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One of the most important things we can teach our kids is how to take care of themselves once they move out. And while we might focus a lot on things like getting good grades, participating in extra-curriculars, and keeping colleges and trade schools in mind, the truth is that taking care of oneself in the future starts with something way more basic: learning how to cook.
Believe it or not, it’s never too soon to start teaching your kids cooking and baking skills. Toddlers can “help” you mix things, preschoolers can start learning about the ingredients that are being used, kindergartners can help with tasks like shredding cheese, chopping soft foods with child-safe knives, and helping to mix and assemble different dishes. Once you’ve got tweens, they can really start cooking some simple snacks and small meals for themselves (imagine not having to be responsible for breakfast every morning!), until they feel comfortable helping out with making dinner for the family once or twice a week. Hey, a parent can dream, right?
There are plenty of tools that can help make it easier, and safer, for tweens and teens to cook on their own. From cooking appliances that are safer to use than the stove top to tools and gadgets that help make smoothie and coffee shop favorites at home, these kitchen goods will give your tweens and teens a leg up when it comes to learning how to prepare their own food. Unlike some people, who wind up spending all of their money on take-out when they first live on their own, your kids will be able to prepare nutritious, budget-friendly meals. Start encouraging their culinary independence now, and they’ll thank you for it later…maybe even with an elaborate homemade meal!
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DASH Mini Waffle Maker
Image Credit: DASH. Getting kids to eat breakfast can be a hassle for two reasons: either they claim they’re “not hungry,” or they want you to make something that you simply don’t have time for. The solution? Get them their own mini waffle maker. They’ll be excited to make custom waffles in the morning, and you’ll be given back some time to get your life together before the day starts while they cook. Pair with a boxed waffle or pancake mix, and fresh waffles are just a couple of minutes away.
DASH Mini Waffle Maker$12.99
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OXO Good Grips Vegetable Chopper
Image Credit: OXO. It can be nerve-racking to watch your kid wield a sharp knife, and older kids might even try chopping when they’re home alone if they need to make their own snack or meal. Keep their fingers safe by getting them an OXO Good Grips Vegetable Chopper. Just add veggie chunks to the bottom container, push down on the top, and the produce gets chopped, no clumsily large chefs knife needed.
OXO Good Grips Vegetable Chopper$22.94
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Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender
Image Credit: Ninja. Ordering smoothies all the time can get expensive fast, but what if your tween or teen can’t get enough? Invest in a personal blender they can use to make their own smoothies and frozen blended coffee drinks at home. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it pays for itself.
Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender$59.99
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Hamilton Beach Electric Sealed Sandwich Maker Grill
Image Credit: Hamilton Beach. If you have kids who want to be able to make their own grilled cheese sandwiches, but who you don’t want using the actual stove when you’re not right there, an electric sandwich maker is a great option. Our only caution? If you have teens, expect them to come up with some bizarre sandwich ingredient combinations when left to their own devices.
Hamilton Beach Electric Sealed Sandwich Maker Grill$21.99
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The Original Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker
Image Credit: Fasta Pasta. Kids and open pots of boiling water on the stove top just don’t mix. But it’s still easy for them to make pasta with a microwave pasta cooker. Spaghetti and a jar of marinara mean dinner is served, all without that precarious pot of boiling water.
The Original Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker$17.95
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Rapid Ramen Cooker
Image Credit: Rapid Brands. You may remember the Rapid Ramen Cooker, which cooks ramen noodles in just a couple of minutes in the microwave, from Shark Tank. It saves your kids (and yourself) the hassle of waiting for water to boil on the stove.
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Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker
Image Credit: Crock-Pot. If you have a teen who wants to cook dinner and expand their skills in the kitchen, a slow cooker is a great tool. Easy weeknight meals are something you’ll want to make sure they can tackle for themselves when they someday live alone, and the simple dial control on this Crock-Pot slow cooker will make it easy for them to get the hang of things.
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker$34.99
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DASH Tasti-Crisp™ Electric Air Fryer Oven
Image Credit: DASH. Even us grown-ups get confused by some of the more elaborate air fryers out there, with multiple buttons and digital displays that we can’t quite figure out. Make it easy for your tweens and teens to heat up their favorite snacks with this analog DASH air fryer, which has two simple controls: one dial to set the cooking temperature, another to set the cook time.
DASH Tasti-Crisp™ Electric Air Fryer Oven$44.99
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Tovla Jr. Knives for Kids
Image Credit: Tovla. If you’re helping a younger kid learn some basic kitchen skills, I have to recommend these plastic training knives for kids. My almost five-year-old uses them to help me chop fruit and veggies, and even though he’s definitely not super cautious while using these knives, he’s never gotten cut or injured while using them. It’s been the best way to get him interested in joining me in preparing our food.
Tovla Jr. Knives for Kids$9.95
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GORILLA GRIP No-Slip Cutting Boards
Image Credit: GORILLA GRIP. Nothing’s scarier than watching your kid try to chop something, only to see the cutting board start to skid across the countertop. That’s why a set of no-slip cutting boards is a must for tweens and teens learning to cook. A stable surface is a must for safe slicing and chopping.
GORILLA GRIP No-Slip Cutting Boards$23.99
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Bloom Nutrition Milk Frother
Image Credit: Bloom. From homemade lattes so they can save their allowance to quick protein shakes in the morning before school, this milk frother can help your teens prepare their own fancy drinks, leaving you free to sip coffee in peace (though you might have to clean milk froth splatters off the wall later).
Bloom Nutrition Milk Frother$9.99
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Foldable Aluminum Oil Splatter Guard Plates
Image Credit: Cheer Collection. If you’re worried about your kids making a mess when they’re learning how to cook, these splatter guards are invaluable. Set them up ahead of time, and you can catch the splatters of sauce or oil before they land on the stovetop and try to take up permanent residence.
Foldable Aluminum Oil Splatter Guard Plates$11.99
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DASH 16 Cup Electric Popcorn Maker
Image Credit: DASH. Popcorn is one of those foods that you can save big on if you make it at home. Teach your tweens and teens how to use this simple electric popcorn maker, and they can have their favorite snack in minutes for pennies on the dollar, all while using less oil than the stove-top method.
DASH 16 Cup Electric Popcorn Maker$21.99
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DASH 3-in-1 Everyday 7-Egg Cooker
Image Credit: DASH. Eggs are one of the easiest things for kids to learn how to make for themselves, and they’re even easier to prepare with this Dash egg cooker. It makes hard-boiled eggs in less time than it takes on the stove-top, and can also be used to make poached eggs and omelets.
Dash 3-in-1 Everyday 7-Egg Cooker$16.99
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Figmint Citrus Press
Image Credit: Figmint. Squeezing citrus is fun with one of these presses. Your kids can make lemonade and orange juice from scratch to gain an appreciation for how some of their favorite drinks are made, or start adding a squirt of lemon juice to their meals to help develop a more sophisticated palate.
Figmint Citrus Press$10.00
