The Ultimate KiwiCo Yummy Crate Review: Is This Kids‘ Cooking Subscription Worth It?

KiwiCo has been enriching young minds for over 10 years with hands-on STEM projects that tap into kids‘ creativity. Now they‘re applying their expertise into the kitchen with the new Yummy Crate. This cooking subscription promises to turn families into tiny scientists who experiment with recipes while learning about food science.

As a parent, I wanted to dig deeper into what this experience offers busy families. Are the projects overly complicated? Do kids really retain the science concepts? Is it worth the monthly investment?

After testing over three months of Yummy Crates with my 8 and 10-year-olds, I can firmly say – it delivers an engaging, screen-free activity that bonds the family together. The moments of discovery, pride in their kitchen skills, and eagerness to share what they learned made the subscription worthwhile.

If you think your kids would enjoy concocting rainbow pancakes or experimenting with different browning techniques, then continue reading this Yummy Crate review…

How The Yummy Crate Teaches Science Through Cooking

What sets the Yummy Crate apart from other kids‘ cooking crates is the focus on STEAM education. Each box dives into a science topic to expose young eaters to concepts like:

Chemical Reactions – Explore how heat and ingredients interact at a molecular level to produce flavorful dishes. Kids see how carbon dioxide bubbles into light pancakes or why browned meat tastes differently than plain meat.

STATES OF MATTER – Heat cheese into bubbling fondue or whip heavy cream into airy peaks. These state changes help kids grasp why water boils into steam or how ingredients bind together.

Kitchen Skills – From chopping fruits and veggies to safely handling knives, kids build lifelong abilities. As my 10-year old said, "Now I‘m allowed to help mom prep real dinners!"

Culinary Curiosity – Trying a new cuisine or ingredient often sparks wonder in kids. One box featured coconut milk for homemade chicken tenders with a peek into Thai culture. This can motivate more adventurous eaters.

Beyond the primary recipe, kids also apply their learning with additional science activities or crafts. My daughter made colorful soda foam to see chemical reactions, while my son baked cookie chemical bonds.

The engaging experiments kept them asking questions long after we left the kitchen.

What Comes Inside Each Yummy Crate

Unboxing our Yummy Crate each month became an event. As soon as I peeled open the cardboard, my kids tore through the contents:

3 Kid-Approved Recipes – From cheesy paninis to falafel wraps, the global recipes provide a tasty culinary tour. Step-by-step instructions break down tools and techniques to build confidence.

Specialty Cooking Utensil – A cool pizza cutter, pancake pen, or sandwich press accompany each box. My son loves collecting the gadgets.

Science Magazine – Packed with engaging comics and fun food facts, the zine extends learning beyond cooking. My daughter even made a magazine quiz for family night!

2 Additional STEAM Activities – With projects like erupting volcanoes, rock candy crystals, and paper chromatography, kids can geek out on science.

Grown-Up Guides + Shopping Lists – Helpful for adapting recipes to suit your family‘s needs and restrictions. I love that ingredients can be swapped to accommodate allergies.

Creative Extras – From flavoring syrups to pancake art supplies, some boxes include bonus goodies to spark more kitchen fun.

I‘m always amazed that they cram so much value into the modestly-sized crate!

Comparing KiwiCo Yummy Crate Price and Subscription Plans

A single Yummy Crate starts at $17.50 per month with discounts for committing to longer subscriptions:

• Month-to-month – $22.95 / box
• 3 month plan – $18.95 / box
• 6 month plan – $17.95 / box
• 12 month plan – $17.50 / box

*Plus shipping costs

While not the cheapest kids cooking subscription, the quality and educational value set it apart from competitors. For reference, popular picks like Raddish Kids run $24-30 per month and Kidstir falls around $18-20 per monthly box.

In my experience, the recipes produced 2-4 hearty kid-sized portions. Since my son loves to snack, I could stretch dishes into a full family meal.

With so much hands-on learning in each crate, I feel it‘s reasonably priced especially if you maximize activities.

Real Family Reviews: Seeing Yummy Crate Results

While my kiddos loved the tasty experiments, I wanted to know if other parents saw learning sticking with their children.

Katie L‘s 5-year old now sees everyday cooking through a scientific lens:

"She talks about chemical reactions when we cook now and predicts what will happen if we change something…it‘s brought learning into our kitchen in an organic way."

Other parents reported kids taking initiative to cook independently:

"My normally picky 9-year old got excited about trying new foods she made like chickpea curry and zucchini fritters. She even started researching recipes to try!" Debbie, Toronto ON

Families also found it bonding time that brought them together:

"Between the silly characters, trivia questions, and getting our hands messy together – my tween and I laughed so much more during the process. It reminded us to have fun while learning." Celia M., Austin TX

As a busy single dad, I loved that we forged new memories while improving my daughter‘s STEM skills. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Yummy Crate clearly sparks more than just delicious dishes!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Subscription

While each Yummy Crate aims to please, you can take these steps to make the experience even more fruitful:

• Read science bits together – Discuss key concepts from the magazine and extend with your own examples.

• Experiment further – Give kids autonomy to tweak recipes or try activity variations.

• Click pics & Share – Let kids showcase their chef skills and science know-how with friends.

• Review after cooking – Recap favorite parts of the box and science learned with family.

• Display projects – Create a gallery wall or fridge space to exhibit their creativity.

Following the guides while also encouraging kids to personalize projects amplified engagement and comprehension.

Potential Downsides Some Families May Encounter

In the spirit of an unbiased KiwiCo Yummy Crate review, I‘ll share a few potential issues based on personal experience and customer feedback:

• Occasional missing pieces – Check box contents promptly and contact customer support for speedy replacements.

• Allergies/preferences – While most recipes offer substitutions, some exclusion diets may feel limited. Talk to their team about your needs.

• Messy clean-up – Expect flour on the floor or spilled liquids when kids take the lead! But it sparks learning.

• Picky eaters – Encourage them to garnish plates, but don‘t force food. The activities still teach concepts.

While reasonable concerns, KiwiCo‘s helpful customer service eased all problems for our family.

The Final Verdict: Is KiwiCo‘s Yummy Crate Worthwhile?

If you couldn‘t already tell by my glowing praise, I wholeheartedly recommend the Yummy Crate subscription! What sealed the deal for me:

🥘 Bonding With My Kids – Our best conversations happened over the cutting board as welearned together.

🌈 Seeing Confidence Grow – From following step-by-steps to taking recipe risks, they‘ve become more capable in the kitchen.

💡Lasting Science Lessons – I overhear them explaining techniques like emulsification and cavity creation months later!

🧪 Tasty Kitchen Fun – Delicious family meals full of rainbow smoothies, customized cookie pizzas, and more kid delights.

While my wallet hurts slightly, the family experiences we‘ve gained are truly priceless. So if you‘re seeking an engaging activity that subtly teaches science concepts through food – the Yummy Crate subscription delivers.

Ready to cook up some kitchen magic with your aspiring scientists? Get whipping here!