Nowadays, they can learn how to cook and bake right from your home kitchen with online cooking classes. Join in and make it a family event, or casually supervise and let the kids learn on their own. These are our top choices for your little home chef.
Best Online Cooking Classes for Kids of 2022
Best Overall: Real Food 4 Kids Best Free Class: Food Literacy Center Best for Desserts: Tiny Chefs Best for Private Events: The Dynamite Shop Best for Live Classes: Home Cooking New York Best for Families and All Ages: The Kids’ Table Best for Serious Kid Cooks: Sprouts Cooking Club Best for STEAM Learning in the Kitchen: America’s Test Kitchen
ProsCourses are led by kidsTeaches kids about food and nutritionCourse focuses on techniques ConsPrice info not available There are plenty of courses online to teach kids how to make food, but there are very few that are led and feature kids in the videos. Real Food 4 Kids has a boy or girl in front of the camera, making the instructions and video more relatable. Each video with the lead child goes through the steps of the recipe, talking about what they are doing, with an adult narrating the technique, asking questions, and clarifying instructions. This makes for a great learning experience for the kids watching the recipe being made. Beyond the online cooking school subscription, there is a series of online classes, the ability to book a private cooking or baking party, as well as a resource section of the website that covers topics like fruits and vegetables, recipe ideas, and the science, math, and art of food. The online cooking school membership is $20 per month, with a discount if you buy three months upfront. Additionally, for every monthly subscription, a subscription is given to a family in need. ProsBasic fundamentals coveredPrintable recipes in English, Spanish, and HmongLessons focus on cooking and nutritionFree ConsLinear course is a time investmentVideo and audio quality could be better The Food Literacy Center is a nonprofit based in Sacramento, California, that focuses on inspiring low-income elementary school kids to eat fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. The website has a section of recipes with categories that range from budget-friendly and main courses to cooking with kids. In 2020, the organization opted to bring its lessons and courses online. The 12-course lesson starts with assembling a sunflower seed butter and seasonal fruit sandwich, moves on to an introduction to knife skills, and continues through various lessons that teach kids the roles of ingredients and nutrients in the body. Sugar, fat, fiber, and salt as nutrients are all discussed, as well as different tools used in the kitchen and how to minimize food waste by using the whole vegetable. Along the way, kids learn how to make tasty meals and dishes like veggie fresh rolls, rainbow soup, and broccoli and potato tacos. Included in every lesson plan is a detailed downloadable recipe (available in English, Spanish, or Hmong), a supply list, a lesson plan, an activity worksheet, and a video of the lesson on YouTube or Facebook. All lessons are free on the website, and there is a selection of other recipes that highlight easy, fast, and budget-friendly dishes. ProsWhimsical decorating techniques keep classes funCreative flavor combinations and recipesRecipes are interesting enough for adults and kids ConsPricing structure is a bit confusing Tiny Chefs teaches online classes for savory and sweet dishes, but the dessert courses are a standout. Each version has a few different dessert-focused classes, including The Art of Cupcakes, Cupcake Wars, and Donuts and Dips. And even the non-dessert-focused courses, like Cooking Around the World, Family Meals, and Restaurant Creations, include a few desserts. The cupcake-focused courses teach you not only the fundamentals of making cupcakes but also how to decorate the cupcake in fun ways, like a shark attack cupcake, a firework cupcake, or a peacock cupcake. Flavors are kid-friendly but are innovative, such as Creamsicle, Tres Leche, and Snickerdoodle. Non-cupcake desserts are featured in other courses, like classic soft chocolate chip cookies, key lime pie, and S’mores brownies. Virtual camps, private classes and parties, and live cooking series are available. One-time cooking classes start at $15. You can also join the membership for $50 per month which gives you unlimited access to over 90 different lessons and recipes as well as access to one live class each month. Joining the club also gives you a free apron, and new content is added monthly. ProsPrivate event planner customizes classesGuests can mingle at the end of the eventRecording of the class is available ConsRecipes may require more advanced skills Planning a kid’s party can be a bit of a chore, and virtual parties are no different. But The Dynamite Shop is there to help you out with a private event planner to take the burden off of you. They have experience teaching online classes and will work with you to customize a virtual experience that your kids will enjoy, making a special meal or dessert, with groups ranging from 10 to 100 people or more. Private classes for single households are also available. Large cooking events are taught over Zoom and include one to two hours of cooking lessons. Ingredients and equipment lists are sent out beforehand so you and your guests can prepare for the event. The recipe is provided so you follow along and make the dish during and whenever you want afterward. Unlike other private events, the Zoom call will continue after the instructor is done, letting the guests hang out to eat the food they just made, chat, and celebrate. Recordings of each class are available upon request. Standard event lessons include fresh pasta, cupcake challenge, breakfast bash, and more. And if you