From classic stainless-steel pots and pans, to adorable wooden options, to the best (and safest) plastic sets, you can shop with confidence for play pots and pans for the kids with these awesome options.
Play Pots and Pans
Sauteing, boiling, simmering–these toy pots and pans will have your budding chefs doing all that and more in their play kitchen. Because no play kitchen setup is complete without a good set of toy pots and pans!
This play kitchen accessory is key in encouraging your kids to role play everything from frying up a batch of eggs to boiling water for their doll’s pasta dinner.
When pulling together our top picks, we looked for options that are durable enough for years of play (these tend to be a kid favorite!), large enough to fit a variety of play food inside, and easy enough to keep clean and looking good.
(Bonus: All our picks are super adorable, too.) Checkout the best option for every budget and style.
Best Wooden Play Pots and Pans
HAPE Gourmet Play Kitchen Starter Accessories Wooden Play Set
This high-quality set includes both the pots and dishes needed to take your kiddo’s delicious meal from the faux stove to the pretend dinner table. It’s also made from sustainably sourced wood and colored with water-based dyes, so it’s super safe and durable for your hard-playing kiddos.
More to love: The set comes with salt and pepper shakers, so little chefs can season their creations as they go.
Best Plastic Play Pots and Pans
Green Toys Chef Set
We all know that when it comes to kids toys, sometimes simple really is better. This classic set includes a pot with a lid, a skillet, a spatula, and a ladle. (And we bet that’s all your kid really needs to get his or her imagination going!)
Plus, it’s all made of plastic you can feel good about: Recycled and free of BPA and phthalates.
Best Stainless Steel Play Pots and Pans
IKEA DUKTIG 5-Piece Toy Cookware Set
For a well-made and budget-friendly set that looks just like the pots and pans you have in the kitchen, Ikea is the way to go. This stainless-steel option is the perfect starter set with a large pot with a lid (hello, faux play food soup for all!), a strainer that fits inside the pot, and two frying/saute pans.
Plus, everything stacks together for easy storage.
Best Melissa & Doug Play Pots and Pans
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Kitchen Accessory Set
Raise your hand if you wish they made a real version of these cuties, too! This adorable, wooden 8-piece set comes with two pots with lids and a frying pan as well as cooking utensils and even a buffalo-check oven mitt. Kids can get right to work in their play kitchen, or just turn the toy’s box over which features a stove design for immediate play.
(Another Melissa & Doug fave: Their Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Play Set, which comes with a storage rack.)
Best Colorful Play Pots and Pans
Kidkraft Cookware Set
Give your kids kitchen a pop of color with this huge 27-piece set. The plastic cook and serve set comes in three different shade options—pastel (shown here), neon, or primary colors—so there’s sure to be one that includes your chef’s favorite hues.
And since it includes everything from pots to dishes to utensils, this is a great option if you really want to deck out the play kitchen in one shot.
Best Modern Play Pots and Pans
Plan Toys Wooden and Metal Cooking Utensils, Pots and Pans
With copper and wooden details, this set is as pretty to look at as it is fun to play with. But there’s more than meets the eye: These toys are super-safe and eco-friendly thanks to materials like recycled rubberwood, formaldehyde-free glue, and water-based dyes.
Doesn’t get much better than that!
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This post was first published October 2020.
