sarahtraversOkay let’s talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to cooking with kids… mess.
It’s honestly one of my biggest challenges when working in the kitchen with kids. It was also one of the biggest worries (with safety- I am looking at you knives and ovens coming second) families had when I did a poll on my Instagram stories a few weeks ago.
I often wonder if it’s worth the extra work of cleaning up after, but I remind myself that kids need to learn to cook sometimes and won’t learn if we don’t let them give it a go.
My biggest disaster when it came to mess was when we were making banana bread and my youngest was fussing so I needed to leave the kitchen briefly. My oldest continued with the recipe… but when pouring sugar into the cup measure it overflowed and went all over the counter. This is why we now use tip one every time we cook!
So after testing out so many recipes, we have picked up a few tricks along the way to help reduce mess, if only a little bit. And most of the tips are for flour 🤣
1. Using a plate under any cup
This is super simple but helps contain any spills to a small area. This can also mean you can still use any of the excess that lands on the plate. It’s also great with eggs. We usually use a mug as it’s easier to break the egg (and check for shells) then the plate again can collect anything that spills down the side.
This has honestly been a game-changer for us. Bonus points if the plate is dishwasher-proof for even easier clean-up.
2. Only having out the ingredients needed
This one might seem a bit obvious, but for little kids, it’s even more important. This is for several reasons.
Firstly, because it reduces overwhelm with trying to understand to recipe, identify then find the ingredient before then trying to use it.
It also means they are less likely to knock something over or start putting fingers in the wrong ingredient if there is too much to work with.
You may even need to go one step further with this if you are working with really little ones or children not used to cooking. I have found having the ingredients out ready on another counter in the kitchen and then only putting in front what is needed now or next is helpful. Then move ingredients out of the way as they have been used.
This is also great for you to facilitate as it means your child can focus on the recipe whilst you can keep an eye on but not get too much in their way. This is the goal to be moving towards for their independence.
3. Using smaller cups to scoop out bigger ones
Another one for flour (and sugar). Whilst cup recipes for kids is the best way to start, pouring from a bag of flour or sugar can be tricky- even as an adult I sometimes miss a bit.
Using small cup sizes (like ¼ cup) as a scoop can help little ones control the transfer of the flour from the bag to a cup – meaning less mess.
4. Make sure they can fully reach the surface
This again may sound like an obvious one but if your child can’t fully access their work surface there will be a mess. Make sure they aren’t stretching up or over to reach things as this will inevitably end in a mess.
You may opt to prepare on a kitchen or dining table as this works better for you. We have also found that this works better for some family members. So for instance when they cooked with nanna they did it at the table.
5. If you have multiple children doing the recipe at once, have a plan for who is going to scoop this time and who is going to put it in the bowl
Sibling disagreements, sneak in everywhere, don’t they. Now you might have siblings that get on well or if they are older aren’t scrambling to have a go.
But it’s likely if you are working with kids under 7 they will struggle to wait to scoop the flour. To save your sanity decide if they will take turns to do one cup measurement each or one measure and one tips in. Trust me you will need a plan for this.
6. Teach them how to hold a bowl
This is more for our littlest bakers but kids often don’t naturally hold a big bowl when stirring.
They will be so excited when it comes to mixing time they will be focusing on the spoon and next thing you know, the bowl will be spinning around and flour (there it is again) will be flying across the counter.
Take a moment to put your hand on the bowl. Show them and remind them until they do it automatically. It’s a simple thing but this little bit of teaching could save you kitchen counter.
7. Teach and encourage tidying up
Kids love to tidy up. Hmmm. They might like the idea of water play in the washing-up bowl or using a broom but not sweeping. But including at least some parts of tidying up in the cooking routine will of course help with the mess.
What are your tips for reducing mess when cooking with kids?
Now I am going to add a little disclaimer with all of these tips. These have all helped us REDUCE mess and help me embrace cooking with my kids. They haven’t stopped mess completely as they are kids and cooking is messy anyway!
If you try any of these tips or have more to add comment below or drop me a message on Instagram @reading_made_delicious
Content Disclaimer
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog post are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this blog. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this blog. Sarah Travers disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this post.