If you can guess, the conversations in the workplace have changed a little. There’s a lot less chatter of late-night karaoke in K-Town, and a lot more about hanging late with newborns who’re doing their own kind of scream-sing, the Best kids cooking set of all ages.
As we invited these little nuggets into our culture, we’ve been worrying a lot more about how to instill a love for food and cooking in them at a young age. From culinary tools for young ones to children’s balanced knives, there is too much equipment out there to carry children of all ages to the kitchen. Though I am not a parent myself, unless you count my dog. I thought it was time to discuss the best tools with the squad, as well as a few experts, to foster a love of cooking in young Serious Eaters.
Until we get to the goods, I want to mention there’s a lot of parenting theory out there. Understatement of the century, I know. This article is not supposed to tell you how to parent your children or what to educate them. You know better than anybody else what they’re able to do, and safety and comfort are paramount.
It’s just a guide based on our own experiences, and we hope you’ll find it handy and insightful, inspiring you to spend time in the kitchen with your friends.
Amazon Basics 12-Piece Colored Kitchen Knife Set
Our pick
These small knives are discreet and easy to use, and they resemble puppies. They are a perfect guide to the art of cutting and cutting. We also need them for my toddler and my 6-year-old, and the tools are perfect for any of them to use to cut their own noodles. Obviously, this still has to be used with supervision! $29.95 for the package (though you can get just the knives for less), suitable for children 2.5/3 and up.
Pros:
✅ Easy to use.
✅ The knives are very sharp.
Cons:
❌ They can break if you drop them too hard or too much, so be careful
❌ Not dishwasher safe.
Best Chefs Kitchen Playset – Kids Cooking Set with 25-Pcs
Our pick
One of the first steps to raise self-confident kitchen helpers is to ensure that children have access to everything they need: countertops are available for use, dishes and food are easily accessible, and appliances are user-friendly and well-maintained. So this is the best kids’ cooking set.
Getting the right equipment in place will benefit, such as this Little Partners Learning Tower, which allows children to be isolated from the cooking process and is adjustable in height. This tower is also perfect for children to do art projects or other activities, where the kitchen counter is the ideal surface.
Pros:
✅ You can use it for art projects.
✅ Well built.
Cons:
❌ Small size.
❌ Expensive for what it is.
Vanmor Kids Cooking Set with Baking of 26 Pcs
Our pick
Vanmor Kids Cooking Set with Baking of 26 Pcs
Many children’s first exposure to cooking in the kitchen is by baking. What kid doesn’t like to make cookies, cakes, brownies, or bread? And then you eat the results. Having the right tools will make children feel more secure, not to mention that it’s fun to use one’s own tools. There are other kids’ cooking sets.
Pros:
✅ Good price.
✅ All the trays are removable, allowing for easy cleaning.
Cons:
❌ The knives are hard for children to use.
❌ The wood may break if not used properly.
MHJY Kids Apron Chef Hat Set, Aprons with Adjustable Neck Strap with 2 Pockets
Our pick
Not only does a pint-size apron cover your kid’s clothing from splashes and spills, but it also looks pretty friggin’ cool! We compared six aprons and noticed that Hedley & Bennett’s fun children’s aprons are the best, so they’re easy to put on, really well-sized for kids from a toddler to a tween. Our child testers have found the around-style apron easier to pull on and off compared to the cross-back apron we’ve tried.
The dense cotton-blend twill of Hedley & Bennett is a particularly effective buffer between the usual cooking splatter and the favorite suit, and the structure is sturdier than that of the other round-the-neck aprons we checked. We appreciate that these aprons are available in several colors and three sizes (2 to 8 years and 8 to 12 years of age), which is more than other brands offer. We tested the Tug Boat Jr. and Addy Jr. models in all three sizes, and they fit well. Although Hedley & Bennett aprons are more costly than other brands, we think the quality is worth it. They even make perfect presents.
Pros:
✅ High quality.
✅ Great apron for kids.
Cons:
❌ Pricey for an apron.
❌ The neck strap is too small.
Kalus Silicone Spatula Set, 4 Rubber Spatulas, and One Kitchen Tongs
Our pick
We tested three pint-size spatulas and discovered that the narrow, grippy silicone handle of the GIR Mini Spatula was the easiest for little hands to carry, allowing our kid testers to mix food coloring into royal icing with ease. It’s a mini version of the spatula that we recommend as the best spatula in our guide. When we asked our young testers why they liked the GIR spatula better, 21⁄2-year-old Andie said it’s the right size! We also tested the Interesting Chef Medium Spatula.
