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15 Best Play Food for Toddlers

Updated 30 July 2020

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Daniel Booth

Daniel is our primary content producer here at TheToyZone. He is a big kid at heart and a self confessed geek. His mission is to find toys that kids will treasure, researching and writing about toys he wants to play with himself.

For grown ups, food is one of life‘s great pleasures, but you certainly wouldn‘t let a toddler cook their own food. However, a great way for them to dive into their imagination is with play food. From cooking in the kitchen like mom and dad to hosting dinner parties with their stuffed animals, pretend play can be a magical experience for little ones.

So we found the 15 best play food toys for toddlers on the market today. Through extensive research, we uncovered the products with a genuine thumbs up from parents, carefully weeding out any bad apples with fake reviews.

  • 1Melissa & Doug Food Groups - 21 Wooden Pieces and 4 Crates

    B0000BX8MA-Melissa & Doug Food Groups - 21 Wooden Pieces and 4 Crates

    The Melissa & Doug Food Groups help with pretend play and teaches toddlers about the five main food groups thanks to the variety of options. Everything's made from wood, including the four crates the food comes in. They get meat and fish, produce such as veggies and fruit, dairy, and grains.

    What we love

    • Contains healthier food choices
    • Made from durable wood

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The wood makes this set a bit heavy
  • 2HABA Biofino Soft Fabric Fried Egg in Metal Shell Washable Plush Play Food

    B000A16RL0-HABA Biofino Soft Fabric Fried Egg in Metal Shell Washable Plush Play Food

    Imaginative play goes to the next level with this Biofino Soft Fabric Fried Egg. It takes a new approach to the typical toy egg, allowing toddlers the chance to explore what happens when you cook a fried egg. They can "crack" the metal eggshell apart and reveal the cloth fabric egg within.

    What we love

    • Interactive design makes it more engaging for toddlers
    • Shell is easy for young children to pull open

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Egg may occasionally stick inside the shell
  • 3HABA Biofino Grilled Chicken - Soft Pretend Play Food with Detachable Drumsticks and Wings

    B001ECBSVS-HABA Biofino Grilled Chicken - Soft Pretend Play Food with Detachable Drumsticks and Wings

    The Biofino Grilled Chicken is a cute and fun addition to a toy kitchen. It's the best play food for toddlers that they can take apart considering the drumsticks and wings are detachable. The Velcro holding the pieces together appears sturdy, as does the plastic inside the drumsticks that are intended to resemble bones.

    What we love

    • Soft, plushy fabric is long-lasting and washable
    • High-quality, realistic design

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Some of the plastic in the leg is exposed
  • 4Learning Resources New Sprouts Munch It! Pretend Play Food, Develops Imaginative Play, Toddler Outdoor Toys, Picnic Playfood, 20 Pieces, Ages 18 mos+

    B006RQ8ULC-Learning Resources New Sprouts Munch It! Pretend Play Food, Develops Imaginative Play, Toddler Outdoor Toys, Picnic Playfood, 20 Pieces, Ages 18 mos+

    The New Sprouts Munch It provides toddlers with 20 realistic pieces all made from crush-resistant plastic. It features familiar foods such as a bowl of cereal, a juice box, a bowl of mac and cheese, a muffin, banana, and more. Such familiarity can help tots develop their vocabulary for items they may see on a daily basis.

    What we love

    • Pieces are all a good size
    • Some of the material feels rubbery for a more realistic experience

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Might be more engaging if all the food was detachable
  • 5KidKraft 115-Piece Deluxe Tasty Treats Pretend Play Food Set, Plastic Grocery and Pantry Items, Gift for Ages 3+

    B00JLGGH2Y-KidKraft 115-Piece Deluxe Tasty Treats Pretend Play Food Set, Plastic Grocery and Pantry Items, Gift for Ages 3+

    The KidKraft Tasty Treats Play Food Set contains an incredible 115 pieces with a good amount of variety. Besides the usual fruits and veggies, there's also pizza, sweets like ice cream and cookies, salt and pepper shakers, milk cartons, and more.

