What can your 10 year old cook?

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Right - ds is 10. I want him to start cooking dinner one night a week or so.

He's a bit cack handed dyspraxic , which scares me (knives! kettles! heat!), but I need to get over my fear

So, do we have any suggestions for dishes that aren't too complicated or faffy but will give him a sense of satisfaction? What can/do/did your 10 yos cook?

stir fries, bolognese, shepherds pie, burger, oven chips and peas. My dcs are always helping dp and me in the kitchen.

my eldest ds is a bit older than yours now and yes it was a bit scary letting him loose in the kitchen,but it will do his confidence the world of good and hopefully lighten the load for you
i started mine off with basics such as yorkie puds,pastry,sauces and gravy so he became competent at knocking up toad in the hole,meatballs or risotto

Good suggestions, thank you :)

DS1 is 10 and also dyspraxic. He can make scrambled eggs on toast on his own, and make some cakes but he's a bit scared of knives and heat.

Yes - it's the knives and the heat!

Our worktops are quite high - as is the cooker - I imagine both will be less of an issue once he grows a few more inches. So in about 6 months if he carries on at his current rate

I'm actually a bit nervous about him handling raw meat. How blinking ridiculous is that?

My 10 year old ds hasn't made a whole meal himself, but helps a lot in the kitchen. He weighs things out, gets out equipment, puts stuff in the bin, and cuts and peels stuff. At first, I was a bit nervous about him using sharp knives, but have taught him how to do it properly, and I think he is reasonably safe.

The main problem is he is not very tall or big, so finds things like pans of water difficult to manage. He uses a step stool to stand on to reach the work surface easily.

DS is nearly 10 he is making Jamie's puttanesca and chocolate ganache this evening. I bought him some cooking classes last year and he is now pretty competant, if messy! I know its scarey but it works best if i leave him to it, me interfering is not popular. Be prepared for a few errors, he doesn't always cook onions long enough and last week he made muffins in fairy cake cases but not the end of the world.

DS was 11 in December. He expressed a desire to learn to cook so we bought him 'the usbourne cookbook for boys' - why for boys not entirely sure, is just simple straightforward meals.

he is cooking one meal a week, with minimal assistance - he can manage the hob but needs help with the oven as he is a bit short for the top oven.

so far he has cooked burger and homemade oven chips, meatballs in tomato sauce, sconebased pizzas lamb curry, jambalaya, and an all in one roast chicken dinner.

he can prep most vegetables on his own, but we've shown him how. He now puts in his bid for whathe is going to make and what night he will cook, and I add the ingredients to the food shop.

am planning on getting him some more cookbooks, pobably the Sam sterne one, and pass on Jamie's ministry of food.

he has been making cups of tea for a few months, and often makes us all a sandwich lunch at the weekend. He is little and does all the food prep on the kitchen table rather than at the worktop, as it is a better height for him.

Toast and Ready Brek. I really shoudl encourage her to do more, but she has little common sense.

Ooh, as a parent of a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old who love to help cook, you lot have really inspired me! I would love to have them make dinner once a night when they are older. How fab!

Totally on her own? My 10yo (who is daffy and forgetful but competent with knife and fire) cooks scrambled eggs, fried mushrooms, toast, porridge, vegetable soup. Pasta and stir-fry veg. Cakes and biscuits. Cheese straws.

I think that's about it in terms of unassisted cooking.

"... she has little common sense."

I do hope you don't tell her this.

Are you sure it's not your lack of confidence which you are transferring?

I'm looking forward to when ds is a bit bigger/stronger, so that he will be able to lift things like pans of hot water. Until then I don't think he'll be able to cook a whole meal. It's not that I don't trust him - he's fine chopping onions or putting stuff in the oven, but I think lifting a pan of pasta and taking it over to the sink to drain would be beyond him physically at the moment.

All this is really useful, thank you :)

Cat - yy, timings. I take it for granted that I know when to put the pasta on, or yo turn the temp down on a casserole because someone will be late home...

Norman, I don't think ds is strong enough to drain a pan of pasta yet, either.

panda, have ordered the book you suggest!

I'm thinking of signing ds up for lessons, or asking chef friends to show him some knife skills.

today DS did the burgers again, but this time did everything himself, including putting stuff into the oven, turning the chips, and serving up. I did demonstrate a couple of thing to him, and watched while he used the oven, but I'd be happy to let him get on with next time.

it was utterly delicious, better than burgers we've had in a restaurant.

DD is now getting in on the act and has made a cake all on her own, following a new recipe. All I did was get he ingredients off a high shelf, properly scrape out the bowl, and put it in the oven for her. Only problem is every time DS cooks a meal, DD makes cakes, and I eat them!

i think going from nothing to a whole family meal is a bit ott tbh!

I'd make a start with heating up soup, home made or tinned and toast for lunch, maybe scrambled eggs, toast solidiers, or omelettes

How about some home baking?? Not too many sharp knive involved in that.

Then progress to helping with the main meal, fresh veg to be prepped and cooked, and something to go with, maybe cottage pie? again homemade or ready meal

And then once the concept of prep and timing is there, then go on to homemade soups and casseroles, timing is not critical, maybe some frozen dinner rolls. Seasoning is also not critical and can be rescued last minute if necessary.

Moving onto the more complex stuff like bolgnaise/lasagne/pies once he's more accomplished

There nothing like a nasty failure to put someone off cooking for life.

Toad in the hole, with baked beans/peas should be an easy enough meal to start with and only uses the oven and microwave.

omelettes
bacon sarnies
pasta
toast
mashed potato
veg

I know its not the same thing, but I would absolutely recommend this children's baking book.

My 8 y/o DD asked for 'proper' cookbooks for Christmas, and got this one from my uncle, and the DK Cookbook for Girls (why on earth the gender segregation?). The latter is ok but not fab - personally I think she's probably better off with selected recipes from an adult cookbook, but the baking book is really excellent.

Its a good way into totally independent cooking I think, both because of the motivation aspect (cakes!) and because there isn't the issue of heavy pans, reaching up to the side (she bakes on the kitchen table) etc.

I'd be interested in people's recommendations for other children's cookbooks, mind you. We got a couple of the Sam Stern ones out of the library, but they were quite teen oriented & I think she was a bit fazed by them. Anything that has recipes which stick to seasonal ingredients & has more veggie options would also be good . . .

this sounds like the ideal start up for DH also

I can second the Sam Stern cook books although sometimes the recipes are a little more expensive than I would like. DS1 started cooking once a week at 11; DS2 tends to help but will be put in charge of 1 meal a week pretty soon. They are shown how to prep veg and get help when they start which turns more into supervision.

Regarding common sense, if they don't get opportunities to develop some, they won't get any! DS1 is quite cack-handed too and has not caused any major damage to my kitchen or not himself. The odd singe from carelessness teaches extremely effectively and quickly! (Although DH still regularly burns/cuts himself in the kitchen!!)

DD is very keen and I anticipate her starting fairly soon too, even though she's only just 9. She will get more help with ovens etc but is already good at prep'ing most veg.

Oh my goodness, this sounds so good. I never imagined my dc being able to cook until thay left home really. Is a cup of tea in bed for mum and dad a distinct possibility in this millenium?