Opinel
Le Petit Chef Box Set
The Opinel Le Petit Chef Box Set is a children's cooking kit that includes a stainless steel chef knife with a rounded blade and a finger guide ring, a peeler with a guide ring, and a cutting manual. It is designed to teach children aged 7 and up safe knife skills, featuring varnished beech wood handles from PEFC-certified French forests and requiring adult supervision. User reviews highlight that the knife is easy to keep sharp and effective for young cooks, though the finger guard may be large for very small hands.
- Material
- Stainless steel blade and varnished beech wood handle
- Style
- educational, playful
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Utensil Sets
Color
Size
Specifications
A children's cooking knife set that fosters learning and safe cooking skills, featuring a rounded blade knife, peeler, and cutting manual.
Includes a kitchen knife with rounded blade and guide ring, peeler with guide ring, and a cutting manual. Stainless steel blade, varnished beech wood handle from PEFC-certified French forests.
- Material
- Stainless steel blade and varnished beech wood handle
- Secondary
- wood
- Style
- educational, playful
- Occasion
- gift
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- kids
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Utensil Sets
Additional Attributes
- rounded blade
- guide ring
- peeler with guide ring
- cutting manual
- stainless steel
- varnished beech wood handle
- PEFC-certified
- recommended for ages 7+
- adult supervision required
- made in France
- fosters learning
- unique gift idea
Product Insights
The Opinal Le Petit Chef Box Set is a real, sharp children's knife with a 15° per side bevel that reduces slip risk, paired with a fixed red guide ring on both knife and peeler to train finger placement and prevent slipping, though the ring may be too large for ages 3-4 and encourages a hammer grip over pinch grip. Made from Sandvik 12C27 steel and varnished PEFC-certified beech, the set is designed for long-term use through childhood, but requires adult supervision and is recommended by America's Test Kitchen for ages 8-9 (a more conservative range than the manufacturer's 7+). The price of 90 CAD reflects a quality, complete kit that teaches real cutting technique and transitions to adult knives.
Verified claims
- Edge performance
- 15° per side bevel yields wedging-free cutting with minimal pressure.
- Supervision
- Sharp knife requires adult supervision; recommended for ages 7-9.
- Educational ring
- Fixed red ring on knife and peeler trains finger placement, prevents slipping, and enables sharp-blade safety.
- Fit and grip
- Fixed ring may not fit smallest hands (3-4) and encourages hammer grip over pinch grip.
- Expert endorsements
- ATK picks Le Petit Chef for ages 8-9, with safety ring as key differentiator.
- Sharp blade safety
- Sharp blade requires less force, reducing slip risk, per ATK and parents.
- ATK endorsement
- America's Test Kitchen top pick for children ages 8–9.
- Age recommendation
- ATK recommends ages 8–9, more conservative than manufacturer's 7+.
- Wood certification
- Beech wood component is PEFC-certified from Jura/Vercors with full chain-of-custody.
- Closed-loop manufacturing
- Chambéry factory recycles wood waste and maintains French production.
- Handle finish
- Varnished handle seals moisture; beech's dense grain adds durability.
- Heritage
- Fourth-generation family firm; products are real sharp tools, not blunt safety copies.
- Guide ring
- Guide ring fits both knife and peeler but may be loose for ages 3-5
- Weight and balance
- Weighs 72 g with 1:1 ratio and 10.5 cm handle for balanced control
- Handle grip
- Varnished beech handle resists moisture and wear, staying comfortable over time
- Blade sharpness
- Sandvik 12C27 blade holds a sharp edge, cutting with minimal force
- Age suitability
- With supervision, parents use from ages 3–10; ATK recommends for ages 8–9
- Age range
- Used from age 3 to 10, despite the 7+ recommendation.
- Skill progression
- Teaches real cutting technique with a sharp blade and guide ring; proportions ease transition to adult knives.
- Durability
- Easy-to-sharpen steel and varnished handle ensure long-term use throughout childhood.
