Cooking with kids? Sharp tools?

[ExcitedMama]

Our move and kitchen remodel literally took years so now I'm trying to include the kids more in cooking since we can actually cook again. I subscribed to Raddish (if you haven't seen it it's a monthly box with recipes) through our charter so I'm hoping that will help jumpstart things. I want to get DS his own tools but the idea of getting him a sharp knife does make me nervous! Any recommendations on what to buy? And tell me it's totally fine for him to use real utensils that are sharp? Thanks!

[HomeAgain]

For Small Hands has tools for...well, small hands. ;)  They are a little pricy but most of them you can find at a regular store for cheaper: http://www.forsmallhands.com/kitchen/preparing-food

[Emba]

Well, I'll be honest, my DD is 10 and just now has the attention/coordination to use sharp knives without cutting herself every time. When she was younger I let her cut things that were soft, like hotdogs, with a butter knife, and we had a plastic lettuce knife that would also cut a few other vegetables, but yoiyoiu have to use a sawing sort of motion. It is not ideal, but neither is blood and screaming. My DS who is 8 has better coordination and attention, and was able to use sharp knives sooner.

[mamiof5]

After thinking about it all summer we ended subscribing to "kids cook real food" online program. We did a few classes with some friends and absolutely love the program, they learned so much! Can't wait to do more. Yes, it's ok to let them use sharp tools, if you teach them how to do it and provide plenty of opportunities to practice. It's time consuming, but SO good for them!! And for you in the long run, since once they learn they can help with meal prep 🙌

[Arcadia]

I let my kids use a steak dinner knife to cut and dice at that age. It was a non issue even when they accidentally surface cut themselves.

[fralala]

We use the Montessori cooking tools-- a tiny cleaver, vegetable peeler, and wavy chopper.

[luuknam]

Any recommendations on what to buy? And tell me it's totally fine for him to use real utensils that are sharp? Thanks!

 

Definitely kid-dependent. Not sure how old your son is (I can see 2010, but a December 2010 is almost a year younger than a January 2010). It's been I think about half a year since I tried my November 2010 (as in, a cheap paring knife we'd had for years), and he was too young then (kept trying to cut with the blunt side of the knife, which I considered to be a dangerous thing for anything sharper than a butter knife, so he's only used butter knives since then). I should try him again though.

 

My August 2007 kid has used the cheap dulled paring knife for at least a year, iirc, and last week was the first time I gave him an actually sharp knife (more expensive paring knife that hadn't grown as blunt yet). He's got special needs though, both to do with attention and fine motor skills, so for NT kids, probably sooner than he did.

 

ETA: to be clear, he wasn't using the wrong side of the butter knife to cut with, or I wouldn't have tried the paring knife. But, the butter knife has a more obvious cutting side and non-cutting side, with the curve it has to it.

Edited September 16, 2016 by luuknam

[caedmyn]

We did Kids Cook Real Food too. My 5 yo and 7 yo both use a steak knife to cut up apples, potatoes, carrots, etc. The 7 yo may have knicked himself a time or two...don't think the 5 yo ever has. 7 yo is highly impulsive and not careful and the 5 yo is not. I don't figure they're going to do more than minor damage if they do cut themselves with it, and then they'll be more careful next time. Fwiw we used to have a special kids' knife (serrated with rounded edges) and my 7 yo cut himself a few times with that too. I think the steak knife is actually safer other than the tip, because it's sharper and requires less force to cut things.

[Jackie]

I found it much easier to hand my kid a chef's knife instead of a steak knife. A chef's knife looks big and dangerous, but you typically use it by having one hand on the handle and another on the top of the knife, and no fingers especially near the blade. For my sometimes inattentive 6yo, we've stuck to the chef's knife, butter/table knives, and a steak knife for cutting with knife and fork. If she were more attentive, I might have introduced other options by now.

[Rachel]

My 8 and 6 year old have been using knives for awhile now. Sharp knives are safer than dull knives, I have them use my regular kitchen knives. They learned to cut softer foods like strawberries or potatoes. Teach them how to keep their fingers out of the way.

[luuknam]

Sharp knives are safer than dull knives.

