Best Play Kitchens 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Oct 18, 2024

A play kitchen is a treasured toy that lets kids spend hours pretending to cook and create. But the best play kitchens hit that sweet spot of durability and reusability, allowing kids to find new ways to interact with the pretend cooking space. From around the age of 1 or 2, these toys are a magnet for children eager to mimic what they see adults around them doing.

We found the best play kitchens to engage and delight little chefs.

“Your child’s play kitchen does not need to be elaborate to be effective,” says Dr. Traci Williams, a board certified psychologist with a speciality in child psychology and infant and toddler development. “What might look like simply preparing a pretend meal is actually developmentally complex,” she says. This form of play is especially helpful for developing early executive functioning skills, but it can also fuel early math and science knowledge, Williams says.

To bring you the best play kitchens, we relied on our own hands-on experience, along with input from fellow parents and developmental experts to help find the right options for your family. Here are the 10 best play kitchens, based on our in-depth research.

Pottery Barn Kids

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Pottery Barn Kids’ selection of play kitchens is robust to say the least, so you can most likely find one that matches your own dream kitchen. That was initially what drew us to this one. But, aside from the fact that the Chelsea All-In-One play kitchen comes in six colors and is quite chic, it’s also a really wonderful opportunity for open-ended play. The cabinets and knobs function like the ones in your real kitchen (although there’s no water on tap or heat from the oven, of course). The oven, fridge and sink are spacious enough for plenty of play food, pots and pans.

What our writers say: “The set’s functions allow my son to explore safely and use his imagination while I get a free moment to cook our actual food,” say co-author Lex Goodman. “Its durable materials have withstood a lot of mess and, um, energetic faux chopping.” She notes that it wasn’t too difficult to put together (it took maybe an hour). While it’s pricier than other options, she has found it to be worth it.

Amazon

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This pretty but compact kitchen has everything kids need for a full day of cooking. It includes a mini microwave, sink, oven and stove, as well as adorable details, such as a chalkboard for menus and open shelving. We love that this kitchen comes with a few accessories, too, so you don’t have to blow your budget by purchasing additional cookware. Kids can enjoy playing chef with the frying pan, pot, utensils, oven mitt and more. It’s currently available in three colors—pink, blue and white.

What the parents say: “Our 1-year-old loves this kitchen,” writes one reviewer. “Easy to put together and well made. It is narrow and tall so possibly easy to pull over if your child is really into pulling up on things, we bolted it to the wall so we didn't have to worry about that. We like the small size for our living space.”

Amazon

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Hape combines simplicity, good design and great prices to create toys that captivate little imaginations. This petite play kitchen includes everything from a sink and stove to a spice shelf and cabinet. Kids are delighted by the turnable, clicking knobs and the oven with a window. These features, along with the red burners, allow for lots of imaginative play and opportunity for parental involvement.

“You can help their language development by describing what they’re doing and by asking questions,” says Dr. Williams. “Let them take the lead and assign you a role; this can help your child understand regulation and can encourage leadership.” It is smaller than our Pottery Barn pick, and at this price, you could add on the Hape toy refrigerator or an extra set of play food or pots and pans.

Maisonette

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Milton & Goose has a reputation for creating well-made and beautiful pieces that are pleasing to parental eyes and enjoyable for kids. Its play kitchen is no different. This kitchen is crafted in the U.S. from sustainable birch and maple wood and uses non-toxic materials, including water-based, low-VOC finishes. Like other models in this arena, it has four burners, a pull-down oven door, a cabinet under the sink and turning knobs. It includes a cutting board to safely practice fine motor skills. It’s smaller than the Pottery Barn kitchen but a bit bigger than Hape’s.

While there aren’t as many bobs and bits with this option (a play refrigerator is sold separately), that’s not a downside according to Dr. Williams: “Keeping the kitchen set simple [helps] to avoid sensory overload, which can prevent your child’s ability to learn and enjoy their set.” As far as price is considered, the only real difference between this and less expensive options is the aesthetic.