    What we love

    • Good range of items with a mixture of healthy and "junk" food
    • Made from sturdy, long-lasting plastic

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Some of the food doesn't snap into place well
  • 6Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter (28 pcs) - Play Food and Accessories

    B01B1V10KA-Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter (28 pcs) - Play Food and Accessories

    As an all-inclusive play set, the Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter gives toddlers dessert anytime they want it. There are 28 pieces, most of them wooden, and kids can use the scooper to pick up and drop the eight ice cream scoops on the cones. Other accessories include tongs, a wooden spoon, a menu, a cup, and six $1 bills.

    What we love

    • Ice cream stays on cones very well
    • Good wooden case for storage

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Toppings could secure on the ice cream better
  • 7VIPAMZ My First Play Kitchen Pretend Cooking Toy Cookware Playset for Kids 11-Pieces Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Utensils-Dishwasher Safe

    B01HL661FI-VIPAMZ My First Play Kitchen Pretend Cooking Toy Cookware Playset for Kids 11-Pieces Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Utensils-Dishwasher Safe

    A play kitchen isn't much without stuff to cook the food with, and the My First Play Kitchen Toys provide toddlers with 11 pieces to work with. Made from stainless steel, these pieces are all dishwasher-safe. There are four pots with two lids, a potholder, and a carrying bag.

    What we love

    • Good variety of pots, pans, and utensils
    • Ideal size for small toddlers

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Younger toddlers might get more out of playing with it than older ones
  • 8iPlay, iLearn Cutting & Cooking Toy, Wooden Food, Pretend Play Kitchen Set, Magnetic Wood Fruit, Early Educational Development, Learning Gift for 3, 4, 5, 6 Year Old Kids, Toddlers, Boys & Girls

    B06ZZW6JG1-iPlay, iLearn Cutting & Cooking Toy, Wooden Food, Pretend Play Kitchen Set, Magnetic Wood Fruit, Early Educational Development, Learning Gift for 3, 4, 5, 6 Year Old Kids, Toddlers, Boys & Girls

    The iLearn Cutting & Cooking Toy feature quality natural wooden pieces. Each of the food items has a magnet inside to keep them together, and they all separate thanks to the included play knives. Kids can place everything on a cutting board for more realism. This set may help tots with food recognition thanks to the incredible details and accurate coloring.

    What we love

    • The coloring and details offer a practical approach to play food
    • Includes multiple accessories so tots can play with friends and family

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Some of the magnets could be a bit stronger
  • 9Wooden Pizza Toy for Kids Pizza Play Food Set - Wooden Play Food Sets for Kids with Chef hat (121 pcs) -Most Complete Kids Pizza Set Oven Toy & Sticky tab toppings - Pretend Play Pizza Set for Kids

    B07BBRBYNR-Wooden Pizza Toy for Kids Pizza Play Food Set - Wooden Play Food Sets for Kids with Chef hat (121 pcs) -Most Complete Kids Pizza Set Oven Toy & Sticky tab toppings - Pretend Play Pizza Set for Kids

    Bring the pizza parlor home with this Wooden Pizza Toy. With 121 pieces, it comes with everything toddlers need to embrace the life of a pizza maker such as the sliceable pizza with a pizza cutter, a menu, money and a cash register, removable toppings, and a pizza box that doubles as an oven. There is even a chef hat and six mustaches.

    What we love

    • Several pizza toppings for easy mix and matching
    • Money and coins help toddlers develop math and counting skills

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Might have to hold the pizza while cutting so it doesn’t slide around
  • 10Cutting Play Food Kitchen Pretend - Grocery Basket Toys for Kids 40pcs Children Girls Boys Educational Early Age Basic Skills Development, Include Fruits Vegetables Pizza Knife Mini Dishes

    B07GKZ8ZDC-Cutting Play Food Kitchen Pretend - Grocery Basket Toys for Kids 40pcs Children Girls Boys Educational Early Age Basic Skills Development, Include Fruits Vegetables Pizza Knife Mini Dishes

    For the toddlers who want some more realistic interaction with their fake food, this Cutting Play Food Kitchen gives them exactly that. Each food item from the veggies to the pizza is capable of being cut with the included knives. This even comes with two cutting boards, dishes, and a grocery basket.

