Cooking With Kids -

At what age can you begin cooking with kids? Does your little toddler want to help you in the kitchen?

We compiled some safety tips, cooking tools for kids, kid cookbooks, and some free recipes to download. Cooking and baking teach lots of skills, including STEM and invaluable life skills.

When looking in the fridge or pantry, have you ever found yourself reciting, “Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard…when she came there, the cupboard was bare…” Looking in the fridge, you spot a wizened old carrot, a lonely piece of cheese, and a half-empty jar of pickles. Always pickles. You go to your cupboards, and when you open them, you think you heard an echo. What am I going to cook for dinner?

We learned through experience that when you learn the skill of cooking, you can turn a few seemingly pathetic unrelated items into a delicious meal. But only if you know what to do with them.

Confidence Building

Our mom is an amazing cook. She can make anything taste good – kitchen sink dinners with our meager supplies were always delicious.

How did we learn? Trial and error. She would give us some basic safety instructions and a recipe. If we had questions, she would help but left us to figure things out. Boy, did we learn fast what NOT to do. In all fairness, she still ate (with a straight face) and praised all our efforts, even when they looked as appetizing as a mud pie.

By our late teens, we were making souffles and hosting dinner parties. But only because we learned to have confidence in the kitchen when we started out very young.

Learning to cook is not just about food.

If you are interested in why cooking is beneficial and what skills are developed, see the article Why Cook with Kids?

Even if you prefer take-out and the idea of cooking isn’t thrilling for you, try and see it as an opportunity to spend time with your kids. And you’ll be helping them develop a vital life skill and one that can have a dramatic impact on their health. Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn to love it too.

Safety and Age in the Kitchen

This will vary a lot depending on your child. We were in the kitchen pretty young, given simple tasks depending on ability. Simple things like washing or tearing up lettuce, stirring cookie batter, or putting ingredients in a bowl…to more complicated things like peeling and cutting vegetables, separating egg yolks, measuring ingredients, or frying an egg.

They are never too young to learn “Tools, Not Toys.” When did you learn that the stove was hot? Knives were sharp?

Toddlers may not have the best patience in the kitchen, but picky eaters may be more likely to try new foods when they help cook. Also, it’s one little step at a time. Start small, prepare for short attention spans, but persevere. With older kids, challenging them to accomplish recipes on their own may surprise you – and themselves – with the results.

In the ” Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook” and “Little Helpers Toddler Baking Cookbook” there is a section on safety that is very helpful.

There’s advice for the best ways to bake with a toddler, including how to set up a workspace, explain kitchen safety, and create a backup plan in case things get a little too messy. Every recipe includes “adult steps” and “toddler steps” to help you know where your toddler can be independent and when you can help.

Tools for Pretend Play

You could start cooking up some interest by buying little cooking stations for when they are young.

Step2 Fun with Friends Kitchen

It comes in tan, pink, or brown/blue
Over 16,000 5 Star reviews
Pretend stovetop burner with electronic lights and sounds, activated with the frying pan and boiling pot that are included (requires 2 “AA” batteries, not included).
Pretend, single-serve coffee maker station and travel mug
Includes a stovetop, oven with a clickable knob, microwave, and refrigerator
Molded sink and swivel faucet.
Hanging storage for culinary equipment and dish rack to keep dishes neat
Reasonably priced

KidKraft Wooden Play Kitchen

This one is a bit pricier but fits in a corner
It has a removable sink for easier cleanup
Burners have realistic lights and sound
Shelving and hanging pegs for pots, pans, and accessories
Oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and washer doors all open and close
Cordless phone with hands-free clip
Sturdy wood construction
Packaged with detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions

Kid tools for the real kitchen

Kids like to DO and tend to be more interested when they have their own tools. Safety in the kitchen is a concern for sure! Depending on age and ability, there are many options. Here are some ideas.

Wooden Kids Knife

Eco-friendly, natural wood without harmful chemicals, colors, or plastics (made from Beech wood from Germany)
Ergonomic and does not cut skin
Can cut various vegetables and fruits
One parent mentioned their 19-month son loves using it to cut sausage patties

Tovla Jr. Kids Cooking and Baking Gift Set with Storage Case

Made from safe, non-toxic, food-grade materials
Modern colors most kids will like
It comes with four parent-approved, delicious recipes
Includes: a portable, reusable toolbox for storage, four recipe cards for kids, an apron, measuring cups & measuring spoons, a kitchen timer, a pair of tongs, a rolling pin, three nylon knives, a spoon, a spatula, whisk, three cookie cutters, and a cutting board.

