Making baby food in the comfort of your home should be a cost-effective, quick, and easy task – but that can only be possible if you have the best food processor for baby food. Funnily enough, though, not all baby food makers that claim to get the job done may work in your favor.
It’s also worth noting that you can’t buy any machine to make your own baby food since people may have different preferences for the texture. That said, you’ll be happy to know that if you’re looking for a stellar baby food maker for homemade baby food, there are several options out there.
What suits you ultimately comes down to the budget, how you would want to store the baby food, and how versatile you’d want your baby food maker to be. In this article, we put together a list that has a range of different options for your perusal. All of these baby food makers do a fantastic job of keeping your baby’s stomach satisfied. Some of these are food blenders, while others are processors or dedicated food makers.
Regardless of the one you pick, rest assured knowing that your search for the best baby food maker ends today!
Don’t have time to read? Here’s a quick summary of the products we recommend.
| Food Processor Name | Why We Picked It |
| Nutribullet Baby Food Maker | Perfect for people who want to cook big batches of baby food for storage |
| Cuisinart Baby Food Processor | Suitable for people who prefer a compact baby food maker |
| Beaba Babycook | Get this option if you don’t have a budget constraint |
The Best Baby Food Processors
Nutribullet Baby Food Maker
This is an intricately designed baby food maker that lets you prepare, freeze and store food appropriately. It comes with storage cups and a freezer tray that helps you keep your baby’s food organized.
Key Features
- You’re going to get six storage cups, a silicone freezer tray, a storage tray, and a recipe book
- It’s dishwasher safe which makes cleanup easy and quick
- The cups are made from BPA-free, nontoxic and a durable plastic
The reason several parents love this baby food maker is that it lets them prepare, freeze, and store food swiftly. It has several accessories which help you make nutritious baby food and at the same price, you’re not going to find many baby food makers with the same features.
The Pros
- It has a recipe book, storage cups, and a freezer tray
- Possibly one of the most affordable baby food makers in the market
- It is made from environmentally-friendly plastic
- It’s dishwasher safe
The Cons
- It can hold 32 ounces of baby food. Other options in the market can hold a lot more
- It blends ingredients to make baby food, so if you want to use this machine, you’ll have to boil the food first
- It doesn’t have an option to steam food
Cuisinart Baby Food Processor
This is a mini food processor that is fancier and bigger than many other options in the market today. It has a three-cup working bowl made out of plastic that also has a handle. With it, you’re also going to get a stainless steel blade that will get the job done quickly and without a lot of hassle.
Key Features
- It is dishwasher safe, has a lid for cleanup and a spatula, too
- It’s going to grind and chop raw veggies with a steel blade
- It can be controlled with a single button and it has two powerful food processing options
The reason people love this food processor is that it can make small batches of food and it’s versatile in the kitchen, too. It has a compact design which means you can easily fit it on the top of your kitchen counter. For several people, it is one of the best baby food makers since it does a good job of making homemade baby food.
The Pros
- It can be used for all kinds of food prep
- It’s affordable
- It has a compact design
- It has touchpad controls which make it easy to clean and use
- It’s BPA free
- Its parts are dishwasher safe
The Cons
- It doesn’t have an option to steam or cook raw foods
- It doesn’t work as a traditional baby food maker
- You won’t be able to make a large batch of baby meals with this machine since it has a small size
- It doesn’t come with reusable food pouches, a food processor attachment, or storage containers
Beaba Babycook
This is a four-in-one baby food maker that has two big graduated bowls. This lets you make two batches of different baby foods at the same time. It can hold up to 9 cups of baby food and its convenient design lets you puree food on one side while you steam cook it on the other.
Key Features
- Recipe booklet, a spatula, a filter for smoothies are all included with the Beaba babycook
- It has an immersion blender
- Four-in-one capabilities: reheats, steams, defrosts, and blends food
- It has a cup capacity of 9.4 and two 4.7 bowls
- It has a stainless steel water reservoir and a heating system
The reason many people love this baby food maker is that it’s one of the most versatile options in the market which also lets you prepare table food while also letting you blend cooked foods.
The Pros
- It is phthalate, BPA, and lead-free
- You’re going to get four different cooking settings in one machine
- It has a double safety lock on its bowls
- It comes with a removable cord for convenient storage
- It has a one-handed operation
- It has an automated switch off button that beeps when done
The Cons
- Compared to other Beaba options in the market, this one doesn’t have a glass bowl
- It’s comparatively more expensive than all other options in the market
How Does One Differentiate Between Baby Food Makers, Food Processors, and Food Blenders?