 

CItation (to an actual study) please? I know the common sense rationale, I just don't agree when we're talking about 5yos, but I can't find any actual study of this.

 

Like I mentioned upthread, my 5yo tried cutting with the wrong side of the blade (repeatedly, after I kept correcting him) - it was a good thing the knife was dull, or that could've easily been a major issue. Not that I would give them super hard carrots to cut with a dull blade. But I would want kids to show that they understand the basics cutting softer foods with a dull blade before handing them harder things with a sharp blade (and like I mentioned above, the kid didn't have the cutting upside down issue with the butter knife, so he needed to try with an actual paring knife for me to find out that he apparently wasn't ready yet).

 

Btw, I mentioned my oldest used a dull paring knife for at least a year, but he didn't cut stuff very often. If he cut stuff daily (or even every week) I might have moved him to a sharp knife sooner.

[Elizabeth 2]

There is no study. This is a common sense thing.

 

With knives it’s all about control.

 

Think about cutting a firm, slippery object such as an apple. When the smooth edge of a knife is applied to the slick surface of the apple one of two things will happen: either the blade of the knife will skid along the surface of the fruit or it will cut into the flesh. A dull knife is more likely to slip rather than cut. Once the knife has slipped it is a matter of luck and reflexes where the business end goes.

 

If a kiddo isn't ready for a sharp knife, don't give him one. The beauty of parenting is that it isn't standards based. Do it when they're ready. Have the knives professionally sharpened, take care of the blades, and impress upon them the danger of it, the responsibility and privilege of using a sharp knife.

 

In our house, If they are unsafe with the butter knives, one time, they are sent back to table and dishes duty for a week. (Dinner helper is a privilege for one on one time with mom.) Then when they get to use the butter knives, they must be safe for a week before they get to try the sharp knives again. Unsafe with a sharp knife? Back to dishes only duty. I've only had one child repeat this twice.

Edited September 17, 2016 by Elizabeth 2

[Hobbes]

My 6+8yos use our regular sharp knives, no problem. I just keep close and pay attention, giving direction (plenty for my 6yo) and more space as they get more comfortable (lots of space for my 8yo).

 

Simple Bites has a lot of great tips for kids in the kitchen. This is a post for ages 6-8, she has posts of suggestions for older and younger kids as well: http://www.simplebites.net/kitchen-tasks-for-kids-ages-6-to-8/

[Arctic Bunny]

When my boys were 2 & 4 I got them the plastic sort of chef knives that are good for silicone, etc. Serrated, but not cut your finger off sharp. They could cut peppers and cucumbers onions and sandwiches, etc, which was enough to help me out in the kitchen. Then we moved on to a regular utility knife (like a paring knife, but straight).

[luuknam]

There is no study. This is a common sense thing.

 

If a kiddo isn't ready for a sharp knife, don't give him one. The beauty of parenting is that it isn't standards based. Do it when they're ready.

 

You know lots of common sense things have been disproved by science, right?

 

Anyhow, you haven't answered how you can tell a kid is ready for a sharp knife. Kid handles a butter knife perfectly. Turns paring knife upside down 50% of the time. Obviously not ready, but how to know unless you try? I'm not willing to try that with a super sharp knife. Statistically, the kid might randomly hold it the correct way the first few times, I look away for a moment, and the kid creates a super deep cut (because, if you try cutting with the wrong side of a sharp knife, you have the same problem as with a dull or butter knife, but even worse because the non-cutting side has never been meant to cut into anything).

[SparklyUnicorn]

I let my kids use a steak dinner knife to cut and dice at that age. It was a non issue even when they accidentally surface cut themselves.

 

That's what I do.  Works pretty well.

 

My 11 year old is just now starting to get a bit more comfortable with a real knife.  I have a smaller chef knife that he sometimes uses.  His hands tire with the larger ones.

 

Ever see those kid's cooking shows on Food Network?  Man those kids are amazing.  And they use real tools. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

They have stuff like this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Kai-Little-Childrens-Stainless-FG-5000/dp/B000JBYJOI/ref=pd_sim_79_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=5AEKEAVHE95V6CBCZPZJ

 

I have a set of plastic serrated chef knives that my kid used for awhile. 