What the parents say: Parents often comment on the high-end nature of this kitchen set. “I love this kitchen and so do my kiddos. The quality is top notch and it looks beautiful in my home,” says one reviewer. “I love the simplicity and overall look.” Another called the kitchen set “heirloom quality,” adding that it “can be passed down through generations.”

Maisonette

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This realistic-looking kitchen isn’t just adorable—it also has a handful of accessories that really make it feel like the grown-up version. In addition to a sink and set of burners that look like stainless steel, this kitchen has open shelving, two drawers, an oven with a working door and knobs, as well as a cabinet under the sink and a microwave. On top of the necessities, it includes a handful of accessories like a cordless phone, cutting board, pots, pans, lids and a spatula—most of which typically need to be bought separately with other play kitchens.

It’s most similar in size to the Pottery Barn play kitchen featured in this list. With all the add-ons and a high level of quality, this Teamson Kids play kitchen is a great buy at this price.

Crate&Barrel

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Take one look at this colorful Janod kitchen and it’s easy to tell it’s fun. But what isn’t discernible at first glance is that it’s double-sided. While this makes it a great option for smaller spaces that require multi-function toys and playthings, this also makes it an ideal purchase for families with multiple children—twins or otherwise. On one side, it’s a kitchen and on the other it’s a pantry and laundry room. A major perk is that it comes preassembled (not the case for most other play kitchens), and the Janod play kitchen includes a plethora of accessories like an oven mitt and cooking tools. There are clicking and rotating buttons, lights and sound effects to add to its appeal.

What the parents say: One reviewer writes this: “I bought this kitchen/laundry set for my now 3- and 4.5-[year-olds] nearly two years ago and it’s going strong. My boys love this kitchen and laundry set and they often turn it themselves, taking turns who’s doing laundry and who’s cooking. The quality is great and it shows minimal wear surprisingly after so long. We get lots of compliments on it from parents who come by for play dates with their little ones.”

Bloomingdale's

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At 20 x 23 inches, this Tender Leaf set is one of the most compact options out of this collection of adorable play kitchens, making it great for toddlers. The Mini Chef Home Kitchen comes with the standard oven, sink and cupboards but it also has a few additions that others don’t have, like a kettle, cups and saucers, an oven tray and utensils. As if that wasn’t sweet enough, it even has some less common add-ons: a gingham tea towel, soap and a baguette they can practice slicing (hello, fine motor skill practice). If your toddler is under 3, however, please be aware that some of the small parts aren’t suitable and can present a choking hazard. For younger ones, these items should be rotated in when your child reaches the appropriate age.

What the parents say: While the Tender Leaf kitchen is petite, many parents say that hasn’t been an issue. “My toddler is in love with this little kitchen. She isn’t at all put off by the fact that it’s small,” says one.

Fat Brain Toys

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This Fat Brain Toys deluxe kitchen has a lot of fun features. Made of all wood, this play kitchen set has the classic oven, cooktop and sink combo, plus a microwave. The microwave has a magnet to close it and a knob that functions like a timer. The oven range has a light and makes fan sound-effects, too. The knobs even click and there’s a coffeemaker, which every parent knows is essential for a realistic kitchen. In addition to all that, the kitchen comes with utensils, cups, spoons, plates, pans and lids, as well as a dish holder under the sink. This wooden play kitchen is all about the imaginary play in a realistic, modern setting.

What the parents say: “This kitchen set is beautiful and my toddler plays with it every day,” say one reviewer. “She pretends to wash her hands and cook in the oven. The magnetic door to the oven opens and closes easily, and the buttons turn and click for more interest/interaction on her part.”

PalumbaCamdenRose

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This handmade cherry wood play kitchen from Palumba Camden Rose, an Etsy seller and toymaker, is sure to inspire generations of play. The craftsmanship is exceptional with birch and walnut accents, and fun the details, such as the pull-out cutting board and sliding wire oven rack, are sure to appeal to kids of many ages. The set is finished with wood polish made from organic jojoba oil and beeswax, and it may need to be reconditioned to keep your set looking like new over time. It ships for free, and comes with very clear assembly instructions. The Michigan-based seller has a number of handcrafted optional accessories to add to the fun.

