Toys & Play

33 of the Coolest Play Kitchen Accessories

Alicia Betz
Alicia Betz
Alicia Betz is a freelance writer specializing in parenting and education. She researches and tests products from the hottest new toys to the most tried and true parenting products.She earned her bachelor of science degree in education from Penn State University with…read more
updated Nov 13, 2022
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Toy canned foods, cheese, bread, and grapes on left; baking tools, muffin tray, and pink apron on right.
Credit: From Left to Right: Melissa & Doug, Uncommon Goods, Pottery Barn Kids

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Play kitchens are the ultimate childhood toy. As a parent, I love my daughter’s play kitchen because it keeps her occupied while I’m making dinner, and it encourages her to engage in pretend play. She’s made me everything from “pot roast” to concoctions only a toddler could think up. I do have to make sure I check her pretend oven for rotting fruit every so often, but all in all, the play kitchen is one of the most loved toys in our house. 

Many play kitchens don’t come with a ton of accessories, and the ones they do come with are usually pretty generic. To liven up your child’s play kitchen, we found 33 of the coolest play kitchen accessories, some of which you probably already have lying around your house. Whether you’re looking to get your kid their first play kitchen or you want to liven up the one you already have, there are plenty of fun options here at every price point. 

Credit: Target

Upcycle: empty dish soap container and sponge

Some of the best play kitchen accessories are already in your home. Give your child an old dish soap container and sponge so they can wash dishes in their pretend sink. 

Upcycle: empty food containers

Rather than throwing out your old food containers, clean them thoroughly and turn them into play food! Think cereal boxes, yogurt containers, pasta boxes, and condiment containers. Just be sure to stay away from glass, cans, or other containers that might have sharp edges.  

Upcycle: old baby bottle brushes 

If you’re past the baby bottle cleaning stage, don’t throw away those cleaning brushes! Your kids will find plenty of use for them in their play kitchen. 

Upcycle: old dish towels, cleaning cloths, or baby washcloths 

Before you get rid of old dish towels, cleaning cloths, and baby washcloths, consider adding them to the play kitchen, too. Kids can use them as hot pads, tea towels, napkins, and anything else they can imagine. You could even cut them into smaller pieces to make them truly tiny-kitchen-sized.

Deluxe Kids Chef Set
$10

Play kitchens are more fun when kids get to look the part. This role play kit includes an apron, chef’s hat, hot pad, oven mitt, and kitchen utensils. Kids can use this set to play or to help out in the kitchen.

$10 at Amazon
DUKTIG Tea Set
$8

This simple 3-piece set is perfect for pretend tea parties. It’s a ceramic set, so make sure you supervise kids until they learn to treat these play items with care.

$8 at IKEA
Personalized Kitchen Towels
$11

Personalize their play kitchen towels, too! Add their name or a fun phrase to these festive towels. The shop also sells towels that aren’t seasonal, like this cupcake one or this kitchen utensil one.

$11 at Etsy
Children's Fun Water Dispenser
$9

If your kid likes to include water in every play kitchen creation like mine does, they’ll love this dispenser. It also provides a great opportunity for young kids to work on pouring skills.

$9 at Walmart
Personalized Apron & Chef Hat
$14

Personalization is always fun, and they’ll feel like a real chef in their personalized apron and matching chef’s hat. With 10 different colors available and room for 256 characters of personalization, you can really make the apron unique to your child.

$14 at Etsy
Let’s Play House! Grocery Cans
$17

We don’t recommend upcycling real cans since they can be sharp, but this pretend set includes 10 play cans in various sizes. The lids come off, too, so they can put pretend food inside.

$17 at Melissa & Doug
KidKraft 27-Piece Pastel Cookware Set
$18$12

If you’re tired of bright, flashy toys, you’ll enjoy adding this pastel cookware set to your child’s play kitchen. It includes everything they need to set the table: plates, cups, cutlery, bowls, and more.

$12 at Walmart
Play 2 Play Smoothie Blaster Maker Kit
$7

The play kitchen just got real with this smoothie maker that can make real smoothies. They can add frozen fruit and a liquid such as juice or coconut water to make their smoothie. The best part about it: no batteries needed.

$7 at Walmart
Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Cheesy Sandwich Playset
$20

With this Play-Doh kit, kids get to make realistic grilled cheese sandwiches with an elastic compound that mimics gooey cheese. It also comes with molds and Play-Doh colors to add lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.

$20 at Walmart
We All Scream for Ice Cream 25-Piece Set
$25

Kids can serve up delicious ice cream treats with this 25-piece ice cream parlor set. The scoop holds the ice cream perfectly and you can stack them on the ice cream cones. Fun for kids and great to strengthen those fine motor skills.

$25 at Fat Brain Toys
Wooden Play Toaster
$26$20

This 8-piece toaster set includes a toaster, toast, butter, jelly, and a knife. The toast actually pops out of the toaster when you press the handle, providing fun interactive play!

