*TruChef KIDS Knife Set
Very small chef’s knife, paring knife, peeler, scissors and holder. Makes a great gift!
Kid-Friendly Kitchen Tools and Knives
Katie Kimball here – my 4 kids and I created the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse to help bring real food and independence to families all over. 59,827 families have joined us so far,ย and we’d love to invite you along for the adventure!
In our course and in our home, we use a variety of kid-sized and kid-friendly knives and kitchen tools. We’ve tested and sorted through many, and have curated a list of our favorites for you.
Knives and Accessories | General Items | Kitchen Tools | Cookware | Bakeware | Small Appliances | Recipe Ingredients | Books
I also have a short list of just my top 10 favorite kitchen tools for kids.
*TruChef KIDS Knife Set
Very small chef’s knife, paring knife, peeler, scissors and holder. Makes a great gift!
*Opinel le Petit Chef Knife and Guard
3-piece set available from Opinel or Food52
Really interesting format to help kids hold knives correctly and safely.
*6-Inch Gourmet Chef’s Knife
Our favorite! Wusthof has a 5-inch too.
*Victorinox Fibrox 5-inch Mini Chef’s Knife
Great for little hands.
*Victorinox Classic 4-Inch Paring Knife
This knife is a good fit for childrenโs hands, sharp and sturdy enough to make an impact, and Americaโs Test Kitchen #1 economical pick (after Wusthof brand).
*Kai Little Chef
Only 12.5 cm long, real stainless steel, a real winner for little hands!!
All six knives pictured above are demonstrated in this video.
Small Crinkle Cutter
Here’s the same one at For Small Hands, or a larger one for big kids.
Knife Sharpener
Budget-friendly and our personal favorite! We also have this one. American’s Test Kitchen recommends this one.
OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler
(or buy direct from OXO)
This small Kuhn Rikon peeler matches the little one in the eCourse video lessons.
Non-Slip Cutting Board
Or this one, if the other is out of stock, or this 3-pack.
Cheese Grater
This is the style we use in the Thematic SkillLab video lessons.
Lettuce Knife
This knife tears the lettuce so that it canย last almost an entire week in the fridge.
I don’t advocate wearing cut-resistant safety gloves because they seem cumbersome, BUT if they’ll help you allow your child to use a real metal knife, this one and this one are child-sized.
Silicone Tongs
This tool is the easiest we’ve found for turning veggies while sautรฉing and not burning fingers, and the ring lock is awesome!! (Here’s another option)
OXO Stainless Steel Whisk
Or purchase direct from OXO here. For a budget-friendly option, here’s a 2-pack of silicone whisks.
Square-End Spatula
Youโll see a similar metal spatula on cast iron in the eCourse videos, and I LOVE using it! Necessary for cast iron and eggs IMO. Here’s a similar one, but longer.
OXO Silicone Turner
Great for using with non-stick pans. Buy directly from OXO.
Spring Chef Measuring Spoons
When you have to “pour” from a spice jar into a spoon, even adults sometimes make a mess. With little ones’ small motor skills still developing, a little “shake-a-shake-a” can turn into a big dump. I love that these spoons will go right into the spice jar!
Meat Chopper and Mixer
This tool is a game changer for browning ground beef – find here on Amazon or compare with a similar idea from a different brand (members tell me you can also get a similar shape at Walmart)
OXO 5-Quart Stainless Steel Colander
For draining beans and pasta, and washing produce.
If you have very young children, instead of having them stand on a chair to help in the kitchen, consider getting a “learning tower” or “toddler tower” to make it safer for them to be up at counter height. If you have a handyman around, you can also DIY one as a family heirloom.
Toddler Tower from Sprout Kids
Use the code kidscookrealfood for 10% off the Toddler Tower from Sprout Kids!
Learning Towers on Amazon
These are great kitchen aids that will grow with your child, and most are quickly and easily adjusted for multiple children in one day.
Mini-Tongs for Fine Motor Skills
For small children to move cut items to a plate or to serve โ good for finger dexterity and pencil grasp!
More Mini-Tongs:
Mini tongs are for small children (Beginner Level) to move cut items to a plate or to serve – good for finger dexterity and pencil grasp!
Single Hand Cook
This accessory is mostly to adapt knife skills for people with disabilities, but also some other unique uses to that could help people with limited abilities.
Slice N Fun Pro
The Slice N Fun is made to safely hold food so you can chop and prep easily and safely and can even be used with one hand. This makes it ideal for seniors, anyone with arthritis or any hand injury, and those with other special needs.ย
Pastry Scraper
This cool idea came from a member family with a chef dad – it’s a super safe way to let kids get involved with cutting!
Here’s our review and demo of the Slice N Fun!
Lodge 20″ x 16″ Cast Iron Grill/Griddle
This griddle my ultimate favorite kitchen item, this thing never leaves my stove – you’ll see it in the eCourse being used for pancakes and tortillas.
Lodge 12″ Cast Iron Skillet
I think every kitchen should be equipped with a good cast iron skillet. Twelve inches is a nice size.
Cuisinart 5 1/2 Qt. Stainless Steel Pot
This pot is nice because it’s fairly lightweight for kids but it is a little thinner and will scorch more easily than a very heavy-bottomed pot.
Caraway Fry Pan
This pan is non-stick and non-toxic, and can even make scrambled eggs without them sticking! Here’s my video review. I’m delighted to have found a non-stick pan that’s also non-toxic, and it *actually* is easy to clean! Make sure to use a silicone spatula with this pan so you don’t scratch the surface!
