The Best Pretend Food for Aspiring Chefs

Light up burner on IKEA Duktig play kitchen stove

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Practice Food Prep for Preschoolers

Light up burner on IKEA Duktig play kitchen stove
  • What: Pretend food toys
  • When: 12 months to 6 years
  • Why: Fun, affordable, build real life skills
  • Where: At home

Got a kid who loves being in their play kitchen? Want to encourage your child to experiment with food they don’t have to eat? Whether you want to up their cooking game or expose them to a variety of foods without worrying about things going to waste, these pretend food toys provide lots of realistic opportunities to practice skills that will last a lifetime.

Melissa and doug felt pieces from sandwich set

Felt Food Sandwich Set: Let kids go wild with sandwich fixings thanks to this felt set. The soft material sticks without the need for hook and loop or other materials, meaning kids can assemble their food any way they see fit. It includes both white and wheat loaf bread, rolls, and even a stuffable pita pocket. Create endless options with the variety of vegetables and multiple sources of protein. It even comes with condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and mayo splotches as well as peanut butter and jelly. The soft pieces make minimal noise, and hold up to multiple play sessions extremely well. 

Wooden Fruit Slicing: Give kids an opportunity to wield a knife with none of the risk thanks to this wooden fruit set. Each piece of fruit sticks together with hook and loop fasteners. Kids can practice holding the wooden knife and slicing through the fruit. They can also work on matching skills to pair the different pieces of fruit together after cutting. The sturdy wooden pieces with bright colors appeal to kids and get them working on food preparation action at an early age.

Melissa and Doug slice and bake wooden cookie set knife over mitt canister

Cookie Set: If your child prefers treats to fruits, this cookie set will fulfill their baking needs. Twelve cookies come in a roll of dough, ready to be sliced and baked. Cut the dough with the included wooden knife, and attach each cookie to the baking sheet. Choose to decorate each one with chocolate or vanilla frosting with sprinkles, then cook and enjoy over and over again.

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