Is cooking during quarantine becoming a chore? Food-inspired podcasts for kids can help them get in on the action. That could mean anything from help with a burgeoning bread-baking hobby to ideas for preparing those mystery beans on the top shelf. Picky eaters can learn about the science of flavor and what makes people like and dislike certain foods. That’s just a start. Let’s look at what's in our pantries—and start creating.
 

Go to the cooking playlist

Chompers “Food Week Morning Rituals”
Ages 5-12– Chompers focuses on witty food riddles and tests your food knowledge. In this episode, designed for kids to listen to while brushing their teeth, the podcast instructs listeners to do a full brush with jazzy music, sounds effects, and counters, and includes educational short stories, jokes, and riddles. 

But Why “How Do We Taste Food? ”
Ages 5-12– “But Why” centers on questions from kids, and in this episode, it’s “Why do we like to eat certain foods?” Host Jane Lindholm from Vermont Public Radio interviews children about why they like and dislike certain foods. She also brings in food experts Chris Kimball, creator of Milk Street and founder of America’s Test Kitchen, who explains why children don’t need to eat their broccoli; Leslie Stein of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, who explains why smell is as important as taste when it comes to flavor; and Matthew Jennings, a chef and parent who talks about how his career and family life revolve around food.

Smash Boom Best “Chocolate vs Cheese”
Ages 8-12–Sharpen your debate skills with this podcast from American Public Media. Host Molly Bloom invites Paige Goehner, winner of the Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship, to decide whether chocolate or cheese is better. Defending cheese is the host of The Sporkful podcast, Dan Pashman, while Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of The Splendid Table, advocates for chocolate.

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Mystery Recipe “Week One, Episode One, A Brilliant Bulb”
Ages 8-12–Host Molly Birnbaum introduces a new kitchen ingredient each week that is part of a “Mystery Recipe” to be revealed at the end of the season. In this episode, listeners try to figure out the first ingredient with kid recipe testers at America’s Test Kitchen Kids and learn different ways to cook with this ingredient at home.

Home Cooking ”Bean There, Done That (With Josh Malina)”
Ages 9-17–Samin Nosrat, creator of the cookbook and Netflix series Salt Fat Acid Heat, co-hosts a podcast about quarantine cooking (using what you have on hand) with Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of podcasts including The West Wing Weekly. The co-hosts banter throughout and take listeners’ questions about the beans in their pantry. Also, actor Josh Malina shares his quarantined-inspired latke recipe.

Short Wave “The Science of Making Bread”
Ages 12-17– Social distancing has some of us, including host Maddie Sofia, taking up bread baking for the first time. Chemist and baker Patricia Christie explains the science of making bread, including a few tips for when things go wrong with bread dough, and offers advice for first-time bakers everywhere. Look for more coronavirus-related and other current topics from Short Wave, which aims to help listeners understand “the science behind the headlines.”

The Sporkful “The Art—and Joy—of Recipe Writing”
Ages 12-17– “What makes a recipe great?” That’s what host Dan Pashman asks Chandra Ram, judge and recipe tester for the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and John Beck and Megan Scott, who revised over 2,400 recipes for the latest Joy of Cooking. They explain why some recipes flop, why others reign supreme, and why you may not always want to follow the directions in a cookbook.

Stuff You Missed in History Class “A Brief History of Doughnuts”
Ages 13-17–This podcast frequently tackles scrumptious and sweet food histories. Here, hosts Holly Frey and Tracy Wilson talk about the culinary predecessors of doughnuts, its evolution, and the debate over its nomenclature. And don’t forget: National Doughnut Day is June 5th.

To link or embed this playlist to share with your students, click here: Kidcasts Cooking playlist.

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Youth technology integration consultant Anne Bensfield helps libraries and schools implement new models for innovation. Librarian and Buttons & Figs podcast creator Pamela Rogers inspires creative expression from elementary school kids by reading, writing, and playing with words.
 

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