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Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy Kitchen

Curated from 119 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: August 20, 2024

Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy Kitchen

Brand: Melissa & Doug
Price: $141
Snoop Score:
7.3
Sentiment
8.2
Popularity
6.9
Technical
6.7

Snoop's Take

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy Kitchen is a versatile play set designed for toddlers and kids aged 3 and up. This beautifully crafted wooden kitchen includes essential features like an oven, stove, microwave, sink, and a refrigerator with a working ice dispenser, encouraging imaginative play and creativity. Consumer feedback highlights its durable wooden construction and engaging features, with many parents noting that their children find endless enjoyment in it. One user remarked, "It serves an essential role!" while another shared that it remains a highly engaging toy even after years of use, stating, "It is a very consistently used toy, even 2 years later." Parents appreciate the adorable design and functionality, which promotes creativity and interactive play among children. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding its durability, engaging features, and the joy it brings to children, the Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy Kitchen is highly recommended for anyone looking to invest in a quality play kitchen for toddlers.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Kitchen Playsets

They will use any features they have, and use imagination for the rest!

Positive Feedback

It was assembled at least 4 years ago so I'm less concerned about off gassing from the wood or paint.

Negative Feedback
Product
7.3
Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy Kitchen
Imaginative Role Play
7 / 10
Educational Play
7 / 10
Indoor/Outdoor Entertainment
7 / 10
Gift & Party Activity
7 / 10
See how this compares to all Kitchen Playsets

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Encourages imaginative play
They will use any features they have, and use imagination for the rest!
My kid loves it. He uses it as a kitchen set, but also as a variety of other things like a truck garage and an office.
It serves an essential role!
are they a valid investment or just something that looks nice in a nursery?
Durable wooden construction
My niece and nephew like to sit in the diner booth to eat dinner when they are at my apartment!
I've been meaning to get this thing, but my son's speech therapist has one and it's a huge hit.
Engaging ice maker feature
Recommendations for toddler kitchen I’m overwhelmed at the choices and vast options when really she
Once the kids got it figured out, they played with just that feature forever.
Simplicity keeps kids engaged
Yep I like this one. My daughter is almost 4 and has gone through phases of playing with it but it still gets a lot of play for how simple it is.
Great for imaginative play
It is a very consistently used toy, even 2 years later.
Engaging for toddlers with doors to open
my 1 year old really likes it! She’s really into opening and closing the doors, playing with the wooden food and lots and pans (Melissa and Doug).
Adorable design and quality
it’s so freaking adorable. It lives at my apartment so that my brother doesn’t kill me, and I loved looking at it.
Melissa & Doug wooden food is a budget-friendly option
I would look for Melissa & Doug wooden food as the more budget friendly option.
We love Melissa and Doug toys in general
Ice maker feature is engaging
Omg yes, my twins whack each other once a day
Highly engaging for toddlers
2.5 year old got this last Christmas and it’s STILL his favorite toy! By a long shot.
Defo this! My son who just turned 4 has been playing with it for 1.5 years now
Yes same here! She's 3 years old and still plays with it loads! She got it when she was 18 months
Yup yup. We've had it since our first was a year old and an only child. Now we have a 3.5 and 2 year old and they both play with it every day.
Good quality wooden construction
I think the paint on a lot of the cheaper MD wooden toy sets chips too easily - like the wooden puzzles.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Includes plastic components
It was assembled at least 4 years ago so I'm less concerned about off gassing from the wood or paint.
Cleaning multiple kitchens can be a hassle
But you will regret it as you'll find yourself cleaning 2 kitchens.
Comparison with IKEA kitchens
while it’s fine my son plays with the ikea one more
she loves it!! So my vote goes to Ikea as well :)
Paint on Melissa & Doug food can come off when wet
it was completely ruined with paint coming off in chunks.
Wooden toys can cause injuries when thrown
Love all their stuff but just something to consider!
I love Melissa and Doug toys, but because they are darn near indestructible, they make a harder impact for projectile throwing tantrums… which I found out the hard way, literally.
I would much rather take a plastic toy to the head than a wood one.
when thrown, are like being pelted with bricks
Chipping paint on wooden components
I’ve found that the wood on the Melissa & Doug stuff chips, like a few others have mentioned.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy KitchenMelissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Toy Kitchen$141
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SainSmart Jr. Play Kitchen for KidsSainSmart Jr. Play Kitchen for Kids$99
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Melissa & Doug Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Pretend Play SetMelissa & Doug Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Pretend Play Set$17
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Delta Children Deluxe Modern Kitchen PlaysetDelta Children Deluxe Modern Kitchen Playset$149
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DRAMATION Kids Kitchen PlaysetDRAMATION Kids Kitchen Playset$39
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HOLYFUN Kids Kitchen PlaysetHOLYFUN Kids Kitchen Playset$39
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TooyBing Kids Play Kitchen SetTooyBing Kids Play Kitchen Set$41
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Bluey - Cook with Chef Kitchen PlaysetBluey - Cook with Chef Kitchen Playset$59
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TOUCH US Wooden Play Kitchen Toy SetTOUCH US Wooden Play Kitchen Toy Set$99
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Best Choice Products Pretend Play Kitchen Wooden Toy SetBest Choice Products Pretend Play Kitchen Wooden Toy Set$119
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Tiny Land Play Kitchen for KidsTiny Land Play Kitchen for Kids$129
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Kidsciety Pretend Play Accessories - Kids Kitchen PlaysetKidsciety Pretend Play Accessories - Kids Kitchen Playset$18
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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion on functionality vs. aesthetics
Depends on the kid. Some people set them up Montessori style to be semi-functional or serve as a snack station.
Long-lasting play value
All of my friends have gotten three years MINIMUM out of their play kitchens and most even longer.
💯 Kids play w play kitchens for YEARS
Preference for non-toxic and non-plastic play food
My son currently has some seriously questionable plastic food that we got as a hand-me-down. He bit into a piece of toy bread and the plastic went *CRACK* into his mouth and I'm like yeeeah nope this isn't gonna work.
Ikea has a bunch of pretend food, they are all felt I think. Always a first choice for nontoxic toys personally.
I still feel better about an object that has a thin coating on the surface than one that is 100% plastic particles 🤷🏻‍♀️ whenever our play food eventually reaches the end of its life and it needs to be disposed of, I feel better about the amount of microplastics from wood + paint eventually decomposing into the environment than polyester fluff.
Durability of wooden toys compared to cardboard
The wooden kitchen items have outlived all the cardboard ones… but oh my gosh, ouch!
Assembly is better than Ikea.
Melissa & Doug assembly is streets ahead of Ikea.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Discussion about toy rotation to enhance play
the playroom is a great idea but maybe you can so shelves and switch out toys so that he has something new to play with
my daughter's behavior and play got way better when I put away about half her toys