- Finger guard
- Guide ring fits well from age 5; some 3‑4 year olds find it too large.
- Materials
- Sandvik 12C27 steel (55-57 HRC), varnished beech handle, plastic guard
- Care
- Hand-wash only; sharpen at 15° per side
- Competitive position
- America's Test Kitchen picks it for younger kids over Mac, Masahiro, and Zwilling.
- Value
- Box set's quality and completeness justify the 90 CAD price.
- Philosophy
- A sharp real child's knife with educational ring for finger placement; holds up for ages 5-10.
Product record
- Title
- Le Petit Chef Box Set
- Brand
- Opinel
- Price
- 90 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
A chef knife with a wooden handle and stainless blade is shown in use with a removable red silicone finger guard and a matching red finger ring on the handle; a separate peeler with a wooden handle and red plastic head lies on the cutting board alongside sliced tomato and cucumber.
- Knife bladeLarge stainless steel chef knife blade with visible water droplets and a stamped mark near the spine.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.30 · w 0.46 · h 0.30 (high) - Blade text and logo“OPINEL INOX”
1 region
x 0.56 · y 0.29 · w 0.10 · h 0.08 (high) - Wooden handleLight-colored wooden knife handle partially covered by a red circular finger ring at the bolster area.
1 region
x 0.68 · y 0.18 · w 0.22 · h 0.18 (high) - Removable silicone finger guardRectangular red silicone guard held against the blade edge with debossed brand text on its face.
1 region
x 0.11 · y 0.30 · w 0.26 · h 0.21 (high) - Silicone guard text“OPINEL SAVOIE FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.33 · w 0.22 · h 0.12 (high) - PeelerVegetable peeler with a light wooden handle and red plastic head lying on the cutting board in foreground.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.77 · w 0.46 · h 0.20 (high) - Tomato piecesQuartered tomato segments with visible seeds and inner flesh on the cutting board near the blade tip.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.61 · w 0.26 · h 0.24 (high) - Cucumber slicesTwo round pale cucumber slices placed beside the blade on the cutting board.
1 region
x 0.66 · y 0.61 · w 0.26 · h 0.22 (high)
Other
Indoor lifestyle kitchen scene showing hands using the knife on a wooden cutting board; soft diffuse lighting and shallow depth of field.
- HandsA pair of hands (left stabilizing with the silicone guard, right gripping the knife handle through the red finger ring) are visible and actively cutting.
2 regions
x 0.02 · y 0.02 · w 0.46 · h 0.36 (high); x 0.56 · y 0.02 · w 0.36 · h 0.30 (high) - Cutting boardMedium-toned wooden cutting board occupying the lower half of the image and serving as the staging surface for the vegetables and tools.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.58 · w 1.00 · h 0.42 (high) - Shot compositionClose-up, slightly top-down framing focusing on the action area; background is softly blurred showing a torso and muted textiles.
- Lighting and focusSoft diffuse lighting with shallow depth of field; foreground (knife, vegetables, peeler) is in sharper focus than the background.
Colors
matte red· silicone finger guard#DC0C12bright red· finger ring and peeler head#AC0D12light beech wood· wooden handles#E4D2CCstainless silver· blade#CBD4DD- Knife bladeLarge stainless steel chef knife blade with visible water droplets and a stamped mark near the spine.
- 02
Product
Close-up of a single molded red plastic component with a curved flat back, an embossed down arrow, and two rounded forward-facing saddles or hooks protruding from the inner face.
- Overall geometryThin, single-piece molded plastic panel with a gently curved rectangular outline that tapers to a pointed lower-right corner and has a concave lower edge.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.02 · w 0.88 · h 0.96 (medium) - Forward-facing saddlesTwo adjacent rounded saddle-shaped protrusions centered on the lower half of the panel; each has a smooth curved front and a recessed base where it meets the panel.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.56 · w 0.48 · h 0.24 (high) - Raised rectangular bossA short rectangular boss extends rearward from between the two saddle protrusions toward the right side of the panel.
