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Welcome to another episode about gadgets. Today, we're going to do something a little different. We have kitchen utensils for the family. And joining us today are our resident chef Ben and our most experienced dad, Jamie. Okay, are you ready for some gadgets? Yes. Interesting. This is the one that immediately caught my attention, and I need your opinion on it. Is this a knife guard? It's a knife guard. Finger guard for knife. And I think I just put my finger in the hole of the peeler, which keeps it secure.
This is the Opinel Le Petit Chef set of three red knives. It's a safe and fun way to introduce your child to preparing ingredients for cooking. Get ready to have your very own kitchen helper ready. So, this seemed like an interesting place to start, simply because we're talking about blades, and many people with young children avoid blades for a long time. They are combating this with some security measures. So, my oldest daughter is 11 years old. Mmm. And I still get scared when she uses a sharp knife. And you know, I taught her how to do that. We do this in the safest way possible, but there's no denying that when she picks up a knife, I get, you know, on edge. Finding a
way to train in a safe environment seems like a very sensible step forward. And I think what that does is prevent the learning process from taking away. It simply provides extra protection. So, any knife teaches the claw, right? Or the bridge. The bridge or claw technique means that you can never, ever cut your fingers. Well, that's all. This is simply teaching the claw with an extra layer. Therefore, it's not changing the behavior, it's just presenting the correct way to do it with extra protection, literally. Should I get some vegetables for you to make a salad? Yes, let's try. I peel a carrot. You cut a cucumber. Okay. I really like this because that's exactly how I would hold a peeler. I mean, that finger would be there, but there's literally
no change in the ergonomic grip other than locking your finger in there; there's no other way for those fingers to move Hmm. Cooking with children is already an awkward experience. What I like about this is that it locks your hands in position, so as a parent you can relax. And I think that's the most important thing for me, you want to be relaxed while you're doing it, because you want to make it enjoyable, so that they want to do it again. I know I've done this before, when you get tired of "no, no, no, that's not how it is, that's not how it is". No, no, no, they're just going to leave. They
simply leave. Sucking the life out of them. Exactly. You're taking the fun out of this. They won't want to cook with you if you're nervous. So, any way to make this safer, easier, and more fun. Hmm, sounds good. So, the knife with the hole for your finger, that's not necessarily how you would learn to hold a knife, because I think what it does is move your hand further into the knife. My hands are noticeably larger than a child's. Yes, Ben, give it a try. Honestly, it fit perfectly in my hands. But I challenge you to place your index or ring finger in front of the blade with your finger caught in that loop. You
physically can't. Your hand doesn't work that way. No. I'm watching my son cook and use a knife. He found himself getting too close to the blade and almost grabbing it at the tip. And then it was so easy for his finger to slip there. What I really appreciate about it is that it 's not sharp at all, but rather quite thin. So, she cuts things easily, even carrots. What do you think of the sunscreen? I think it's very useful to train your fingers to stay in that shape. So, how much do you think we paid for the three-piece set?
I think they really do look good, well-made, with wooden handles and rivets. I estimate it was 15 pounds. Why 15 pounds, in my opinion? 34.99. Okay, I was very wrong. I do n't know if this is related, but also the fact that he's French. And I think that, as a culture, the respect for the role that food plays in families from a very early age, usually in France, has been greater. Yes, so it does n't surprise me that there's some quality coming from the culinary ingredients in France. But it's quite a lot. We say that when you buy a good knife, you might be buying one for life.
There is a very large second-hand market for them. Yes, because when you grow up, you really want to move on to a knife, after you have the confidence of knowing you've done it. You can buy cheaper models, but for the purpose of what this does, for training and teaching, if it's something you want to invest in, it seems like a great way to do it. Okay. Is it approved by the father and the chef? In my opinion, it's approved by the father. Yes. I think it teaches all the correct habits and techniques in a safer environment. Chef?
What age do they recommend? They say it's suitable for ages seven and up, with adult supervision. I do n't know why they put that age on the packaging, but I think it's chef-approved for a younger age. I think that by the time you're eight or ten years old, you should already be looking for knives and knowing how to handle them correctly And I say that, using pocketknives, pocketknives, pocketknives and things like that, and sharpening them, if it's done safely and responsibly, I think you can train older children in another way, but I think these are excellent for those over five years old.