MasterChef Junior Cooking Essentials Set – 9 Pc

Officially licensed MasterChef Junior Cooking Essentials Set: comes with an apron, cutting board, mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoon, spatula, spoon, and tongs
The Set also features three unique recipe cards for all levels of experience, plus one blank recipe card to write your own recipe
Includes real cooking tools with kid-safe, non-slip silicone grips

MasterChef Junior Baking Kitchen Set – 7 Pc: mixing bowl, liquid measuring cup, a rolling pin, spatula, four silicone baking cups, and four dusting guards

MasterChef Junior Knife and Cutting Board Set

Includes an 11″ knife, a 9″ knife, an 8 1/2″ x 12″ silicone cutting board, and 15 recipe cards.
MasterChef Junior’s knives are made of a kid-safe serrated plastic blade with non-slip silicone grips.

Toddler Step Stool

18 months and older
Solid wood, non-toxic coating
Anti-slip strips (included and attachable)
Assembly needed
6-month return policy
18″L x 18.1″W x 34.8″H

Easy Bake Oven

Did you want one of these? My friend had one, and we loved playing with it. They are a really great invention.

Learning to bake from a mix is pretty easy and teaches basic skills like mixing, adding eggs, proper cooking times, etc. Hopefully, it may spark interest in more. Plus, it’s reasonably safe for kids to do it on their own with some supervision.

Bakes actual cakes and brownies, pretzels and pizza
Electric, no light bulbs needed
Includes oven, baking pan, pan tool, chocolate brownie mix, vanilla frosting mix, rainbow crystals, and instructions (Mixes contain WHEAT, MILK, EGGS, SOY, and trace amounts of PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, and SULPHITES)
There are various refill packs available such as this 6-pack of variety items
And even an easy-bake cookbook

How to Recipe Books for Kids

Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook (1-4 years)

Easy instructions, color-coded that highlight child-friendly steps
Healthy, wholesome ingredients, many incorporate natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup
Safety guide for introducing safely to tools and even gives a list of kid-friendly kitchen tools

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs

With more than 14,000 5 STAR reviews… That says something, right?
100+ recipes
From Americas Test Kitchen (we love their recipes)
Kid-tested and approved recipes, thoroughly tested by more than 750 kids
Includes recipes for breakfast, snacks and beverages, dinners, desserts, and more.
Step-by-step photos of tips and techniques
Testimonials, and even product reviews, from kid cooks

Food Network Magazine The Big, Fun Kids Cookbook

Includes 150+ recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts
Developed by the chefs from Food Network’s test kitchen
Safety in the kitchen is highlighted
Cooking tips and color photos for every recipe
Choose-your-own-adventure recipes (like design-your-own Stuffed French Toast)
Fun food games and quizzes (like “What’s Your Hot Dog IQ?”)
Bonus coloring book pages

Disney: The Simple Family Cookbook

Or Disney Princess Cookbook

If you need a way to lure your kids into the kitchen… maybe some Disney characters will help!
100 simple recipes inspired by Disney characters (spaghetti with Lady and the Tramp, sweet snowballs with Olaf and Elsa, and Hawaiian pizza with Lilo and Stitch)
Each recipe uses only 2-5 ingredients
Simple instructions

Baking Recipe Books

Baking (as many of us have experienced through repeated failures) requires more attention to detail, more accuracy of measurement, and specific chemical reactions. But it can be so much fun (especially personalizing the decorations!)

The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs

Nearly 6,000 Five Star reviews
Tested by more than 5,000 kids
Includes recipes for breakfast, bread, pizzas, cookies, cupcakes, pretzels, empanadas, pies, brownies, and cakes.
Step-by-step photos of tips and techniques
Testimonials (and even some product reviews!) from kid test cooks

MasterChef Junior Bakes!: Bold Recipes and Essential Techniques to Inspire Young Bakers

100+ recipes
Detailed step-by-step photos, in-depth MasterChef Lessons
Practical hints about must-have ingredients, neat kitchen gear, and the science of baking
Learn important basic baking skills like how to cream butter, shallow fry, whip, and knead bread