It was humiliating to see little hands grasping. The Mini Kitchen Silicone Spatulas were perfect for combining small bowls of royal icing. Still, we think their diminutive blades will be inadequate for larger activities, such as scraping a cup batter. A parent of one of our testers said she’d get the GIR so it could also act as a container spatula. Other parents said that they chose the GIR spatula because it had no grooves or crevices that would make it impossible to clean, unlike the competition.
Pros:
✅ Great for mixing.
✅ It’s easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
Cons:
❌ The handle is too small.
❌ The blades are not flexible enough.
Kitchen Silicone Whisk Balloon Wire Whisk Set of 3 Pack
Our pick
The GIR Mini Stainless Steel Whisk is the perfect size for children to hold in their tiny fists, and our users of all ages had a simple time using one to whisk food coloring through royal icing. We like that the handle is coated in silicone, which makes it less oily and more convenient to carry than stainless steel. The handle also has a friendly, faceted texture and is available in a wide variety of colors.
This is a well-built product that didn’t end up confined to the toy box. Grown-ups might want to borrow it for anything from vinaigrettes to scrambled eggs. It features 12 wires for effective whisking and comes with a highly durable warranty.
Pros:
✅ Great whisk for kids.
✅ The grip is good, and the whisk is very sturdy.
Cons:
❌ The color may fade.
❌ There are too many wires on the whisk.
OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop – Best Kids Cooking Set
Our pick
You can get kids excited about knife skills with these fruit-themed cutting boards, Johns says, and points out that, according to their non-slip surfaces, it’s convenient for kids to concentrate on knife protection (even though the knives don’t have blades exactly yet). Speaking about knives, Jessi uses the plastic knives of Curious Cook. They’re safe for kids, featuring a plastic rim that cuts most of the food. They’re still dishwasher-safe.
Pros:
✅ Safe for kids with a plastic rim
✅ The handles are comfortable.
Cons:
❌ The plastic is not too durable.
❌ The blade is too short for cutting something significant.
Westcott School: Left and Right Handed Kids
Our pick
When your kids get older, you should start cutting back on the blunt-tipped weapons in your kitchen and go for the grown-ups. I talked with Chef Tracy Wilk, a teacher at the Institute of Culinary Education, for a few tips. She specializes in cooking lessons for kids, and when kids come to her class, she uses a range of materials but finds that Kuhn Rikon’s paring knives are a perfect size for kids. I love the color, which makes it a special item for your young chef. Save me a pink one, please!
Chef Wilk, along with Jessi from Taste Buds, also appreciates the importance of successful execution. Working cleanly and organized will make you a better chef. Still, I always have students start by reviewing the recipe, collecting the necessary equipment, and preparing everything they need before they begin. She uses these small stoneware bowls to weigh herbs, nuts, salt, and other ingredients before starting the cooking process.
Wilk also notices that training children to work in a structured way is a fantastic life talent, not just a kitchen hack! I have a lot of Extreme Eats parents who will likely agree with that one.
Pros:
✅ The paring knife is very sharp and easy to handle.
✅ It can be folded easily.
Cons:
❌ As you use it, the blade will bend.
❌ The color dries off.
Handstand Kitchen 18-Piece Cookies for Baking Set
Our pick
We’ve recently had to check out some of these sets. holy moly, my kids are fascinated with them! They offer a variety of choices that we love, including Dinosaur Baking Sets and Unicorn Baking Sets, which are both enjoyable and useful. I like that the tools are child-sized, but they’re also built for actual use in the kitchen. I’m having the Mermaid Cake Package for the next birthday of my oldest kiddo! They still have holiday-themed sets and simple kids’ cooking sets.
Pros:
✅ Comes with several tools for kids.
✅ The silicone heads make it easier to hold teddy biscuits.
Cons:
❌ Not very durable.
❌ Some pieces are too small for older children.
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls Kids Cooking Set, 18pcs Kitchen Tools
Our pick
I love this giant collection of large pots, a colander, and measuring cups and spoons. It’s a perfect package to get you started and can last for years as your child expands and becomes more able to assist with more kitchen tasks. Ideal for ages two and older.
Pros:
✅ Lightweight.
✅ Very durable.
Cons:
❌ The lid is a little hard to lift off at first.
❌ This is not a good option for older.
Frequently Asked Questions:
🙋1– At what age can kids help with cooking?
📝! It is recommended that kids wait until they are at least 8 years old and in 2nd grade to help with cooking, but we know this isn’t always possible.
🙋2– What is the best material for children’s cooking sets?
📝! Chefs recommend Stainless Steel or BPA-free plastic materials because these resist wear and tear.
🙋3- What are the most important tools in a child’s cooking set?
📝! Pairing a knife, wooden spoons, plastic or silicone bowls, and rubber spatulas is beneficial in teaching kids how to cook.
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I bought Chefs Kitchen Playset, this set is good my child enjoyed and the material is good