Wooden toy kitchen: Top 12 rated play kitchens

I enjoy writing these articles for my readers, you guys. I don't accept payment for writing reviews, my opinion on products is my own, but if you find my recommendations helpful and you end up buying something through one of the links I may be able to receive a commission on that. More info

Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?

Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.

If you're at the stage where your little one LOVES copying mom or dad cooking, you might just want to invest in a toy kitchen (not least because you'd otherwise lose your favorite pots and pans).

BUT….

  • What kind of design are you going for?
  • What is the age of your child and what fits with that?
  • How much do you want to spend?

That's why in this article I want to dwell on the BEST ones wooden kitchens for your little cook(chin).

Cutest toy kitchens rated

Many children love the idea of ​​cooking, and kitchens just keep getting better and better.

They have all the details that kids need to play their fantasy game with the real world. Some even have real lights and sounds.

The best I have tested is therefore this retro wooden play kitchen from New Classic Toys, because it has everything like buttons for light and sound and sturdy knobs that really click. PLUS, it's actually not that expensive at all!

But, there are more. And how do you find the best play kitchen for your child?

I've put together a list of our favorite play kitchens. There are small sets and large extended sets, let's take a quick look at the best play kitchens:

Best price quality ratio

New Classic ToysBon Appetit Play Kitchen

Great wood and sturdy oven knobs that actually click give it a very real feel.

8.7
Toy score
Product image

Best Educational Play Kitchen

KidKraftFarm to Table

Kids especially like that it also has lights. There is also a lot of detail in this kitchen, which makes it all special.

9.4
Toy score
Product image

Best outdoor play kitchen

TPMuddy Madness Outdoor Kitchen

It's a sustainable one wooden play kitchen that will also last a long time outside. Perfect for sand and water play.

9.1
Toy score
Product image

Best low toy kitchen

TidloCountry Play

This handy little unit has the most beautiful accessories and I especially like the tea towel but also the salt and pepper pot.

8.1
Toy score
Product image

Best collapsible play kitchen

Small Foot CompanyMobile

The wooden shelf and the wonderful range of accessories, including even play materials, are also great fun so that the kids have something extra to play with.

8.1
Toy score
Product image

Best eco-friendly play kitchen

teamsonKids Little Chef

The Teamson Kids play kitchen is a classic wooden kitchen with an oven, a microwave, a sink and knobs for the working stove.

8.5
Toy score
Product image

Play kitchen with best gas stove

HapeGourmet Chef

Hape's Gourmet kitchen set is a larger kitchen with an oven and electric hobs plus a cupboard and shelf for storage.

8.4
Toy score
Product image

Best retro pink play kitchen

KidkraftVintage

Kidkraft's kitchen is a fun retro style kitchen with an oven, stove, sink, dishwasher and separate fridge / freezer.

8.9
Toy score
Product image

Best Modern Play Kitchen

KidKraftUptown Espresso

This play kitchen is finished in chrome and dark wood and is reminiscent of the gourmet kitchens that appear in many showrooms and TV programs today.

8.6
Toy score
Product image

Best large corner kitchen

KidKraftUltimate Corner Kitchen

It has a modern design that is stainless steel and sturdy wood imitates and this kitchen will certainly grow with your child.

9.0
Toy score
Product image

Check out the rest of the play kitchens in this video or read on for the full reviews:

From toddler to toddler activity book collection

Educational games and coloring pages for 3 to 6 years

Your toddler and preschooler will love this e-book, along with the accompanying printables. He or she can play with it at every stage of development, together with mom and dad.

Buy at Bol.com

Play kitchen buying guide

When choosing a suitable one toys kitchen you can look at the following things:

Household appliances in the kitchen

There are play kitchens that have an oven and a flat surface. Some kitchens offer all the essential kitchen appliances in one kit.

Finally, some kitchens offer all appliances but in separate pieces so that you can expand them if necessary.

A small kitchen is good for children who want a space in the kitchen to cook next to you.