I'd love to know what the children think about this. Help me avoid cutting my nails Because you'll be safer with the finger guard and other things. If you were at home, you would probably be helping. Yes. I have a panel for you. Is it cutting-edge learning or a slice of parental terror? I think this is cutting-edge learning. I think it's cutting-edge learning. Great start. Shall we move on to the next one? Yes. So far we have 100% approval from the father and the chef. Keep it up.
Well, we'll see. Why is that? It's a dish towel holder. It's related to food. Why does it have so many holes? It looks more like bath time than a kitchen toy. Yes. I have no idea. Which you have to fill with water, I presume. So, is it for scrubbing potatoes or washing them? It's for cleaning basic vegetables, but they will have to be very small vegetables. This is a kitchen scrap planter. Get ready to transform your kitchen scraps into something truly amazing with the KiwiCo kitchen scrap planter. In addition to learning about plant life cycles, the pot made from kitchen scraps also teaches children about sustainability and the importance of
reducing waste by reusing materials that would otherwise be thrown away. I understood. I've already done that. This is where it comes in. Yes. Yes, I understand. That's brilliant. He teaches that what you are eating is a living thing. Yes. And therefore, this living goodness will transform you into a living thing. What? So, I finished my steak and there was a little left over. When I put it in there, I can raise a cow. Basically, but with scallions.
Yes. Or I don't have any leftover steak. Avocado pits. My parents have an avocado tree this tall that was literally grown from a pit, and we did exactly that, but with cocktail sticks on glass, 15 years ago. Should we give life to some remains? Yes, perfect. So, you have your water pitcher. Can you fill your KiwiCo boat halfway, what do you call it? We also have some remnants from before. Place them in their floats. Passing by? Yes. And then let it float. Now, I must emphasize, I have done this countless times. If you get a bunch of scallions, and the way you usually prepare them is, you know, by removing the dry bits from the top, and then you
're just chopping them. When you have a bunch of these scallions left over, replant them and they will literally sprout again, growing back within a few weeks. You have more onions to eat. Mmm. Considering that these others, they will sprout to the point where you can transplant them. Yes. So, things like potatoes, you need to have a potato with little eyelets so that it can start to grow. And for carrots, you need to leave them with the top facing up so that the leaves start to grow again. So, after planting them, you simply go to a window and let in some natural light. And in most cases, it takes about 3 or 4 days for it to start sprouting. When I was a child,
I think the main way to do this was with watercress. I remember doing that. Yes. Watercress in a small plastic container, and you watch it grow, and you can make an egg and watercress sandwich in a few weeks. Cut your hair. So you cut your hair. All that sort of thing. To me, it's interesting that we're now creating products that help you do something that's very natural. They still teach it in school, but it's not a practice that people do at home No, we don't. So, I think it's a way to encourage parents, through a toy, to start doing this regularly with their children. And I think it has to be a
purely realistic educational tool to show what it is. It shouldn't be a matter of self-sufficiency. It takes a carrot months to grow. So, you won't have huge pots all over the house growing your own carrots. This simply doesn't work. But being able to see and understand that it's a living being that's good for us, I think that 's very healthy. And I think that when you realize how long it takes for a scallion to grow to that point, you start to think about how little you waste the next time you prepare it, and you begin to respect vegetables more. There is no instant gratification in doing this. And in a world now built on this instant gratification, you press a button on a device and
receive that dose of dopamine. Like, that's where everyone lives now. This is a real-time investment. And I think it's important to teach children how important this is. Yes, some training is necessary. I agree, but when we talk about families, I think many parents would love it and learn from it too, because it's an entire generation that lost the opportunity to fight for victory, which was a necessity because of the war in the United Kingdom. And since then, there has been a decline in growing vegetables independently, period. I planted some about 4 days ago when it arrived. So, it didn't take long. Garlic and carrots had no effect.
The scallions and shallots began to sprout. And look how healthy those roots are Okay. How much do you think we spent on this I'd say £25, which is ridiculous for that piece of plastic and a few floaters. I had £20 in my head. £23. You can start this at no cost. What I think is great with kids are shot glasses because you can actually take fresh mint and remove some leaves from the bottom, and the leaves on top will sit on top of the shot glass, and then you'll have a little more at the bottom. And even at that level, things you already have in the kitchen-egg holders, shot glasses, small coffee cups-anything that allows the thicker items on top to rest and the bottom part to stay inside.