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Variety in play kitchens available
There’s so many decisions to make
Storage, counter space, buttons and lights, etc!
Discussion around secondhand options
We took wood and old ceramic tiles to make a backsplash. Chalk paint for the refinish.
Comparison with IKEA play kitchens
It’s quite sturdy but you can anchor it to the wall for peace of mind.
The ikea play kitchen has been the best. Both my boys (5 and 2) love it and I'm sure my daughter will too when she's bigger.
Sourcing from secondhand options
It’s a kid Kraft and it’s super heavy but keeps their interest.
Secondhand options are popular
I feel like it’s one of those things that people are always getting my rid of because their kids outgrew it, but they hold up really well.
I think yes, my almost 3 year old loves hers.
Thrift store options available
Kitchens can be pretty expensive if you buy them new and there’s no guarantee that your kid will even like it.
Discussion on secondhand options
Second Ikea. My daughter has one, it's really well built and she loves it.
Kitchens can be expensive new
What’s the best pretend kitchen? The preowned ones in my area don’t seem like great deals so I’m looking at everything.
Secondhand options available at good prices
They can be up to half price at resale stores like TJMaxx, Ross, and Marshalls.
The quality is good, also check out Hape, very good quality too.
Discussion about age-appropriateness
What Melissa and Doug toys do your toddlers love? And what is their age?
My MIL has this at her house and it’s my son’s absolute favorite toy when we visit. He’s 3.5.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Extra features may not enhance play experience
The extra features are cool and get used but she doesn't look at hers and then ask to go to the library XD
Play Kitchen I’m trying to figure out which play kitchen to get my 18 month old! Budget is around $350! Halp! Which one did y’all really dig?
Discussion on quality and durability of various play food options
We've had Melissa & Doug, and lidl has some great sets too, I think we.got them close to a year ago so they'd be popping up soon ish, I think!
Also was going to mention the felt Ikea food!
Popularity of Melissa & Doug toys
My 5 year old still plays with this too.
Santa is bringing this for Christmas to my 18 month old. Hoping the 4 year old also likes it so his little brother has done toys he wants to play with
Preference for other brands like Hape and Coco Village
We have lots of Hape toys and they are really good quality.
I like Coco Village. They have big sales throughout the year!

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