Play kitchens offer all the excitement of cooking without any of the mess or potential for setting off the smoke alarm. Besides, where else can you make cherry pie with pickles, or pizza with fried eggs and French fries? Help your kids cook up some fun of their own with our five top picks for play kitchens. — Kate Bayless
Battat Kitchen Center Play Set - $99
For the best combination of quality and price, we were impressed with the Battat Kitchen Center, which is sturdy, compact, made of wood, battery-free and offers some bells and whistles while allowing ample room for imaginative play. Complete with a sink, stovetop, oven, microwave and dishwasher, the Kitchen Center has knobs to turn and buttons to push and comes with a handful of kitchen tools. Though the Battat kitchen advertises itself as made for two players, it is only 28" long — which means that unless your toddler can stay within a fourteen-inch space, elbows will definitely bump. If the Battat is too blue for your tastes, go pink with the similar Play Wonder Kitchen Center ($129), which includes a stovetop, oven, sink, microwave, increased storage and chalkboard. One caveat: neither comes pre-assembled, so set aside an hour or two to put it together.
Get the Battat Kitchen Center Play Set at Amazon.
Get the Play Wonder Kitchen Set at Amazon.
Kids' Play Kitchens: Runners-Up
Pottery Barn Kids Gourmet Kitchen Collection - $299 - $879
If you have money to burn and space to spare, the Gourmet Kitchen Collection by Pottery Barn Kids is downright gorgeous. This four-piece collection — including a sink, stove, fridge and island, all sold separately and in various combination packages — are constructed out of durable MDF board and covered in deep cocoa birch veneers that beautifully complement the stainless steel accents. The fridge has two shelves, an ice dispenser in the door that actually dispenses four wooden ice cubes, and a bottom freezer. The stovetop has a double-door oven, four burners and a griddle, as well as knobs that click. The sink includes a faucet and soap dispenser, while the dishwasher underneath has sliding dish racks. The island is a combo unit that contains a stovetop, oven sink and storage. In addition to being beautifully made, the Gourmet Kitchen Collection has solid construction, nice attention to detail and (hallelujah!) comes mostly pre-assembled. Just try to hide your kitchen envy from your toddler.
Get the Kids Gourmet Kitchen Collection at Pottery Barn Kids.For more of the best play kitchens, go to Babble.com.