The shopping links below may not be active, visit Huss' webpage for all of their current cookers https://hussincense.com/collections/incense-ovens . This post was last updated 11/21/16.
See also:
- Real Mini Food for Mini Cooking
- Alternative Mini Cooking Options
- Working Miniature Tools
- Working Vintage Toy Ovens
- Making Miniature Pottery
If you’re on Facebook, Youtube, the internet in general you’ve probably seen some tiny kitchens.
If you haven’t – check out these playlists.
There’s now even a mini cooking cafe!
After seeing these videos, some of you may begin to wonder how you can start your own tiny kitchen. Well, first thing’s first, you’ll need a tiny oven. Each of the below are heated with a tea light candle.
Buy a Working Mini Stove
The oven you see repeated in quite a few videos is an incense burner that can sometimes be found here: https://huss-weihrichkarzle.de/en/mehrzweckherd.html.
This stove can also sometimes be found on ebay by searching ‘Huss Stove.’ http://www.ebay.com/itm/Huss-Multipurpose-cooker-rot-black-The-Attractive-/132071898067?hash=item1ec0193bd3:g:UmIAAOSwpDdVTNtI
- Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 3.6 inches
- This stove comes complete with what’s pictured below – 5 kitchen accessories and 3 pots.
A miniature cast iron oven is also an option. These are vintage replicas of real stoves and are best found on ebay, such as this listing for $36.48, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Mountain-Cast-Iron-Cooking-Oven-Set-Miniature-Wood-Burning-Stove-Pots-Pans-/281545839803.
- Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches
- Check each individual listing for what accessories come with the stove. Most do seem to come with a variety of pots and pans.
If you want a specific look or scale, it’s best to either make your own or contact a miniature maker. When first researching this topic, I successfully made on from aluminum and polymer clay.
- Dimensions: 1:12 dollhouse scale, 4 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches
Make your Own
If you’d like to try your hand at making your own, these tutorials may help.
What to Know
- As with any cooking, in any scale, you need to use supplies that are safe to cook with. Dollhouse miniature kitchen supplies you buy from the miniature sections of shops have a coating that will bubble and release fumes if exposed to heat. Be sure to use cookware that is uncoated metal, safe to use ceramic cookware, or uncoated cast iron.
The supplies that come with the first 2 sets listed above are made to be exposed to heat and therefor safe to use. I’ve made my own by cutting aluminum baking sheets and repurposing metal bottle caps. Be aware that metal caps have a plastic lining that you will have to remove before cooking in them.
But observe what’s around you and make it miniature. Here an idea from the facebook group “Dollhouse miniatures made from everyday things.”
Find metal make-up tins to use for cake pans and baking sheets at ebay listings like this one, or simply re-purpose your own. Deeper ones with lids made for lib balm, etc. can be made into sauce pans as well. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/261629464250?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
For larger set ups, things like mini Altoids tins could work as well, you’ll just want to sand off the colorful coating first. Or buy one that’s already plain. https://www.adafruit.com/products/97?gclid=CMmFr6XautACFcRZhgodVJ8OfA
- Also, since these stoves are heated by tealight, the flame needs to be very close to your cooking surface. If things aren’t heating up, see if there’s a way to get your item closer to the heat source. Be patient and experiment. You’ll learn the best way to use your mini stove in no time.
Questions? Let me know below.