It doesn't take up much space and is a long way from the real oven. They are also good for travel.

You can even get kitchens so small that they sit on a table top with just a base reach and shelf.

Other styles include larger kitchens with a stove, oven, refrigerator, and other smaller appliances such as microwaves or dishwashers.

They are all one unit, but some are arranged at an angle to give you more devices with less length.

Other styles have separable parts. For example, the refrigerator can be separate from the stove.

It gives you a number of options for arranging things if you need to get creative with space but don't want to go for a small kitchen.

Size of the kitchen

The main factor limiting your decision is size.

It's a play kitchen, but some sets can still take up valuable space if there isn't much space where you live.

Your child may appreciate a simple oven and stove in the real kitchen if he or she likes to cook next to you.

On the other hand, if you have a finished basement play area, you may want to make it bigger and build a realistic looking kitchen with separate pieces and windows.

And it's not just the size of the floor space.

If your child is older or taller, some kitchens for kids are a little too low to give a realistic feel to the kitchen game.

  • You don't want your child to rise above the devices while they are trying to play.
  • Others are too big and elaborate for a younger child who cannot reach them yet.

What material is the play kitchen made of?

Plastic is lighter, of course. It is sometimes easier to clean. But fantasy toys for children must also be durable and provide tactile feedback.

Wooden play sets, or a combination of wood and other materials, give children the feeling that the play set is real. The set just feels more substantial.

Wooden playsets made from sustainably, responsibly sourced wood are the best. These reduce chemicals used in composite wood.

If you plan to use your playset outside,... wood maybe not the best choice.

Outdoor kitchens are often made of plastic to withstand the elements, but most people use play kitchens indoors where it is wood safe from the elements.

Younger children can also appreciate the plastic surface that is easy to clean.

Accessories that you get

Some kitchens are all-in-one with play foods and accessories. Others only include the set itself.

If you're upgrading from an existing kitchen and your child already has all the accessories, that might not matter.

Otherwise it is an extra cost item on top of the purchase of the kitchenette.

If this is your child's first kitchen set, it might be a good idea to buy a complete set so it can be played right out of the box.

There are kitchen sets with cooking utensils, and some even contain food.

Best Wooden Toy Kitchen Reviewed

To help you decide what's best to buy, here's our pick of the best play kitchens out there.

Best price quality ratio

New Classic Toys Bon Appetit Play Kitchen

Product image
8.7
Toy score
Features
4.3
Replayability
4.5
Sustainability
4.3
Best for
  • Solid wood construction, not laminate
  • Oven knobs really click and feel very solid
Less good
  • Rotary knob microwave does not click and tap is also less sturdy
  • From: 2 years
  • Best: 2 – 5 years
  • Up to: 6 years
  • Material: Wood, MDF
  • Number of parts: 15
  • Dimensions: 59,94 x 29,97 x 100,08 cm (23.6 x 11.8 x 39.4 inches)
  • Price at time of writing: €105,99 – $114.99
  • Durability: None
  • Theme: Food and dining related, Kitchen
  • Learning objective: Cognitive development, Pretend play
  • Safety parts: No small parts
  • Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
  • Gender inclusiveness: Breaking stereotypes

The best wooden children's kitchen that I found is this one from New Classic Toys, and not that expensive at all, which makes it the best price-quality ratio choice.

There is plenty to play with the included pans, ladle, spatulas, pepper pot and salt shaker and even plates. A whole lot of accessories that you don't see in every kitchen, and all of them wood (except for the removable metal sink).

That gives it even more reason to offer the best value for money because you don't necessarily have to buy extra accessories, although treating vegetables like me further below makes it extra fun.

Not too big, fits in a corner of the room like ours against the couch. This way it gives your child a lot of fun.

It also doesn't take too much space around it because everything happens at the front of the kitchen. You just need some space to open the oven, which folds down.

New Classic Toys play kitchen in the corner

Where the kitchen excels in particular is in the solid rotary knobs of the oven that actually click so that you have the feeling that you are actually setting an oven setting. 

