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Kids of all ages can learn so much when helping in the kitchen. We’ve rounded up the BEST products that are sure to make cooking with kids fun, easy and safe!
Benefits of cOOKING WITH kIDS
Cooking with kids may a require a little more work, clean up and patience on your part, but we promise the investment is worth it! When exposed to cooking at a young age, kids benefit in countless ways.
- Valuable skills. The kitchen becomes a classroom (a fun classroom!) when kids are present. Cooking provides practice in reading, math, fine motor skills, time management, organization and so much more.
- Increased confidence. Kids gain a sense of accomplishment when they make food (especially when it turns out good!). Even if they are just helping, they still feel proud when they complete small tasks in the kitchen independently.
- Healthier eating habits. Kids are more likely to try new foods (including healthy food) when they help prepare meals and snacks. They also learn how to prepare food at home so they won’t have to rely on fast food and eating out later in life.
- Quality time. Cooking is such a great way to connect with your kids as you create, communicate and have fun together. Turn on some music and you’ve got yourself a party in the kitchen!
Having the right products is a game changer when it comes to cooking with kids! We’ve found some great items that will make cooking fun, easy and safe for your kiddos.
Chef In Training (ages 2-4)
It’s never too soon to expose your kids to kitchen basics and instill in them a love for cooking. One of the best ways to do that is through play. These are some of our favorite kitchen toys that are sure to get your little ones excited about cooking.
Step2 Best Chefs Kitchen Set – This is our favorite play kitchen. The pretend oven, stove, fridge, sink and 25-piece accessory will encourage lots of kitchen play. It’s not only cute but durable too so it will last for years.
Little Tikes First Oven – This pretend oven is so fun for kids! It has working buttons and lights and makes realistic cooking sounds. Your little ones will love cooking and baking in their oven while you do the same in yours.
Melissa & Doug Stainless Steel Pots and Pans – This set of kid-sized pots and pans is attractive and durable! Even though they can’t be used on the stove or in the oven, they are food and dishwasher safe so your kids can use them for no-heat food preparation.
Bruvoalon 32Pcs Kids Kitchen Toy Accessories – This adorable 32-piece play kitchen set includes a variety of pretend cookware, kitchen tools and food. It comes in different colors and the pieces are high-quality.
Melissa & Doug Food Groups – Feed your child’s interest in cooking with this cute wooden play food! They are solid wood, hand-painted and come with four wooden crates to store them in.
Wooden Play Food – Your kids can safely practice their cutting skills with these pretend food pieces that are held together with magnets. The set comes with a cutting board, a peeler, two knives and an assortment of wooden play food all of which can be “cut” into pieces.
Guidecraft Classic Kitchen Helper® Stool – If your littles like to help in the kitchen but a common stepping stool isn’t tall enough for them to reach the counter, check out this adjustable height stepping stool. It has safety sides to keep them from falling, is lightweight and folds up easily. It even has a little chalkboard and whiteboard for them to write on.
Kids Apron and Chef Hat Set – If they’re going to be little chefs, they’ve got to dress the part! How cute and fun is this apron and hat? Your kiddo will feel legit when wearing these while helping in the kitchen.
Kitchen Helpers (age 5-8)
As your kiddos get older, they can transition from playing kitchen to really helping in the kitchen. They can read recipes, measure, stir and more. These products will help ensure that their first cooking experiences are positive so they’ll want to come back for more!
Jennice House Kids Apron and Chef Hat Set – Available in a larger size and various fun designs, this apron and chef hat set is perfect for kids ages 5-8. The handy pocket works well for carrying kitchen tools, leaving little hands free for cooking.
Folding Step Stool – For baking buddies who need just a little boost to reach that countertop, this foldable stepping stool is our favorite. It’s so helpful when they’re making cookies like our 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies or using a skillet to make a Cheese Quesadilla or Best Grilled Cheese.
WeeSprout Little Chef Kids Cooking & Baking Set – Complete with an apron, oven mitts, a cutting board, an assortment of kid-friendly knives and kitchen tools, recipe cards and a carrying case, this beautiful set has everything your kiddo will need when helping in the kitchen.
