Junior Chef Lesson 2: Knife Safety and Stir Fry

For today’s Junior Chef lesson, go over kitchen knife safety and demonstrate how to use a knife properly. This lesson helps teens ages 12-15 begin using one of the most important kitchen tools with more confidence and care.

Knife skills take practice, maturity, and supervision. Go slowly, review the rules often, and make safety the focus before moving on to the recipe.

Kids Cooking Activities Teaching Materials

Make teaching easier with our activities and recipes compiled in theme sets and books with an easy to read format

Perfect for teaching!

~This post may contain affiliate links and I'll earn a small commission if you shop through them. There is no extra cost to you. This is how we help support our family and continue to bring you amazing content. To learn more see the affiliates disclosure here.~

Part 1: Learning About Knife Safety

It can be hard to decide when a child is ready to use a kitchen knife. Knife safety is very important, and if you feel your child is not ready, it is fine to wait until the timing feels right.

You are the best judge of what your child can and cannot do. Your role in this lesson is to demonstrate, supervise, and decide what level of responsibility is appropriate.

Here are some tips for teaching knife safety. The adult should model the procedure first. If you feel you have a little to learn about proper knife technique too, use the video below as a guide.

• Always use a cutting board. It is safer and better for your countertops. Use a large board to allow more space.
• Always have adult supervision.
• Use a good sharp knife. Dull knives are more likely to cause injury because they slip more easily.
• Curl your fingers under and tuck them in when holding the food you are cutting.
• Be careful when carrying a knife. Always carry it with the point down.
• If a knife falls, step back and let it fall. Never try to catch it.
• Always place food on a cutting board. Do not cut food while holding it in your hand.

• Add our Knife Safety Posters to your lesson:
  
• Pay attention to what you are doing. Do not get distracted and always keep your eyes on your cutting.
• Never leave a knife in the sink where someone could reach in without seeing it. Clean, dry, and put it away after use.
• Point the blade away from you. Do not cut toward yourself or your fingers.
• Store knives in a block, not loose in a drawer.
• Hold the knife in a pinch grip and use a rocking or rolling motion when cutting.
• The tip of the knife should usually stay in contact with the cutting board when practicing a rocking motion.
• You can even place a small piece of tape on the knife handle to show where fingers should be placed.

If you cut yourself, run the cut under cold water. When it stops bleeding, dry it and use an adhesive strip. If it is a deep cut or does not stop bleeding, apply pressure, hold it above your heart, and seek medical attention.

Knife Skills Video

For help with proper knife technique, watch this kids cooking video as part of your lesson.

Part 2: Practice Cutting and Prepare a Stir Fry

Most kids cannot wait to use a kitchen knife, but these lessons hold off until the teen years so children have more experience, maturity, and control before taking on this skill.

Now that your Junior Chef has learned some kitchen knife safety, let them prepare a stir fry. Remind your child to go slowly while you supervise for correct cutting and cooking procedure.

Stir-Fry Recipe

Another Stir-Fry Option

Or try this recipe variation below:

Kids Cooking Lesson Plans

Follow Kids Cooking Activities