Moreover, we spoke with a pediatrician and reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the benefits of pretend play. In addition to the working ice maker that dispenses plastic ice cubes, the refrigerator and top freezer doors are magnetic.

Educational Toys | Montessori Toys | Mattel

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The realistic blender and popcorn maker stovetop attachment—the latter has tiny white balls that pop on the inside to mimic the real thing. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.The light and sounds of the microwave were a big hit with our kiddos, who loved pressing the buttons to watch the appliance light up and see their food heating up. We loved the little details that added to this play kitchen’s overall character, like the mosaic backsplash and gold accents.

Verywell Family The 10 Best Play Kitchens of 2023 - Verywell Family

On the kitchen side, you’ll find a blender to mix smoothies, a recipe book with flippable pages, a sink, and plenty of space to prep a meal. The only tools we needed for assembly were a pair of screwdrivers and pliers, and fitting it all together only took about an hour. While no accessories come with the IKEA play kitchen, we think this kitchen still has value thanks to its attractive (and durable) design.

For example, when you put a pot or pan on the stovetop, children hear a sizzling sound to replicate real cooking noises.

If you’re working with a small space, choosing the Hape Gourmet Kitchen means you don’t have to sacrifice functionality or style.Aspiring chefs will have a blast with this kid's play kitchen that features sounds and lights for a realistic cooking experience. Next, we asked testers to make notes about setup, describing if the process was frustrating or simple (or somewhere in between), if testers needed any extra tools or hands, and asked them to ensure no pieces or parts could come off. The spacious refrigerator in the KidKraft Mosaic play kitchen is about as close as it gets to the real thing.