Top 5 Tools for Kids in the Kitchen
Kids have their own unique needs when cooking and it is important to keep those needs in mind when preparing food. While kids can use most of the tools that you would usually use when cooking a meal, some kitchen tools are more easily suited to kids cooking than others. These 5 basic tools should be available in any kitchen where kids will be cooking and helping to prepare food.
1. A Basic Wooden Spoon
A basic wooden spoon is a very kid friendly kitchen tool and can be used for a huge variety of tasks. Because wooden spoons will not damage Teflon on pots and pans they can be used to stir nearly any ingredients without fear of damaging the coating. A good wooden spoon has a long enough handle that it will not fall into a bowl or a pot if a child accidentally lets go of it for a minute. The long handle helps to prop the spoon up on the side of a bowl or a pot and will not heat up like a metal spoon or melt like plastic.
2. A Butter Knife
A butter knife can do most of the cutting jobs that young kids will be doing in the kitchen. Older kids can practice with sharper knives as they master basic knife skills and under close adult supervision. Knives for kids are available in most kitchen supply stores and while it is fun for kids to have their own special knife, a butter knife can be just as effective.
3. An Egg Slicer
An egg slicer can do many more tasks than the one that it was designed for and it is very simple for kids to use. Not only can kids help to slice hard boiled eggs to be used in salads or sandwiches, but most soft fruits and vegetables can be sliced in the egg slicer as well. Ripe strawberries can be sliced very nicely using the egg slicer and it is much easier than having kids try and slice the slippery fruit by hand. Bananas can be broken in to smaller pieces and easily sliced into the perfect size for fruit salads or banana pancakes. Olives can be purchased whole and sliced by the handful for garnishing pasta dishes or homemade pizza.
An egg slicer uses thin wires to cut so there is no risk that kids will cut themselves while using it. This makes it a very versatile kitchen tool for kids that they can use with minimal supervision.
4. Kitchen Scissors
Kitchen scissors can be used to perform many of the basic cutting tasks that would usually require a sharp knife. Meat can be trimmed safely using a pair of kitchen scissors. Kids can also use scissors to cut dough, herbs, fruits, and soft vegetables.
Look for a pair of kitchen scissors that is small enough to fit your child’s hand comfortably. Many kitchen scissors are dishwasher safe, making clean up easy.
5. Easy to Read Measuring Tools
Measuring is one of the most important skills that young cooks can learn. It is important to provide the tools that they need to make the process easier. Tools to measure dry ingredients should have the measurements clearly marked in an easy to see location. Measuring cups often have the measurements marked on the handle or on the bottom of the cup. Measuring spoons should be clearly labeled and have large handles that are easy for kids to hold. Liquid measuring cups should be clear plastic or glass so kids can easily see how high the liquid goes. The measurements should be clearly written in a way that they are not obscured by the ingredients. Measuring cups that can be read from the outside and have a slanted interior that allows them to be read from the top are a good choice for kids.
Kids need a large workspace while they are practicing basic cooking skills. A small cutting board can be frustrating to kids because it gives them a limited space to work. A large cutting board allows kids to spread out and practice basic skills without having food items get in the way.
Plastic cutting boards are best because they do not dull knives like glass or ceramic cutting boards do. Wooden cutting boards should often not be washed in the dishwasher and can be a source of bacteria if they are used to cut raw meat.