$20 at Walmart
LeapFrog Choppin' Fun Learning Pot
$18$16

The Choppin’ Fun Learning Pot is a fun toy on its own, but it makes an even better addition to a play kitchen. The talking toy plays melodies, suggests recipes, talks about food, and more. It provides just enough interaction to engage kids in play, but not so much that they become passive consumers.

$16 at Walmart
Little Chef Frankfurt Stainless Steel Cooking Accessory Set
$23$16

No play kitchen is complete without pots and pans. This stainless steel set includes one pot, three pans, lids, ladles, and a potholder. Kids enjoy this set because they look so realistic, just like the pots and pans their parents and caregivers use.

$16 at Maisonette
KidKraft 115-Piece Deluxe Tasty Treats Pretend Play Food Set
$25

Maybe their play kitchen didn’t come with any food accessories or maybe you really want to increase their stock. Either way, this 115-piece set has you covered. From milk cartons to watermelon, they’ll find everything they need in this play food set.

$25 at Walmart
Food Groups- Wooden Play Food
$28

Kids can learn about different food groups and practice sorting (an important pre-math skill) when they play with this food set. It includes food from all five food groups along with wooden crates to separate them into.

$28 at Melissa & Doug
Slice and Bake Cookie Set
$28

Kids can whip up beautiful pretend cookies with this set. The cookies velcro together, so they can slice up the dough with the included knife before decorating their cookies and putting them in their pretend oven. The kit also includes a spatula, cookie sheet, and oven mitt.

$28 at Melissa & Doug
Flip & Serve Pancake Set
$28

Kids can serve up a nice pancake breakfast with this kit that includes two pancakes, nine topping pieces, butter, a skillet, a knife, a spatula, and a place setting. This is a fun way for kids to serve up a whole meal, from cooking it on the pretend skillet to plating it on the placemat.

$28 at Melissa & Doug
New Sprouts Stir Fry Set
$28

Stir fry lovers rejoice! This stir fry set includes a wok, a to-go container, a fortune cookie, tongs, a spatula, and six different vegetables. For kids hesitant to eat vegetables, playing with them in this set may make them more approachable when it comes to real meals.

$28 at Learning Resources
KidKraft Children’s Baking Set
$27

This cute little mixer and cookie set is a favorite in our play kitchen. My daughter enjoys putting ingredients in the mixer and serving up her concoctions. It comes with a mixer, bowl, rolling pin, baking sheet, ingredients, and two cookies.

$27 at Amazon
Wooden Food Set
$39

This beautiful wooden food set includes watermelon, tomato, bread, cucumber, carrot, pepper, and avocado. Each piece in the set can be sliced with the included knife. This is great for developing those hand muscles and motor skills.

$39 at Pottery Barn Kids
LeapFrog Count-Along Basket and Scanner
$21

When kids have play food, they often like to play store as well. They can pretend to shop and scan their play food with this scanner and shopping basket. The interactive basket plays songs, counts food, and more.

$21 at Walmart
Just Like Home Kitchen Playset
$33

These realistic dishes and utensils are ideal for setting the play table. They’re even dishwasher safe, making them super easy to clean. The set includes four complete place settings.

$33 at Lakeshore
Working Play Sink
$37$3311% off

Adding a working sink to the play kitchen makes things infinitely more exciting. Just fill with water, and the faucet actually dispenses water. The included accessories change color in warm water, making playtime even more fun.

$33 at Amazon
Let's Play House! Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Play Set
$38

This stainless steel pots and pans set includes a colander, a pot, two pans, lids, two wooden utensils, and a storage rack to keep everything organized. They’re just the right size for kids to play with, but they look like the real thing!

$38 at Melissa & Doug
Soft Pasta Set
$39

This stainless steel pot and colander comes with various types of soft pasta. It also includes a pastry wheel and serving utensils. If pasta night is a staple in your household, this set is a must.

$39 at Pottery Barn Kids
Wooden Cooking & Eating Set
$49

If you prefer wooden toys, this wooden dish and cooking set is ideal. Kids can cook and set the pretend table with the included pot, pan, utensils, dishes, and salt and pepper.

$49 at Pottery Barn Kids
Skip Hop Zoo Bark Ista Coffee Set
$32

If your kids watch you make coffee every morning, they’ll be sure to imitate your actions with their own coffee set. It includes everything they need to make delicious pretend coffee: whipped toppings, sugar, milk, and more.

$32 at Amazon
Felt Picnic Set
$79$63

This felt picnic set is ideal for babies and younger kids who aren’t quite ready for more advanced play food. It includes a baguette, two strawberries, a fig, a brie wheel, two brie slices, a bunch of grapes, and a tablecloth.

$63 at Crate & Barrel
70 Piece Pretend and Play Baking Set
$55$48

From a timer to utensils to measuring spoons, this kit includes all the kitchen supplies they need to complete their recipes. For kids who already have plenty of play food but not many kitchen tools, this set will complete their play kitchen collection.

$48 at Wayfair

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