don’t want one of the standard event lessons, you can pick items from The Dynamite Shop’s dinner and baking club menus or discuss customizing a lesson plan unique to your needs. Pricing starts at $350 for up to 10 households, with an additional $20 each for up to 30 households. Over 30 and up to 100 households is a flat $750. You can even add on an additional half-hour of instruction for more lessons (like a dessert) for an extra fee. ProsSet up for kids 10 and up to cook independentlyEmpowers kidsLive class format ConsClass times may not work for everyone Home Cooking New York is one of the few online courses listed here that doesn’t focus just on kids or teens. It does offer a wide range of individual adult classes, that are also open to kids and teens. Those ages 10+ can partake in the virtual classes and those 12+ can attend in-person classes in New York. Virtual classes are offered weekly and there is also a summer camp. Weekly virtual summer cooking camps are also available for kids age 10 and up with two-hour daily classes Monday through Thursday, during which kids will learn meals to make during the session. Days are thematic, ranging from Brunch dishes to Mexican, Southern, or Asian. Ninety-minute weekly cooking and baking classes are $50 each, while summer camp prices are $250 per week. ProsVarious classesOther family members in the same house can joinReasonably priced ConsClass times may not work for everyoneVegetarian recipes may not suit all palates The Kids’ Table features live virtual cooking classes for kids, teens, and families. With a wide range of vegetarian recipes, the organization teaches kids to enjoy “real food” through interactive instruction. Classes are held in small groups on the Zoom platform with recipes and ingredient lists given 5-6 days in advance. All skill levels are welcome, but classes are grouped as 11+ or all ages. One-hour virtual class offerings include themes which are often seasonal. You can also sign up for packages or individual classes. The Kids’ Table also features online cooking classes for kids that are on-demand. The videos feature step-by-step instructions that you can watch from the comfort of your kitchen on your own time. The prerecorded sessions can be viewed through Vimeo on Demand as individual class rentals for $4 a class or with monthly unlimited access for $15 a month. Virtual classes are $20 for a 1-hour class or you can choose a package with four, six, or eight classes per month. Those cost $66, $94, and $116 respectively, saving you some money if you intend to take multiple classes. ProsEasy-to-understand recipesFun STEAM food-related activitiesKid tested and approved recipes. ConsRecipes rarely include a videoNot customizable for siblings or special diets America’s Test Kitchen develops solid, foolproof recipes through testing and science. It has taken that methodology and created a young chef’s club that not only has kid tested and approved recipes and activities, but also breaks down the fundamentals of the science of cooking so kids can understand both the meaning and the process. Subscription boxes are sent out once a month and contain projects that range from 15 minutes to a few hours, with recipes that can be cooked again and again. Monthly boxes feature recipes, hands-on experiments, kitchen technique cards, as well as a “make it your way” recipe challenge, buttons, stickers, and a cooking tool or specialty ingredient. Bonus items are also in each box and include things like coupons, games, puzzles, taste tests, and more. Beyond the subscription box, there is lots of free content on the website, featuring recipes like zucchini bread, M&M cookies, sheet pan French toast, and more. Recipes are clearly marked at the beginning with information about the recipe, informing adults about safety concerns (like the use of a knife or hot oven), difficulty level, the time involved, and the recipe yield. With over 300 recipes (as well as myriad activities and quizzes), there’s plenty of free content to occupy a kid. Subscription boxes start at $29.95 per month, with discounts available if you buy six or 12 months in advance.
What Is the Best Age to Start My Child in an Online Cooking Class?
Children mature at different ages and classes are designed for different ages. That said, there are a number of classes that are geared toward kids as young as 5 or 6. Depending on how mature your child is, you can start them as young as you feel comfortable.
What Do Kids Learn in a Virtual Cooking Class?
All classes are different. Some focus on fundamentals like knife skills (and may suggest using a plastic knife for young kids) or start by showing kids how to make easy, no-cook snacks like sandwiches. Others teach kids how to bake or do more complicated dishes such as salads, fresh pasta, dips like guacamole, and tacos.
How Much Experience Do Kids Need to Take an Online Cooking Class?
Classes range in how much experience kids need, but most are designed for kids with no cooking experience. Any class that is more advanced will usually explain the experience a child will need in the description.
Do Adults Need to Be Present for Children’s Online Cooking Classes?
Only an adult or caregiver of the specific child can determine the appropriate amount of supervision needed. That said, most classes will tell you in the description if the class is suitable for independent learning or if the class might need supervision from an adult.
Methodology
We carefully researched and assessed numerous articles and reviews across the internet and consulted with parents, kids, cooking instructors, and cooking schools to find the best criteria for a successful online cooking class for kids. There are numerous options out there, but we strove to find a wide range of classes and courses that suit the needs of a variety of kids.