What the parents say: One happy customer called this play kitchen, “sturdy, beautiful and functional as a toy. It is a good size for both my 2- and 4-year-old,” and several praised its easy assembly and appealing natural look.

Amazon

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A mud kitchen (or outdoor kitchen) is a kids’ dream, allowing little ones to use ingredients found in nature to cook, bake and create with. The Hape Outdoor Kitchen features a pressure-treated wood frame with plastic and stainless steel elements to hold up to life outdoors. This set is packed with accessories, including a pot, ladle, bowls, flower pots and working water tank kids can use to dispense liquid directly into the sink. The built-in blackboard is perfect for writing out the day’s specials. Because this is designed for outdoor play, you can hose the whole thing down when the fun is over.

What our editors say: “The Hape Outdoor Kitchen is a fantastic sensory addition to our outdoor play space,” says Sholeen Damarwala, a home and kitchen editor at Forbes Vetted. “My toddler spends hours making mud pies and cooking wood-chip stew. While assembly requires some effort and a few parts were tricky to align, once built, it has held up beautifully against the elements.”

At Forbes Vetted, our parenting editors and writers are experts in toys and gear for children. We’ve tested, reviewed and written about an arsenal of different toys, including the best educational toys for kids and best outdoor toys for kids.

A play kitchen is an investment, making it important to choose wisely. To select the best play kitchens on the market today, we relied on our own experience with these toys, and made sure to factor in input from other parents.

As we noted earlier, toddlers and preschoolers are key ages for pretend play, so you may want to introduce a play kitchen on your child’s second or third birthday. “Pretend play typically emerges in most children between ages 2 to 3,” making that the ideal age to first introduce a play kitchen, adds Dr. Williams. However, each family’s needs are different. So, you might be ready to purchase one after your child’s first birthday or they might ask for one for their fifth birthday. Regardless, it will be a fun opportunity for them to learn and explore for years. Just be sure to pay close attention to manufacturer’s age recommendations as some play kitchens may be rated for ages 3 and up due to small pieces.

“Having a play kitchen is beneficial for a child mentally and emotionally,” says Wooley. “Play is how children work through difficult situations, emotions and sometimes even thoughts they don’t understand. Play is a child’s work in the world.”You shouldn’t be afraid to get in there with them either. “There is also benefit when a parent interacts with a child with the play kitchen, letting the child lead the play and name the tools of the kitchen,” says Wooley. Plus, the ability to explore new objects and ideas inevitably leads to the expansion of a child’s vocabulary.“If the play kitchen is shared with others, turn-taking and teamwork become encouraged,” says Williams. “Fine motor skills, or the ability to use the smaller muscles in our hands and wrists, begin developing through play in early childhood. Children can develop these skills by picking up objects with large tongs, learning to flip with a spatula, and kneading pretend clay or play dough.”

Most play kitchens arrive with a manufacturer’s suggested age of 3 and up, because small pieces may be included. As with all toys and kids gear, it’s important to be aware of your child’s current developmental stage when introducing something new. For example, are they everything into their mouth or trying to tip things over? Definitely take that into consideration. On a broad scale, Dr. Williams says it’s important at the very least to “prevent possible choking by excluding small objects and strings. Ensure the play kitchen is at your child’s height and is made from safe materials for taste-testing.”Additionally, like any piece of furniture, tip-overs can cause injury. It’s always a good idea to anchor the kitchen to a wall, particularly if it’s being used by smaller tots or if any younger siblings still learning to walk may be around.

We added a play kitchen from Fat Brain Toys as the best wooden play kitchen and the Hape Outdoor Kitchen as our new pick for the best outdoor kitchen. We also included additional insights from parents and experts.