Kitchen Utensils Set In Human-Shape – These silly people-shaped cooking tools make cooking so fun for kids! The brush is perfect for brushing butter on Pizza Roll Ups and the whisk for mixing up the pudding for Dirt Cake With Worms.
Measuring Cups & Spoons – These nesting measuring cups and spoons are both durable and colorful. With eight spoons and eight cups, it’s easy for littles to measure just the right amount when following recipes like Orange Julius and No Bake Cookies.
Timer for Kids – Waiting can be so hard for kids, but this timer makes it a little more fun and manageable. They can keep track of cooking time all on their own with this colorful timer when baking Hot Dog Nuggets or Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies.
DASH Mini Maker for Individual Waffles – How cute is this little waffle maker? It’s budget-friendly, comes in different colors and designs and is ideal for cooks in training! We love using this waffle maker when making any of our delicious Waffle Recipes.
Casdon Kenwood Mixer – This mini stand mixer is brilliant! It’s small, lightweight and battery-operated, allowing kids to easily move it around the kitchen. It really works (and works well!) so little cooks can use it to mix up batter, cake mix and icing.
For the Junior Chef (ages 9+)
As kids get even older, they can do more and more cooking on their own. These products make difficult cooking tasks easier so your junior chefs can be more independent in their kitchen creations.
Zulay Kids Knife Set – With specially designed safety edges and tips, these knives will allow your young cook to safely practice cutting and chopping foods. They’re ideal when your kiddos are trying recipes that require cutting like Caramel Apple Nachos and French Toast Bake.
NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves for Kids – If you prefer for your kids to use regular knives, these NoCry gloves are a great option. They protect little hands when using knives or anything sharp.
Food Cutters – This gadget is a genius alternative to knives. It works like scissors, allowing young chefs to easily and safely cut fruits, veggies and other foods. It’s perfect for making Fruit Kabobs or even for cutting Cheese Crisps.
Kitchen Cutting Aid – Slicing food can be tricky for new cooks, but, with this tool, it just got a whole lot easier. Kids can safely and easily master even cuts with this holder.
Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener – This small but mighty electric can opener takes the difficulty and danger out of opening cans. Your kids will love using it the next time they make Chicken Tortilla Soup or Peach Dump Cake.
Electric Garlic Chopper – This electric garlic chopper makes dicing and mincing ingredients quick, safe and effortless. It saves so much time and frustration for your kiddos when they’re making recipes that use garlic like Homemade Salsa or Cheesy Garlic Bread.
Mixing Bowls – This stainless steel bowl set is great for kids! They come in all different sizes and have colorful silicone bottoms so they won’t slip around the counter. They also have matching lids for keeping food covered and fresh.
Rainbow Kitchen Utensils – Add some color to your kids’ kitchen experience with these fun rainbow cooking utensils. They’re high-quality and free from harmful chemicals. With this complete set, your children will be equipped for cooking all types of food including Toad in the Hole and Puppy Chow.
Silicone Baking Mats – If you’ve got a baker-in-the-works at home, you need these pastry mats! These oven-safe, non-stick mats can be used to roll out dough AND bake on. They work wonders when making Easy Yeast Rolls and 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies.
Adjustable Rolling Pin with Removable Rings – This adjustable rolling pin makes it so easy for to achieve uniform thickness when rolling out dough. We love to use this when making Sugar Cookies and Pizza Dough.
Extra Thick Flexible Plastic Cutting Board Mats – These bright mats are a great fit for kids in the kitchen. They have waffle grip bottoms so they won’t slide around, and kids can throw them in the dishwasher for easy clean up.
Compact Hand Mixer – This inexpensive appliance is a great starter hand mixer for your young chef. It has three speeds and is available in four different colors. It’s perfect for recipes like Fruit Dip and Peanut Butter Balls.
Call the Kids…It’s Cooking Time!
Now that you’re equipped with some great tools and recipes, it’s time to call the kids to the kitchen for some quality cooking time!
For even more great products, check out our Amazon Cooking with Kids idea list. It’s full of items that will help your kids have positive and safe creating experiences in the kitchen.
And don’t miss our collections of Easy Recipes for Kids and Easy Dessert Recipes for Kids. They’re a great place to start when introducing kids to cooking.
We hope you and your kiddos create yummy food and happy memories in the kitchen!