So, approved by the chef? In principle, I love what they are doing. Yes, although it pains me that the margin for error is enormous. It's complicated because, as Ben said, you don't need any of that equipment to do it and have that learning moment. But, as a parent, the convenience and time-saving and the mental capacity to put that sort of thing together. For 20 pounds, they did the job for you, and sometimes that's exactly what you need. So, yes, approved by the father. Like, you can have more food, and then you can do more things, and then you can keep growing more, and then you have more food so you
don't waste food. Yes. Offer the parents as much help as possible. What do you think? Comment below. So, is this waste-saving magic or is it just postponing the trash can? I think it's both. Because eventually you'll throw it away too, but the lessons learned along the way are magical. I have to agree. It's a bit of both Okay. We have two more approved candidates. Shall we move on to the next one? Yes. Terracotta bowl. Yes. Some kind of ceramic. Some kind of hook. It seems, I would say, more like arts and crafts than cooking.
Okay. If I put this here, it's something to lean on now. It's a bonfire What is a helicopter? Oh my God. We're talking now, Jay This is the fire bowl from Cruel's kitchen. You are sure. Are you looking for a safe way to introduce your child to the element of fire? The Cruel Kitchen Fire Bowl is a beautifully crafted ceramic fire bowl that gives children the chance to experience, respect, and learn about fire under adult supervision. I think that's great. I grew up working in the Boy Scouts movement, right? And the best moments when we were camping. And the best moments were when we went out to gather kindling, make campfires, and cook over the fire.
We were between 8 and 16 years old. It's a great age to respect something that can burn you if you do it wrong, but it can also bring people together, it's a lot of fun, and you eat well while doing it. I don't understand why this has become suitable for children compared to a barbecue grill or any other bonfire or fireplace or something like that. Let's do this outside, where we have adult supervision. Is Kush an adult? Absolutely not. The least mature person we have is a blowtorch compared to him. The fire is lit. The embers are glowing.
He is, isn't he? Look at him. I like how independent it is. I like the fact that children can.not even just children, anyone can gather around it. Yes. Well, today we're doing a complete mini-English lesson. Oh, that's great. Remember that this is what made us human. Homo sapiens evolved when they began cooking over fire. And our brains evolved, our intestines shrank, and our jaws changed because we were cooking. There's something so primal about cooking over charcoal or fire, and it's amazing to see children of any age experiencing it.
Yes. At the recent beaver, cub scout, and scout events I've attended with Austin, the campfire is the most popular part of the whole event. Everyone gets together and everyone wants to make their marshmallows and roast their sausages So, if they can't do it in scouting, they want to do it at home. You need things that spark interest. Yes. And again, you need outdoor space, and that's not a luxury everyone has. Let's finish our breakfast and take it inside.
Excellent. Back in the heat, time for breakfast. Apparently, snacks. Yes, it would be a little better in a bath or something, but okay, so what do you think of the gadget? I think he's trying to do all the right things. As I said, it's a kind of education about fire, learning respect for fire, what it can do for us, and then putting that into practice in a controlled and as safe an environment as possible. I don't think most people need that if they already have a vehicle to handle the fire safety aspect, and then, as a parent, you need to add the safety and education aspect. And that. Who is it for? Because if you're a family that has
access to an outdoor space, buy a cauldron, a campfire, a barbecue grill, or something similar. If you don't have it, it won't do any good at all Having a smaller version just so children can identify with something their own size, I simply don't understand. I can't wait to see the children's reaction compared to yours, as you evaluate whether it's really worth buying. Is this the best way to get my children interested? Children don't care about that. They'll think: I'm playing with fire. I 'm sure they'll see that it's the right size for them and that will be really, really great, and I think that's why this is such an interesting experiment, because if they want to at the
end of the day, they should be able to put their hands in their pockets. Yes, I don't know if they have small pockets Small pockets and little money in their pockets. Our. Time for fire. I would say this is the perfect dinner for a sandpiper in the forest. Okay, how much money do the kids need to save up to buy one of these? A pot and a campfire. The pan is just a frying pan. This is straight from the market elsewhere, added to that. It's a very beautiful ceramic fire pit. It's a very good kit. It looks and is of good quality. What if I said £50? That's a lot. I would say 40. So, keep in mind that this company makes some other fantastic devices
that aren't related to food, such as engineering and learning about gravity and water flow. I recommend you take a look. They do good things But this is a kit we bought for £ 100. Oh, 25 for the pan, 75 for the pan At a gardening store, you can find an adult size for the same price or less. I love what they are trying to do in the area of education. I don't think you need a version for children. Interesting. All is well then. We need your approval, Chef, Dad. What do you think? Yes, that's the issue. Product, no. It doesn't have the father's seal of approval.