    What we love

    • Velcro holds the food together well and comes apart with ease
    • Basket is big enough to be used as a storage container

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • It may help if the cutting boards were wider
  • 11ELitao 15 PCS Pretend Play Food Set - Pretend Cutting Play Desserts Cake Ice Cream and Donuts Food Toys - Birthday Gifts Set Toy for Boys, Girls, Kids (Blue)

    B07JFC6MZL-ELitao 15 PCS Pretend Play Food Set - Pretend Cutting Play Desserts Cake Ice Cream and Donuts Food Toys - Birthday Gifts Set Toy for Boys, Girls, Kids (Blue)

    Bright and colorful, the ELitao Pretend Play Food Set comes with 15 pieces to excite a toddler's sweet tooth. There's a cake, donuts, ice cream, and cupcakes all served up on a tray. Kids even get a cute cake knife to cut slices for all their friends.

    What we love

    • The knife is rounded for safety and easily separates the Velcro pieces
    • Features vibrant coloring

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Includes a few tiny pieces that may get lost
  • 12JOYIN Play Food Set 135 Pieces Play Kitchen Set for Market Educational Pretend Play, Food Playset, Kids Toddlers Toys, Kitchen Accessories Fake Food, Party Favor Christmas Stocking Stuffers

    B07KPNT92V-JOYIN Play Food Set 135 Pieces Play Kitchen Set for Market Educational Pretend Play, Food Playset, Kids Toddlers Toys, Kitchen Accessories Fake Food, Party Favor Christmas Stocking Stuffers

    The JOYIN Play Food Set is among the 15 best play foods for toddlers that comes with a slew of different pieces to enjoy. There are 135 colorful pieces, and there's a healthy variety. Toddlers can enjoy pizza, cookies, crackers, vegetables, fruit, dessert, canned and boxed foods, and even sushi.

    What we love

    • Made from sturdy plastic that holds its shape well
    • Excellent variety that introduces tots to new foods

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Some foods are out of proportion such as blueberries being larger than some veggies
  • 13Fisher-Price Cake Pop Shop - 24-Piece Pretend Dessert Bakery Play Set with Real Wood for Preschoolers 3 Years & Up

    B07MT65278-Fisher-Price Cake Pop Shop - 24-Piece Pretend Dessert Bakery Play Set with Real Wood for Preschoolers 3 Years & Up

    The Fisher-Price Cake Pop Shop lets toddlers create a sweet shop right at home. There are more than 20 pieces to mix and match with from cake pops to cookies and cupcakes. This even comes with a cute to-go bag and a cake stand to show off their creations.

    What we love

    • Pieces are simple to grasp and play with
    • Comes with a quality reusable bag

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Could benefit from having more cupcakes for the whole stand
  • 14JOYIN Kids Kitchen Pretend Play Toys with Coffee Maker Machine, Kettle, Toaster, Utensils and Cutting Vegetables Cooking Set Play Kitchen Accessories for Toddlers

    B07ZDK494Q-JOYIN Kids Kitchen Pretend Play Toys with Coffee Maker Machine, Kettle, Toaster, Utensils and Cutting Vegetables Cooking Set Play Kitchen Accessories for Toddlers

    The JOYIN Kids Kitchen helps toddlers emulate their home. This set comes with a coffee maker, a kettle, a toaster, and multiple food items and dishes. There are also some extra effects such as a toaster that pops up toast and a kettle that makes the sound of boiling water.

    What we love

    • Toaster is easy to use
    • Pieces are colorful and versatile

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Other food brands aren’t compatible with the appliances
  • 15FUN LITTLE TOYS 49 PCs Play Food for Kids Kitchen, Toy Foods with Cutting Fruits, Cake and Fast Food for Pretend Play, Play Kitchen Accessories

    B07ZQ3XFZR-FUN LITTLE TOYS 49 PCs Play Food for Kids Kitchen, Toy Foods with Cutting Fruits, Cake and Fast Food for Pretend Play, Play Kitchen Accessories

    This Play Food for Kids set can transport toddlers to the lively environment of a fast-food restaurant. There's the traditional American-style cheeseburger, a hot dog, fries, juice, an assortment of sweets, and plenty more. It even comes with serving tools such as a fork, spoon, and knife. All of it can be served on a tray.

    What we love

    • Toddlers can breakdown and reassemble the sandwich and hamburger
    • Pieces stay together well and are easy for kids to hold onto

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Not a lot of healthy food options