Many kitchens, and especially the cheaper ones, have knobs that simply turn loose, with no tactile feeling, and that is less fun for fantasy play.

Furthermore, the burners on the stove can be turned on at the push of a button so that they light up and really produce a bubbling cooking sound, which is just that little bit more real when making delicious dishes.

Not too big, fits in a corner of the room like with our dad's (also retro) guitar and amplifier and still gives your child a lot of fun.

Best Educational Play Kitchen

KidKraft Farm to Table

Product image
9.4
Toy score
Features
4.8
Replayability
4.8
Sustainability
4.5
Best for
  • Lots of accessories
  • Farm to table theme is very educational
Less good
  • Very pricey

Age from 3 years

Collage of 6 images of farm to table play kitchen

What it is: a great kitchen measuring 110 cm x 109 cm x 69 cm from Kidkraft.

It also has a window box with carrots and onions, plus a cutting board and a... wooden knife, a refrigerator with ice maker that dispenses fake cubes, 2 storage chests and a blackboard.

Why we love it: Kids especially like that it has lights too.

There is also a lot of detail in this kitchen, which makes it all special.

Parents choose this one because their kids kept playing amused for hours on end and really like the farm to table theme.

Best outdoor play kitchen

TP Muddy Madness Outdoor Kitchen

Product image
9.1
Toy score
Features
4.4
Replayability
4.6
Sustainability
4.6
Best for
  • Sturdy wooden construction
  • Tap can actually put water in
Less good
  • Difficult to clean

If you're looking more for an outdoor kitchen to make yummy mud pies without the hassle of cleaning it all up, I've found this TP Muddy Madness Mud Kitchen for you.

It's a sustainable one wooden play kitchen that will also last a long time outdoors.

Suitable for children from 3 years

TP Muddy Madness

What it is: this wooden children's kitchen / mud kitchen measures 108cm x 43cm x 369cm, and has an oven with opening door, removable sink, refillable tap and tap.

Also included are some stainless steel pots and pans (or check out a few more like this one) and a mixing whisk. It takes about 1 hour to assemble.

Nice how children can play with mud outside:

Find kids it's nice because: They can mix mud in this outdoor play kitchen. It wipes clean easily and looks nice and clean even after being covered in dirt.

Children especially like the real running water from the dispenser. Plus the fact that it came with a set of pots and pans was a bonus for many too.

Best low toy kitchen

Tidlo Country Play

Product image
8.1
Toy score
Features
3.9
Replayability
4.2
Sustainability
4.1
Best for
  • Handy little unit
  • Multiple accessories
Less good
  • Does not grow well after toddlerhood

Age from 3 years

What is it: Tough wooden kitchen, with play oven, sink and hob, measures 76 cm (H) x 50 cm (W) x 30 cm (D).

Comes with 9 other accessories including frying pan and kettle.

Why we love it: this handy little unit has the nicest accessories and I especially like the tea towel but also the salt and pepper pot.

And really an extra shoutout for the bold '80s color scheme. Lots of fun for your child and nice to have at home.

Best collapsible play kitchen

Small Foot Company Mobile

Product image
8.1
Toy score
Features
3.9
Replayability
3.8
Sustainability
4.5
Best for
  • Collapsible to take with you
  • Sturdy and durable wood
Less good
  • But a little leeway

Suitable for 3 to 5 years

What is it: A wooden, compact size folding kitchen with hob, pans, funny back plate and of course folds up for easy portability toys.

Why we love it: I really love the clever way this kitchen can be folded up.

So you can easily store this from Small Foot Company in even smaller places if you want without having to take it apart completely.

The wooden shelf and the wonderful range of accessories, including even play materials, are also great fun so that the kids have something extra to play with.

Best eco-friendly play kitchen

teamson Kids Little Chef

Product image
8.5
Toy score
Features
3.9
Replayability
4.1
Sustainability
4.8
Best for
  • Eco-friendly wood
  • Easy to assemble
Less good
  • No shelf in the fridge compartment

The Teamson Kids play kitchen is a classic wooden kitchen with an oven, a microwave, a sink and knobs for the working stove.