 

The difficulty is also weight and length.  I remember the first time I learned how to properly use a chef knife in culinary school I was intimidated by regular sized knives.  So for a little while I used a small one.  Then shortly after a regular one.  Then when I did my practice the chef had these CRAZY long huge machete looking knives and because I knew how to handle it it wasn't a problem. 

 

Many people use knives incorrectly.  Me included until I learned in culinary school! 

Edited September 17, 2016 by SparklyUnicorn

[LMD]

I always let them use real knives. My aug 2010 kid sliced bacon with a big, sharp butchers knife last week - he was making quiche. I just make sure to show him the technique again each time and supervise.

[SKL]

Yes, I would let him use the regular tools, with training and supervision.

[Bluegoat]

CItation (to an actual study) please? I know the common sense rationale, I just don't agree when we're talking about 5yos, but I can't find any actual study of this.

 

Like I mentioned upthread, my 5yo tried cutting with the wrong side of the blade (repeatedly, after I kept correcting him) - it was a good thing the knife was dull, or that could've easily been a major issue. Not that I would give them super hard carrots to cut with a dull blade. But I would want kids to show that they understand the basics cutting softer foods with a dull blade before handing them harder things with a sharp blade (and like I mentioned above, the kid didn't have the cutting upside down issue with the butter knife, so he needed to try with an actual paring knife for me to find out that he apparently wasn't ready yet).

 

Btw, I mentioned my oldest used a dull paring knife for at least a year, but he didn't cut stuff very often. If he cut stuff daily (or even every week) I might have moved him to a sharp knife sooner.

 

It's one thing to give a kid a knife that is not meant to be sharp to spread butter.  You can use a butter knife to cut an avocado.

 

But dull real knives slip.  I'd either give a 5 year old a sharp one, or not give him one at all.

 

 

[Bluegoat]

Ikea has a set of knives for kids, I think.  I don't know how useful they are, in terms of cutting anything significant.  They are smaller, which is nice for people with smaller hands.

[MotherGoose]

I started giving mine real knives when they were mature enough to know which end of the blade was up, could follow my directions precisely, and wouldn't wave it around or whatver. Varies by kid. I'm sure my middle child was using a real knife at 5. As in my expensive, real, set of knives knives. I let her use the serrated bread knife and a sawing motion to cut things that were flat on the cutting board, and as long as she followed my instructions, and she did, it was really impossible to cut herself. I also have a paring knife with a serrated age, so my older child can use it to cut things like apples. As long as they position the object flat on a cutting board and press against it, keeping fingers out of the way, there is little risk of being cut. I've also taught them both, at ages 6 and 9, probably, to mince garlic and things by keeping both hands on top of the blade/ handle and rocking the knife back and forth like the "real" chefs in tv. Most of the times I've cut myself it was because I was using the knife incorrectly or in a hurry. Before they leave my home, I want them to be able to do things like slice vegetables or peel apples or onions without a chopping board--DH and my father can't do that, and make a mess and waste a lot of food as well as a lot of time by having to put everything on a board. But my mom and I can slice vegetables by lots of practice and knowning just how much pressure to put on the blade to get it through the item without going through our thumbs. The "kid" knives are only good for cutting up things like slices of cheese or sandwich meat ham or something very tender. If they are going to do any eat cooking they need to use real knives.

[Ausmumof3]

CItation (to an actual study) please? I know the common sense rationale, I just don't agree when we're talking about 5yos, but I can't find any actual study of this.

 

Like I mentioned upthread, my 5yo tried cutting with the wrong side of the blade (repeatedly, after I kept correcting him) - it was a good thing the knife was dull, or that could've easily been a major issue. Not that I would give them super hard carrots to cut with a dull blade. But I would want kids to show that they understand the basics cutting softer foods with a dull blade before handing them harder things with a sharp blade (and like I mentioned above, the kid didn't have the cutting upside down issue with the butter knife, so he needed to try with an actual paring knife for me to find out that he apparently wasn't ready yet).