Is this a brilliant idea, or should it be abandoned? I think it should be abandoned and you should buy a real one. Hmm, I hesitate to agree. Chef, father, the last and greatest. May I? Yes. Sit down in the giant kitchen. Cook very small meals in your mini kitchen set. Bring the joy of miniature cooking to life with our handcrafted 1:6 scale kitchen set. It comes with 20 pots and utensils so you can start your culinary adventures right away Guys, let's prepare a mini English breakfast. Well, we're aware of Tiny Chef and how popular it's become online.
Hmm, what do you think is the obsession with cooking in miniature? I think this falls into the same category as miniature villages, miniature railroads, and miniature dollhouses. The intricate details with which some of these things were made are a form of art and a collector's item. I think they should never be used. But we're hungry, Evs, and we'd like a full mini English breakfast, please. I have a little hole in my stomach. All good. Light the pot and let's get started. It's a lot of fun. Yes. Hmm, no, it isn't. It's not fun. You're using the wrong "I". It's beautiful. It's like when you go to a museum and are amazed by the art on the wall. It 's not fun.
It's interesting, it's enlightening, it's fascinating, it's beautiful, it's all of those things. It's not fun. It's a lot of fun. I do n't know if it's specifically aimed at children. Mmm. But if you look at it from a child's point of view, what a great way to give them something that looks like a toy, is the size of a toy, but you can cook real food in it. Mmm. It wasn't made for cooking real food What is that? It's bacon. What is that? It's an egg. It wasn't made for that, was it? For me, this is a beginner's toy Since you'll stop playing with modeling clay.
It's a collector's item. You play with modeling clay for a long time. And after so much time, you can't eat much modeling clay anymore. So, you have to switch to real food. Yes. And that seems like a good step to me This is like a teddy bear and a collection of teddy bears. They are beautiful, you can go back hundreds of years in time, they have stories, they can spark the imagination, but they should not be treated like humans. Similarly, this should not be treated as a kitchen. Ben. What you've lost in your 38 years on this planet is your imagination.
A collection of teddy bears is a lovely thing. No, teddy bears are fun They're not fun. Teddy bears are fun. Teddy bear picnic, Evs. You sit down, gather your teddy bears, and we go on adventures as a whole family with them. You didn't go to the forest today because, man, you're in trouble. I love it, but it's not meant to be used, and I'm a little sad that we're using it. It's fun. We have very different ideas about fun. The time it took me to chop mushrooms, crack eggs, prepare tomatoes, and make pancetta. Like, what?
Talking for 3 or 4 minutes in front of a candle. Literally nothing. Many of the videos we've seen online are of things bubbling in pots. So, I think they were already on the stove before and heated up and stuff. But that 's not a problem. Ah, okay. I had a date. Look what Jamie did now. He joked about it. Now he tried to make everything more fun than it already was. Jay, it was like, "Jay, that's not how you light a candle." A candle works. Does that mean that's not how a candle works?
You flooded. You ca n't light a submerged wick. So, how much do you think we spent on this small kitchen? I estimate it's probably 150 pounds. I had 100 pounds on my head. 94 kilograms. It's a collector's item. It's stunning. I'm kind of bummed that Jamie ruined it now. You only need a small cloth. So, does he get the approval of the chef and his father? Cooking for children? No way. Okay, fair enough.
A beautiful kitchen, yes. Okay, and what about as a father? Give this to any child, and they'll have a lot of fun. Their imaginations will run wild. The father approved. Yes. Wait a minute. Did we disapprove of the last one because the appliance was too small? I think so. And we just said to resolve this. Buy a Yes, yes. Mouth burner suitable for external use. Who needs a proper kitchen? Buy a small one. I'd love to know what the children think about this. looks better than I thought. So, is it tiny cooking, big fun, or big hassle, little reward?
That's a huge nuisance, a small reward if you're hoping to cook dinner in it, but I don't think anyone is. Cooking in miniature. Mass entertainment. And what if you want to see what the children thought of it? So watch the video now.