There is storage in the fridge area. It is a natural wood color with colorful accents.

Suitable for children from 3 years and older

Boy plays with the teamson eco-friendly wooden play kitchen

It comes with a few accessories, including a phone, spice shakers, and a spatula.

It is made with eco-friendly wood and non-toxic paints. Additionally, the kitchen assembles in about 30 minutes.

One drawback is that there is no inner shelf for the fridge, which creates a lot of wasted space.

A middle shelf to add more storage would be nice.

Benefits:

  • The natural wood design is suitable for boys and girls
  • Eco-friendly wood
  • Easy to assemble

Cons:

  • No shelf in the fridge compartment
Play kitchen with best gas stove

Hape Gourmet Chef

Product image
8.4
Toy score
Features
4.1
Replayability
4.2
Sustainability
4.3
Best for
  • Sustainably sourced wood and non-toxic paint
  • Traditional kitchen design
Less good
  • No fridge

Age from 2 years

Hape's Gourmet kitchen set is a larger kitchen with an oven and electric hobs plus a cupboard and shelf for storage.

It has burners on top next to a sink. It is made of sustainably used materials and non-toxic paint and has no small parts to come loose.

The natural colors match many different decors.

Benefits:

  • Sustainably sourced wood and non-toxic paint
  • Traditional kitchen design

Cons:

  • No fridge
Best retro pink play kitchen

Kidkraft Vintage

Product image
8.9
Toy score
Features
4.6
Replayability
4.5
Sustainability
4.2
Best for
  • Realistic design
  • Available in many different colours
Less good
  • No accessories
  • Maybe too small for older children

Kidkraft's kitchen is a fun retro style kitchen with an oven, stove, sink, dishwasher and separate fridge / freezer.

It's a fun, realistic-looking kitchen with plenty of storage space and moving parts for fantasy play.

Age from 2 years

Girl plays with a pink play kitchen from Kidkraft

The sink can be removed (also a removable metal sink, as with the New Classic Toys play kitchen) and can be used for water games or for cleaning.

The set comes in several colors including fifties pink. It is large enough with two hobs so that several children can play at the same time.

The oven knobs make clicking noises when you turn them for a tactile response and realistic sound.

If you're dreaming of vintage kitchen spaces, the Kidkraft Vintage Kitchen will fit right in.

It's a classic color with a fridge / freezer, stove and oven, sink and microwave.

The knobs provide tactile feedback with clicks when you turn them.

There is storage above and below the sink, plus the fridge and freezer have shelving to keep other play items.

There is even a cordless phone over the sink.

It is made of durable wood and uses non-toxic paints and materials.

The decor goes well with most rooms, and it's on the small side at just under three feet tall and three feet wide.

This kitchen is suitable for younger children as there aren't many bells and whistles that can break off in the hands of a rambunctious toddler.

It's just big enough that two kids can play at the same time. If your child is taller or much older than five, it may be too small to fit.

However, it is well suited for younger children.

It doesn't come with food or cooking utensils so you'll have to build that up yourself.

It's a large profile, but the fridge is a separate piece, giving you more options for storage and placement.

Benefits:

  • Realistic design
  • Available in many different colours
  • Fridge and kitchen are separate parts

Cons:

  • No accessories
  • Maybe too small for older children
Best Modern Play Kitchen

KidKraft Uptown Espresso

Product image
8.6
Toy score
Features
4.3
Replayability
4.4
Sustainability
4.2
Best for
  • Modern appearance
  • Realistic devices
  • Big enough for several children
Less good
  • No accessories at all

KidKraft's kitchen is a modern take on an old classic.

This play kitchen is finished in chrome and dark wood and is reminiscent of the gourmet kitchens that appear in many showrooms and TV programs today.

Suitable for children from 2 years

There is an oven with a working clear door as well as a storage shelf and raised burners on the stove.