 

Btw, I mentioned my oldest used a dull paring knife for at least a year, but he didn't cut stuff very often. If he cut stuff daily (or even every week) I might have moved him to a sharp knife sooner.

I actually don't agree with this either... My knives are infamously blunt and every time dh takes to them with the sharpener I cut myself. every time!

[deerforest]

My DD got her own chef's knife at age 5. DH has had extensive culinary training and it was just part of their normal daily life. He was a SAHD until she was 6 so she started helping with different tasks when she was very young She's quite competent in the kitchen at age 12.

[deerforest]

My DD got her own chef's knife at age 5. DH has had extensive culinary training and it was just part of their normal daily life. He was a SAHD until she was 6 so she started helping with different tasks when she was very young She's quite competent in the kitchen at age 12.

[MotherGoose]

I actually don't agree nwith this either... My knives are infamously blunt and every time dh takes to them with the sharpener I cut myself. every time!

My belief is that you have to apply more physical force to get the knife to cut the food if it's dull, and therefore you are at greater risk of the knife slipping and cutting you. With a sharp knife you can let the blade to the work and keep yr fingers out of the way.

[Ausmumof3]

My belief is that you have to apply more physical force to get the knife to cut the food if it's dull, and therefore you are at greater risk of the knife slipping and cutting you. With a sharp knife you can let the blade to the work and keep yr fingers out of the way.

Maybe my problem is that I'm used the blunt knives and using more force so when they are sharp I apply too much force or something.

[HS Mom in NC]

My brother and cousins were gutting and dressing deer they shot themselves starting at ages 10-12. I was cleaning fish with a very sharp knife at 8. Were there a few cuts with us?  Yes.  Nothing that was a big deal though.

[Guest]

Maybe my problem is that I'm used the blunt knives and using more force so when they are sharp I apply too much force or something.

The worst I've ever cut myself was with an butter knife, for exactly that reason. I grabbed the wrong knife for the job and it was too dull, I pressed way too hard, slipped, and it was BAD. Sharp knives for me and the kids when they're cooking is the only way to go around here.

[MotherGoose]

You know lots of common sense things have been disproved by science, right?

 

Anyhow, you haven't answered how you can tell a kid is ready for a sharp knife. Kid handles a butter knife perfectly. Turns paring knife upside down 50% of the time. Obviously not ready, but how to know unless you try? I'm not willing to try that with a super sharp knife. Statistically, the kid might randomly hold it the correct way the first few times, I look away for a moment, and the kid creates a super deep cut (because, if you try cutting with the wrong side of a sharp knife, you have the same problem as with a dull or butter knife, but even worse because the non-cutting side has never been meant to cut into anything).

I think you go from dull, to sharper, to sharper, to really sharp. You don't give a child who is having trouble knowing which way is up a real sharp knife. Consistently knowing which way is up on any knife should be a clear parameter for whether or not kiddo is ready.

[MotherGoose]

Maybe my problem is that I'm used the blunt knives and using more force so when they are sharp I apply too much force or something.

That's probably true. You might get some sharp knives and cut up an Apple with each to see how they work. It's sort of Like driving different vehicles and gettin used to the brakes in each.

[luuknam]

I think you go from dull, to sharper, to sharper, to really sharp. You don't give a child who is having trouble knowing which way is up a real sharp knife. Consistently knowing which way is up on any knife should be a clear parameter for whether or not kiddo is ready.

 

Well, yeah... that's what I said I was doing, and then people were like "no! you must give them a really sharp knife!".

[SparklyUnicorn]

Well, yeah... that's what I said I was doing, and then people were like "no! you must give them a really sharp knife!".

 

Yeah no I wouldn't.  I think for young beginners a serrated knife works well.  If they had to cut something requiring something sharper then don't let them cut it.  But that type of knife should work for lots of different things. 

[Bluegoat]

Well, yeah... that's what I said I was doing, and then people were like "no! you must give them a really sharp knife!".

 

Well, I think if they are cutting something that requires a sharp knife, you need to give them a sharp knife.  No one should be cutting beets or really hard cheese with a butter knife, that is just dangerous.

 

So, if the knife is like a butter knife they are going to be limited to things like butter or avocados and so on.