At what age is it ok for kids to cook by themselves (with no adult home?)

[Anonymous]

Just a word of warning for the long-haired... keep the hair up in the kitchen and away from flames!

[Anonymous]

Definitely the 14 yo

[Anonymous]

This thread is very reassuring to me. My SIL still cuts up her kids' food. They are 12 and 9. No way she'd let them cook. She and my brother flipped when I gave my 7 year old son a steak knife. I'm glad there are other parents out there teaching their kids very basic but essential life skills like cooking.

[Anonymous]

How about providing a variety of no-cooktop foods like sandwich fixings, fruit, cheese, veggies and microwavable leftovers?

[Anonymous]

I'd just make sure:

They were good about turning the oven off.
There is a kitchen fire extinguisher in easy reach.
There's a working smoke detector near the kitchen.
They are unafraid of calling 911.
They aren't inclined to fight about food or cooking.

And that they know generic cooking safety tips like keeping pot handles turned in, how to put out a grease fire, etc.

Good list, but I would especially make a point about showing them how to put out a grease fire. Make sure they know not to throw water on it, and not to throw a window open near it (or to throw a window open to get rid of smoke). That big rush of incoming oxygen can cause a flare-up, or even start the fire where there was only smoke before.

You might even start a small flame in a skillet and show them that throwing a big lid on it puts it out, so that they know how to do that quickly and calmly, and don't freak out if they ever see a flame.

Also, I wouldn't let them fry things in oil until they're in high school. Frying in oil is how accidental fires start (I remember a 6th grade friend burning up her kitchen that way, by opening the window when the oil was smoking). It can also result in spattering/burns, etc. If they just stick to boiling, steaming, sauteeing, griddling, and microwaving, they'll be OK.

[Anonymous]

In our house, you learned to cook from a very early age - nothing fancy, but enough to get your own breakfast, cold lunches, snacks, etc. My mom still tells the story of when I was four or five and had a sleepover at a friends house. I got up like any normal morning and started cooking eggs for me and my friend (mid '70s). Turned out perfectly (electric stove in those days), but the other mom was horrified (and rightly so, but I didn't realize there was anything wrong with it at the time). Going forward I only cooked at home, but my point being kids can learn to do a lot of things very well if you just teach them - even younger kids. Most parents today are just too scared to "let" go and have the kids try to do things on their own, or don't have the time to teach the kids the proper way and let them cook at their own speed - to regimented with all the activities, etc. Honestly, I would say no later than age 10 should a kid be able to cook basic items on their own. I'd be a little more concerned with a gas stove, but heck - almost everyone owns a microwave. Kids learn how to use that really fast!

Great story. DS, 7, just started frying his own eggs and making his own pancakes. I'll have to watch out for that one.
I'm more worried about him reaching into the toaster to grab stuff than I am about him handling a griddle. I've really emphasized unplugging the toaster before grabbing what's inside (with the bamboo tongs) but I still worry a little.

[Anonymous]

More than by age, I think you need to go by experience... how much experience do your particular kids have with cooking things on the stove?

And part of the experience is, have they yet had the experience of burning themselves? Do they know how to be cautious? Do they know how to pour stuff with hot water (and not scald themselves?) Do they know how to treat a burn? Have they seen something on the stove catch on fire? Do they know how to put it out?

Some experience and wisdom comes from having been hurt (a little bit).

I leave my children home alone after age 12 but they aren't allowed to operate the stove while home alone until more like age 15. They may use the stove while I am home, though, and I encourage them to.

[Anonymous]

Huh? I cooked thanksgiving dinner at 11. Why are you raising such helpless children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh? I cooked thanksgiving dinner at 11. Why are you raising such helpless children?

It doesn't sound like OP's children are helpless. She's asking about doing it without supervision. That's not a test of cooking skills. That's a test of maturity. Considering I had college roommates who freaked out when they caught something on fire in the dorms, I think it's a legitimate question about age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the child. My 14 year old is accident prone and forgetful, so not yet for him.

Mine too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the child. My 14 year old is accident prone and forgetful, so not yet for him.

Is he the same one who you can't trust to take a shower by himself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh? I cooked thanksgiving dinner at 11. Why are you raising such helpless children?

OK, maybe you did... but you must realize that was, and is, a very unusual thing for an 11 year old to be doing.

I cooked a lot as a teen for the family but not until I was about 14... and certainly not an entire Thanksgiving dinner!

The majority of home fires are started in the kitchen, according to the Red Cross anyhow, which is one reason why people need to be certain that their children are responsible and able to pay attention and not get distracted when using the stove and oven.

http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340093_FireFAQs.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? I cooked thanksgiving dinner at 11. Why are you raising such helpless children?

It doesn't sound like OP's children are helpless. She's asking about doing it without supervision. That's not a test of cooking skills. That's a test of maturity. Considering I had college roommates who freaked out when they caught something on fire in the dorms, I think it's a legitimate question about age.

This is actually even MORE reason to teach and coach your children about these things early. I had college roommates who were helpless with anything that had to do with maintaining a home on your own (obviously I don't mean a whole house, but those skills). Some wore it like a badge of honor, like that was all beneath them, but they just seemed like helpless children!

[Anonymous]

Omg. 30 years ago, when I was 12, it was common in our working-class neighbourhoods for girls my age to cook family dinners. When parents got home at 6, there was a meal waiting. We did not do it all the time, but once a week or so.

[Anonymous]

My 12 year old has been known to cook pancakes, mac and cheese and other items when home alone. She's very responsible- although not always great about cleaning up.