The fridge is a full size fridge / freezer combination with a fake ice dispenser and a chalkboard space on the top door.

The dishwasher opens and closes, plus the sink is removed for water games.

It offers storage on a shelf above and has a towel rail, cordless phone hanger and hooks where the pans hang. The backsplash is a modern tile print.

It is large enough for several children to play at the same time, which will also give them social skills. It's composed wood, plastic and some metal parts.

You need a large, dedicated space for this set as it is a single piece.

It is not delivered assembled, so plan to spend a few hours arranging and putting everything together.

Benefits:

  • Modern appearance
  • Realistic devices
  • Big enough for several children

Cons:

  • No accessories at all
Best large corner kitchen

KidKraft Ultimate Corner Kitchen

Product image
9.0
Toy score
Features
4.7
Replayability
4.6
Sustainability
4.2
Best for
  • Realistic device set
  • Ice maker makes noises when a cup is placed under it
Less good
  • Larger investment in money and space

If you have more space, this luxurious, large-scale kitchen is a good choice for small cooks.

It has a modern design that is stainless steel and sturdy wood imitates and this kitchen will certainly grow with your child.

Suitable for children from 3 years

Girl plays with the light and sound of a play kitchen

It has an oven, microwave, washing machine and refrigerator. Open and close all doors.

The kernels and ice maker light up for more realism. The rotary knobs also make noises when turned to the on position.

The arrangement also gives you two windows on either side of the microwave to open up the play area.

It is extensive, but you need a lot of space to accommodate it.

Benefits:

  • Realistic device set
  • Burners light up and make noise
  • The ice maker makes noises when a cup is placed under it

Cons:

  • Greater investment in space
  • Greater investment in money

Best cutting fruit and vegetable sets: Small Foot Company

If you want to expand the fantasy play with fruits and vegetables that your kids can actually cut open, these are different wooden sets from Small Foot Company really nice to add to your kitchen:

Expand your fantasy play with the small foot company cutting sets

(view more sets)

They are attached to each other with Velcro and you get a knife with it wood with which if you go through it with the knife, like with a boiled egg, you cut the Velcro apart.

Just like cutting real food to prepare a tasty meal.

View the different sets here

Why buy a play kitchen?

Fantasy play is essential for this the development of children. During fantasy play, they act out realistic situations to determine how they feel and what they think.

It is important that children try different roles while playing and they can discover a lot about themselves while playing.

Children at these ages watch what their parents are doing. They want to be like caring for siblings with dolls or caring for pets with stuffed animals.

Or walk through your house with one of these toy vacuum cleaners.

Ze play doctor (like with this fun toy) and teacher. Another crucial part of life for them revolves around the meals and the kitchen.

If they have their own space to play this part, they make an essential cognitive step.

Play kitchens are also available toys with an open end. They encourage children to create and control the game rather than being told what to do.

Toys for one purpose (like the alphabet) has its place, but one toys open-ended really taps into a child's natural creativity.

Upgrade your own kitchen

If you find a kitchen that you love, but is on the pricey side, you can always add perks to a kitchen that is in your price range.

Many people add light to the microwave, oven and under the shelf to spice it up, for example.

You can use wood paint to imitate any surface you like if you buy a simple kitchen.

Some people also use real kitchen utensils, such as small egg pans to give to the child.

All these little details add a little flair to a mass-produced kitchen.

Conclusion

It takes more than just a nice stove to choose the right set. You need to balance your space with the features you need in a kitchen set.

Don't worry if the set isn't a scale model of a real kitchen.

The imagination of children is huge, and as long as you let them what tools to play, they can work with it.

The most important thing to remember is that at some point your child may want to play with you.

It makes all the decisions about which kitchen is worth sitting down to eat the “breakfast” that your child has cooked just for you.

Did you have a play kitchen when you were growing up? What are your must-haves for a play kitchen for your kids? Let us know in the comments below.

Also nice for your child, check out the top rated dollhouses

Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?

Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.