Having kids in the kitchen doesn’t need to be an Olympic sport—for you or your kids. Some children might thrive on complicated kitchen maneuvers, but for most kids, stirring, chopping and other basic cooking tasks—including tasting—can be rewarding enough. Over time, these simple skills can go a long way, exposing kids to new foods and even allowing them to contribute meaningfully to meal-prep duties (I’m looking at you, parents of tweens).
So, what tools do kids actually need in the kitchen? After putting in nearly a year of research and testing with kids of all ages—and dealing with lots of cooking messes and exhausted parents—we created a list of tools that can be both workhorses and a delight to use for kids and parents alike.
For the most part, we chose tools that aren’t specifically designed for kids. Don’t get us wrong, we tested plenty of those too, but they often seemed more like toys than useful implements (and while play in cooking is essential, toys in the kitchen are not). Instead we looked at kitchen tools with built-in safety measures such as nonslip grips or ergonomic handles created for smaller hands. We believe that tools like these can empower kids of all ages to cook, whether it’s a special activity or part of their regular routine.
As for what to cook, it can be as simple as mashed avocado (aka “guacamole” to my kids) or, in the case of some teens I know, following a more complicated recipe in Snoop Dogg’s latest cookbook. If you need more inspiration, our colleagues at New York Times Cooking have put together a list of kid-friendly recipes.