1 region
x 0.48 · y 0.56 · w 0.18 · h 0.16 (high) - Embossed arrowA shallow embossed arrow pointing downward located on the upper central area of the panel.
1 region
x 0.48 · y 0.14 · w 0.12 · h 0.28 (high) - Surface textureMatte slightly pebbled plastic surface with subtle highlights indicating a soft, non-gloss finish.
- Right edge profileThicker rounded outer rim along the right edge that gives the perimeter a slightly beveled appearance.
1 region
x 0.74 · y 0.06 · w 0.20 · h 0.84 (high)
Other
Studio-style product shot on a white background with even frontal lighting and a faint soft shadow; image is a tight close-up crop showing the product at a slight three-quarter angle.
- Background and stagingClean white background with no visible props.
- Shot compositionTight close-up with the product centered and rotated so the front face and right edge are visible; lower-right corner of the product is near the image edge.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.06 · w 0.76 · h 0.88 (medium) - Lighting and shadowEven diffuse lighting from the front-left producing soft highlights and minimal harsh shadows; faint shadow visible along the inner right edge and below the product.
Colors
bright red· main body#D43A35- Overall geometryThin, single-piece molded plastic panel with a gently curved rectangular outline that tapers to a pointed lower-right corner and has a concave lower edge.
- 03
Product
Boxed child-sized chef knife visible through die-cut windows: stainless blade, light wood handle with metal rivets and stamped OPINEL text, plus red plastic/silicone finger-guard rings and a red rounded protective cap embossed with OPINEL.
- Knife bladeSingle stainless steel knife blade visible through lower left window with a smooth satin finish and a slightly curved cutting edge.
1 region
x 0.14 · y 0.56 · w 0.49 · h 0.23 (high) - Wood handleLight-colored wooden handle attached to the blade, visible through windows; handle has two visible metal rivets and the word 'OPINEL' stamped on the right-side handle piece.
1 region
x 0.53 · y 0.52 · w 0.36 · h 0.17 (high) - Red finger-guard ringsTwo red circular finger-guard rings (one on the upper wooden tool and one fitted on the knife near the bolster) made of plastic or silicone, each with a hollow center.
2 regions
x 0.27 · y 0.34 · w 0.08 · h 0.10 (high); x 0.45 · y 0.60 · w 0.07 · h 0.09 (high) - Red protective capRounded red protective cap or holder visible in right window with the word 'OPINEL' embossed on its curved face.
1 region
x 0.71 · y 0.30 · w 0.16 · h 0.18 (high) - Handle stamping“Small stamped text on the wooden handle reading 'OPINEL SAVOIE - FRANCE' (legible on the right-side handle piece inside the window).”
1 region
x 0.63 · y 0.55 · w 0.16 · h 0.07 (medium)
Packaging
Kraft brown cardboard display box with die-cut windows showing the product, printed white and red branding and instructional text, a blue top edge strip, and a small pink smiling-face icon.
- Box material and windowsFlat kraft brown cardboard box with three die-cut windows exposing the knife, an upper wooden tool, and a rounded red cap.
1 region
x 0.08 · y 0.24 · w 0.84 · h 0.58 (high) - Top stripNarrow horizontal blue strip runs along the top edge of the box visible above the cardboard face.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.15 · w 0.76 · h 0.05 (high) - Brand header text“OPINEL SAVOIE FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.39 · y 0.31 · w 0.22 · h 0.07 (high) - French instruction text 1“pour protéger mes doigts”
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.45 · w 0.22 · h 0.04 (high) - English instruction text 1“to protect my fingers”
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.49 · w 0.22 · h 0.03 (high) - French instruction text 2“pour éplucher”
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.38 · w 0.14 · h 0.03 (high) - English instruction text 2“to peel”
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.41 · w 0.10 · h 0.02 (high) - French instruction text 3“pour couper et émincer”
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.67 · w 0.28 · h 0.04 (high) - English instruction text 3“to cut and slice”
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.70 · w 0.20 · h 0.03 (high) - Product name“le petit Chef”
1 region
x 0.60 · y 0.70 · w 0.30 · h 0.12 (high) - Vertical side text“KIDS COOK WITH OPINEL”Partial
1 region
x 0.93 · y 0.44 · w 0.05 · h 0.40 (medium) - Smiley iconSmall pink circular smiling-face icon printed near top-right corner of the box front.
