Binging with Babish – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Binging with Babish

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

YouTube2006

79%

WISE Score

10.5M

Subscribers

Pop-culture cooking meets real technique—Andrew Rea recreates fictional foods with warmth, skill, and zero pretension.

Binging with Babish

YouTube

2006

79%

WISE Score

10.5M

Subscribers

Pop-culture cooking meets real technique—Andrew Rea recreates fictional foods with warmth, skill, and zero pretension.

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10.5M

Screenwise Verdict

This is one of the better YouTube channels for kids who want to learn actual skills. Andrew Rea is a patient, unpretentious teacher who makes cooking feel like a creative adventure rather than a chore. The pop-culture hook is smart—kids are way more motivated to make Krabby Patties or Ratatouille's ratatouille than they are to follow a generic recipe.

That said, it's YouTube, so you're still dealing with comments, autoplay, and the occasional episode that veers into mature territory (rum ham, anyone?). Start with the Basics series if your kid is new to cooking, and preview any episode based on a show you wouldn't let them watch. The educational value is real—this isn't brain rot—but it's not designed specifically for kids, so some parental curation goes a long way.

Bottom line: If your tween or teen is curious about cooking, this is a genuinely enriching way to spend screen time. Just don't let them attempt the turducken without supervision.

Age Fit

Best for kids 10 and up who are interested in cooking and can handle occasional mature references. Younger kids can watch the Basics series with a parent, especially if you're cooking together. Teens and adults will genuinely enjoy this—it's not dumbed down.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Andrew Rea's approach is warm, patient, and genuinely instructive—he models curiosity about food and culture without manufactured drama. Most episodes focus on cooking fundamentals and the joy of recreating beloved dishes. Occasional references to alcohol (butterbeer, rum ham) and mature-themed source material (It's Always Sunny) keep this from being purely kid-focused, but the tone remains upbeat and respectful throughout.

Imaginative

The entire premise—bringing fictional foods to life—is inherently creative and invites kids to see cooking as problem-solving and experimentation. Episodes encourage viewers to think about how to adapt recipes, substitute ingredients, and connect culinary techniques to storytelling. The Basics series demystifies kitchen fundamentals, empowering kids to try their own variations.

Safe

Generally family-friendly with high production values and clean presentation. However, some episodes feature alcohol preparation, graphic cooking methods (razor-blade garlic shaving, Kevin's chili carpet gag), and references to mature shows. Comments are enabled on a channel with 10.5M subscribers, which introduces typical YouTube comment-section risks. No kids mode available. Best for 10+ with parental preview of specific episodes.

Enriching

Genuinely educational—teaches knife skills, cooking chemistry, timing, and technique in an accessible way. The Basics series is particularly strong for building real kitchen competence. Episodes blend pop-culture literacy with practical life skills, and the format encourages kids to try recipes themselves. Over 1,000 videos means deep, varied content that can grow with a young cook.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Teaches genuine cooking skills (knife work, timing, ingredient substitution) in bite-sized, entertaining episodes
The Basics series is gold for kids learning kitchen fundamentals—scrambled eggs, pancakes, pasta from scratch
Blends storytelling and food in a way that makes cooking feel creative and accessible, not intimidating
High production quality and clear instruction without the chaos or manufactured drama of typical food TV
Over 1,000 videos means you can start simple and grow into more ambitious recipes as skills develop

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What to Watch For

Some episodes reference alcohol or recreate dishes from mature shows (It's Always Sunny, Game of Thrones)—preview before letting younger kids watch
Occasional graphic cooking methods or gross-out moments (chili on carpet, pigeon pie) that might put off squeamish viewers
YouTube comments and autoplay can lead kids down rabbit holes—consider watching together or using restricted mode
Not all recipes are beginner-friendly; some require adult supervision for sharp knives and hot surfaces