion of the science and technique behind recipes, and the recipes themselves are pretty middle-of-the-road stuff. Cook's Illustrated at least makes a nod to teaching technique, and to presenting a broad spectrum of modern cooking (with recipes for dishes like biryani and enchiladas). Cook's Country, on the other hand, seemed geared towards 30-minute meal sorts of dishes, and focused on stuff like hamburgers and brownies.

I chose not to subscribe.

[SuzySushi]

I 'd agree with Andrew. I got a sample issue in the mail and, like him, chose not to subscribe. The recipes were too blah, like something out of Taste of Home magazine, but made-from-scratch.

[oneidaone]

Yep, pretty simple and very "folksy" - I was hoping when I found the hidden rooster

that I might win a free subscription just to have won something but no, they still

sent a couple more issues but nothing I'd want to pay for, I'll continue to enjoy

my Cook's Illustrated subscription.

[dockhl]

I 'd agree with Andrew. I got a sample issue in the mail and, like him, chose not to subscribe. The recipes were too blah, like something out of Taste of Home magazine, but made-from-scratch.

←

exactly

[torakris]

Thanks everybody! This was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I think I will pass, it is the way Cook's Illustrated　explains why the recipes work that makes me love it so much.

[heyjude]

The 2 for 1 annual is a good deal if you haven't subscribed to either year or bought them at the newstand. I do this every other year for both me and mamster. We now have the full set through 2005 and will make use of this offer next year when it will be "pay for 2007 and get 2006 free". Since nothing in the magazines is time sensative, this works fine for us.