1 region
x 0.86 · y 0.28 · w 0.06 · h 0.08 (high)
Other
Studio-style product shot centered on a plain white background with even frontal lighting and minimal shadow; box is centered and fully visible.
- Shot compositionBox is centered in the frame on a plain white background with even lighting and a faint soft shadow beneath the box.
- Lighting and reflectionsEven diffuse frontal lighting with soft highlights on the stainless blade and subtle diffuse shadowing around the product windows.
- Image framingBox occupies the central horizontal band of the image with generous white space above and below; edges of the box are fully visible and not cropped.
Colors
metallic silver· knife blade#CECDCBlight beech wood· wooden handle#D5B294bright red· finger-guard rings and cap#DC2B3Bkraft brown· box facePackaging#BD9A7Cdeep navy blue· top stripPackaging- Knife bladeSingle stainless steel knife blade visible through lower left window with a smooth satin finish and a slightly curved cutting edge.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
1 total1 reviews · out of 5
Très bien
Agréablement surprise. Tout est bien pensé pour que les enfants puissent aider sans se blesser les doigts.
Reddit Insights
5 threads · r/chefknives, r/KitchenKnifeKornerReddit parents generally praise the Opinel Le Petit Chef as a high-quality, safe, and effective kids' knife that fosters cooking skills, though some note the finger guard may not fit very small hands perfectly.
The vast majority of comments are positive, highlighting the knife's quality, sharpness, and role in engaging children in cooking; minor criticisms about finger guard sizing exist but do not overshadow the enthusiasm.
Themes
Use Cases
- Teaching young children knife skills
- Involving children in cooking and meal preparation
- Building confidence and independence in the kitchen
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Mac kids knife
Mac is also highly regarded for kids, with some parents choosing it for its smaller size and rounded nose, but the Opinel's finger ring offers additional slip protection.
vs Masahiro kids knife
Masahiro is another solid option; the Opinel is often seen as a more fun and engaging design for kids.
vs Zwilling Twinny
The Zwilling Twinny uses a blunt edge with thin profile for safety, while the Opinel is considered better looking and equally effective, though the ring design is unique.
Source Threads
Quality and Ease of Sharpening of Opinel Kids Knife
It’s a legit knife. There is no wedging. It’s easy to keep sharp so kids don’t have to exert much pressure. I keep ours at a 15 degree angle per side.
u/dalcant757r/chefknivesView thread →
Significant Performance Improvement After Sharpening
I got the same thing for my 7 year old! She loves it! Plus, once I put the knife over a 1000/3000/6000 grit progression with some stropping, it really performs. I'm not joking.
u/ThePaternalDrunkr/chefknivesView thread →
Le Petit Chef Knife Used from Age 3 to 5 with Success
I bought my daughter le petit chef Opinel when she was 3 or 4. She didn’t do much cutting/prepping, but I thing she got some skills and understanding how knives work. Now at 5 she routinely use it if she wants to cut something.
u/zwackr/chefknivesView thread →
Great Knife and Peeler but Finger Guard So-So for Small Hands
She’s been super excited to peel and cut her first carrot. Today she cut all the veggies for our dinner. The finger guard is so-so, maybe her hands are too small. But the knife and peeler are great.
u/n115r/chefknivesView thread →
Overall Brand Quality and Value Endorsement
Opinel is a stellar knife brand. Van Gogh used their knives during his carving phase. The price for the quality is hard to match! Couldn't recommend enough
u/twistedteetsr/KitchenKnifeKornerView thread →