https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 02 Jun 2026 03:47:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016324 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 13:29:26 +0000 plantains 1016324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been helping in the kitchen for as long as I can remember. Around 8 or 9 I started making Saturday breakfast for the family and then it just grew from there. I love cooking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016167 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:49:00 +0000 yin 1016167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my parents owned a restaurant, and we lived upstairs. I can honestly say that I learned almost nothing from my parents in terms of cooking. I would occasionally watch, but I never had access to a normal kitchen (just heavy duty woks and fryers). I didn't start experimenting until I met DH in college. I was a disaster! Once LO started to eat solids, I stepped it up and now cook almost every meal. I've come a long ways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016165 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:48:09 +0000 chopsuey 1016165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>By 4th grade I was preparing my family's dinners.<br /> Parents worked all day and by the time they came home it was dinner time. My sisters weren't interested in cooking so I did it.<br /> I love(d) cooking!<br /> I started cooking way before 4th grade though. Was probably around 7 years old. Seems so young now that I look back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016157 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:46:35 +0000 HellOnHeels 1016157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I learned to cook and bake at a young age, helping out my Mum and grandmother. I baked a lot by myself growing up, but didn't really cook anything unless I was home alone, and even then my grandmother usually had meals at the ready (only lived a mile away from us). I didn't truly start cooking until I moved out right after high school. Pretty sure my parents had their first fully home-cooked meal made by me just two weeks ago... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016152 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:45:25 +0000 lindseykaye 1016152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started helping in the kitchen really young. Like, 5 or under doing actual things in the kitchen. I never had an Easy-Bake Oven because I had a tiny bunt pan and a recipe that made just that amount of cake mix! My mom put things in and out of the oven for me but I did the rest :)<br /> I made my dad a 4-course meal from a cookbook in 6th grade.<br /> Hopefully I can pass my love of cooking to my daughter and we can enjoy it together like I have with my mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016102 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:32:38 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1016102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>pretty early...i'd say 12? I didn't start experimenting with my own meals until marriage. Before that, I heavily depended on recipes from books and or my mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016081 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:28:01 +0000 regberadaisy 1016081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting to read all the responses. My parents worked crazy hours so as soon as my brothers were old enough to cook they had to take over dinner. Then once I was old enough they made me do it which was about 10. I was making at least 3 dishes every night! A meat, protein and vegetable dish! And of course rice. ;)</p> <p>Everything from scratch. Asian people don't really do boxed meals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016068 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:24:41 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 1016068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm... well I didn't start cooking meals until I was out of my parents house. And really I didn't start cooking anything that wasn't eggs, ramen, frozen microwave meals, or mac n cheese until I moved in with DH. So, I voted 15-18 because I'd make myself lunch and what not if I needed to, but in reality I was more like 20-21. :( I was the youngest of three, so my "cooking" job on holidays was stirring the gravy or frosting cookies. LOL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016065 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:23:50 +0000 woodentulip 1016065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was realllllly young my mom had this rule that we would each make dinner once a week. And what that ended up being was that each kid made pasta with a jar of tomato sauce once a week. But we did it. It meant that she didn't have to come home from work and make dinner, and nobody complained. So yeah....I think that I started doing that around 11 or so! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1016059 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:22:11 +0000 teamjse 1016059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started helping my mom in the kitchen when I was in 4th grade. I made my family their first meal in 7th grade. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015923 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:57:51 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1015923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was around 12. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015850 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:37:55 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1015850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would always help in the kitchen at a young age but picked up making dinner once a week at 13! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015723 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:03:38 +0000 pui 1015723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started baking on my own when I was around 12. Before that I used to always help my mom bake. I love baking!</p> <p>Cooking came a bit later... probably around 14-16. I always helped my mom in the kitchen, but I don't think I started cooking things all by myself until then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015686 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:54:00 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1015686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen and once I was out of the house I started cooking for myself and my boyfriend (now DH) and his roommates. Luckily DH helps out in the kitchen -- he's the designated grill master ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015662 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:48:16 +0000 PurplePumps 1015662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that's impressive! I didn't start cooking regularly for myself until I was 30! And started cooking on weeeknds when I was at my bf (now dhs) apartment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015658 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:47:51 +0000 autumnlove 1015658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>18 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015654 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:47:09 +0000 yoursilverlining 1015654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember making Rice Krispie treats with my mom in Kindergarden :) And when I was little, we often got to help make dinner (stir pots, hand ingredients to mom/dad, etc.). When I was around 10, I had a couple of recipes I liked and would make those for dinner for the family every month or so.</p> <p>Weirdly, when I moved out I pretty much stopped cooking for myself! In my early 20's I lived on a diet of take-out sushi, spaghetti with jarred sauce, and guacamole and chips (for dinner, lol). </p> <p>When I got together with my husband I started cooking again; probably because he loves cooking so much. So happy I got back into it; I love cooking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015652 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:46:49 +0000 lilteacherbee 1015652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha ummm... I can make a few things that I started doing in college, but DH is the designated cook in our house. He loves to cook and I hate it, so it works for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015638 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:43:36 +0000 MapleMoose 1015638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents would have me start dinner for them before they got home from work. Things like throw a roast chicken in the oven. I was in middle school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015635 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:43:02 +0000 lovehoneybee 1015635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I "cooked" a few Hamburger Helper type meals when I was 11-12, but I really started cooking/taught myself to cook when I was 20-21. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015633 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:41:42 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1015633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was 10. I start cooking at a very young age because I often watched my younger siblings and needed to make dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015630 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:41:11 +0000 travellingbee 1015630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started cooking REGULARLY when I got my own apartment in college. I had only cooked a few things before that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-cooking#post-1015625 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:39:59 +0000 regberadaisy 1015625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Stolen from swagbucks survey!</p> <p>I started cooking in the 5th grade! I think by 6th I was making dinner every night then lunch and breakfast for myself on the weekends.</p> <p>I can't believe in the swagbucks survey 3% have never cooked??! </p>