Williams Sonoma Spoonula
orย something similar from Amazon. This (or some other silicone spatula) is necessary when cooking with the Caraway Fry Pan so you don’t scratch the non-stick, non-toxic coating. Trust me, it’s worth taking care of that great pan, so get the right kind of spatula so you don’t damage the surface!
Rachael Ray Pots & Pans Set
It’s this set with colorful silicone handles pretty?! I love Rachael Ray and the silicone handles on these pots and pans are the best of both worlds – easy to grab but also oven-safe!
French Rolling Pin
The French rolling pin is the fav in our house for rolling dough, but something like this rolling pin with adjustable guides is also great for kids.
12 Cup Muffin Pan
One or two muffins pans are a must for people who love to bake! Here is a silicone muffin pan we love as well.
If You Care Muffin Liners
These are THE BEST as releasing muffins without taking a layer of muffin with them. Available in mini, large, and jumbo. “Large” is the standard sized muffin.
To protect small hands from getting burnt, I prefer an Ove’ Gloveย (or any other easy-grip, heat resistant glove) over a regular pot holder.
Instant Pot 6-qt
We use this model in our Thematic SkillLab and it does great for a family of 4-6 people. Newer ones are out with a few more features and “Smart” technology, if you dig that kind of thing.
Stick Blender
Amazing for making blended soups safely in the pot, guacamole, and homemade mayo.
Spiralizer
We love making “zoodles” and more at our house! I’ve tried a few. This is similar to the LifeStyle Dynamics one we have loved (but looks to be discontinued now)ย and this is a super low-priced cute little thing.
More Appliances:
Tripp Trapp Adjustable Height Chair
Why are adjustable height chairs important for kids?
Keekaroo Height Right Adjustable Chair
Adjustable height chairs can help children eat healthier!
When we talk about kids eating well, striking that 90/90/90 posture with an adjustable chair can make a huge impact but somewhat difficult for a child in an adult chair. Not sure what 90/90/90 posture is? Learn that and more about why chair height is so important in my interview with Dr. Kay Toomey.
Need a kid-sized apron? How about this one from Amazon, or theseย Custom Aprons from Zazzle are the ones worn in the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse – I just had them put ‘Kids Cook Real Food’ on them instead of a name, so you could do that too if your kids want aprons that look like the ones in the videos.
Curious Cookie Placemat
An adorable placemat to encourage children to explore new foods.
My oldest son is one of the co-authors of this book — all written by kids ages 12-15!
Our community raves about it and loves cooking these healthy, real food recipes.
Super allergy-friendly, gorgeous photos, and multiple skill levels so there’s something for everyone inside.
Your kids will loveย recipes for homemade pizza, pesto pasta, mac and cheese, and burgers, along with Texas Style Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Chicken Salad, Pizza Cauliflower Soup, Pineapple Lemon Ice Pops, and even some healthy-ish desserts.
It’s our family’s most-used cookbook by far, and I know your family will be blessed by it as well!
Learn more about the authors and grab fabulous digital bonuses with the book right here: https://kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr
New Favorites for New Cooks
This cookbook is written by a chef who is the founder of Charlie Carts, an amazing real food cooking program for kids. I love that there are 50 recipes, all real food, and every one we have tried has been incredibly delicious!!
Anise Loves GREEN Food
A kid’s picture book about a little boy who loves to draw and his sister who loves to cook, so perfect for Kids Cook Real Food! Leah has made almost every recipe in the book, we love it so much!
The International Cookbook for Kids
Stepping up to some harder recipes for ages 8+, and all made from scratch. It gets incredible reviews on Amazon and looks like a great resource for kids to not only cook, but learn something about other cultures at the same time. Our homeschoolers love connecting cooking with geography and social studies!
Savor a global culinary adventure with recipes from Americaโs Test Kitchen Kids and activities from Little Passports!
Explore cooking traditions, cultures, and new flavors from around the world and get a kid-friendly kitchen tool every month!
Fix it and Forget it: Cooking with Kids
This was a recommendation from a reader: a slow cooker cookbook that is probably not 100% real food but looks like it has some good options.
Simple Green Meals
This has been helping us get more vegetables in our diet, and these recipes are so unique and flavorful, plus gorgeous photos make us want to eat every one!
100 Days of Real Food on a Budget
This one is a favorite, especially because Lisa’s girls have recipes in the book! She’s a big proponent of kids cooking and yours will be inspired by these photos and simple recipes (and you’ll be happy to save a few bucks per meal!).
The Wellness Mama Cookbook
As a mom of 6, my friend Katie (the author) includes a ton of kid-friendly recipes, all real food stuff, and plenty of things I know that her own kids make. We’ve been cooking from it regularly and have yet to find a recipe we didn’t love!
Real Food Nutrition & Health Curriculumย
A textbook that isย written at a high school level that teaches nutrition and health based on WAPF (Weston A Price) principles.
Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cookingย
For the more advanced students.ย When you know a culinary ratio, itโs not like knowing a single recipe, itโs instantly knowing a thousand.
The Holistic Rx: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease – in children!
Dr. Madiha Saeed spent years compiling this incredible resource using FOOD (and lifestyle) to truly heal over 70 diseases that haunt children and families. I’ve met Dr. Saeed, and she is one of the most genuine, helpful, and positive people you can imagine. I highly recommend her book.
Mark Bittman Recipes Free for Kindle Fire Tablet/ Phone HDX HD
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