Blender vs. Food Processor: Key Differences
Have you ever used a food blender only to find out that the food you’re trying to blend is getting stuck on the sides? That’s going to leave the blades whizzing around in the blender and nothing is going to get blended.
That happens because some blenders do a good job with wetter substances and are good for liquid-based diets (perhaps a smoothie).
Food processors, on the other hand, have far-reaching blades and can do a better job of blending and mixing key ingredients for baby food (even sweet potatoes). These machines have a conducive shape unlike a blending dryer and are built for working with solid foods, cooked meat, and even veggies.
These are also going to let you control the chunkiness and the consistency of the meal you’re preparing for your little one. When you’re preparing baby food, it can also be easier to add ingredients, seasonings, and liquid to a food processor rather than a blender since you’re not going to get a splash of liquid coming toward you as you open the lid.
Many options in the market also have a chute which makes it easier to add stuff. However, what’s more, interesting is the fact that the food processors can do a good job of handling hotter ingredients.
Blenders don’t like hot foods touching them, so don’t bother trying. If you want to prepare baby food quickly, we wouldn’t recommend buying a blender since you’ll have to wait for the food to cool down so that you could add it.
Remember, the best baby food makers are incredibly versatile with the options they provide you so there’s no need to make a hasty decision.
Baby Food Makers vs. Food Processors
Baby food makers have a steaming function and a puree function. A baby food processor, however, is better for chopping, blending, pureeing, and pulverizing food to all kinds of consistencies. Honestly, though, there shouldn’t be a need to invest in a baby food maker even if it seems affordable.
There are several great food processors available in the market that can handle the task just as well. The only difference is that you’ll have to cook the food slightly before you put it into the food processor to make baby food. While this may sound like a lot of work but it’s incredibly simple!
You’re just going to need a microwave that you can trust or a steamer basket may get the job done as well. For long-term usage, food processors may still outshine all other baby food makers since they can also work well when your child has gone passed the puree stage. They can also prepare some “big kid” meals which is a definite plus!
That said, baby food makers can have their share of advantages as well. If you’re a busy parent who is trying to carry out the whole process with a single machine, then a food maker is going to work well for you.
They’re also quite easy to store since they’re compact. If you have a lot of children running around your house, or if you plan to have more in the near future, then we’d recommend getting a baby food maker.
They’re going to make the whole process easy as you feed your children a meal. As you might be able to tell by now – there’s no clear method to the process. Choosing between a food processor, blender or baby food maker depends on the scenario you’re dealing with.
All of these options bring a unique offering to the table and they all have their own cons as well. If you want to decide between the three, take out time to understand the scenario you stand in first.
How many kids do you have? Do you plan to have more in the future? Do you want to continue using a food processor as your child grows? How much counter space do you have? Answer these questions and then look for an option.
Why People Love Owning a Baby Food Maker
There are several reasons why people love owning baby food makers. Here are some of the most prominent ones:
- They save money. That’s right! The cost of those pouches and baby food jars can start adding up fairly quickly since baby food isn’t exactly the cheapest commodity one can get. Want to know a cheaper way of doing it? Buy a baby food maker! It will give you large amounts of homemade baby food at only a fraction of the cost!
- It’s going to save you time! Several food makers (like the Step baby food maker) have many different options. These can be the defrost, steam, reheat, or blending options or some can also have all of them. This means that you’ll have to use up lesser bowls, pans, and pots. This is going to keep your kitchen clean!
- They can provide healthy food for your baby easily. This is possibly the biggest advantage of owning a glass baby food maker. Since you decide the ingredients and the quantity, you can always ensure your child is getting the healthiest diet possible.
- You can customize it! There’s no need to continue trying those bang-average recipes. With a food maker, you can get creative and come up with recipes for your own baby food.
- You don’t only have to use them for baby food. Be it soup, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice, applesauce, or pasta you can make prepare several other meals for yourself, too.
Nutritional Tips for Making Your Own Baby Food
Trying to make your baby’s food a lot healthier? Consider using the following baby food-making tips when you’re going through the process.
- Make sure that you clean all parts of the food maker that come in contact with the food you’re preparing. Food that doesn’t get cleaned can leave a residue that gets harder to clean with time and it may ruin the taste of other meals that you prepare as well. Several options in the market today are dishwasher safe, too
- You can use frozen desserts and frozen foods with your food processors. Some people prefer using blueberries in their baby’s food since it adds a great flavor and it also makes the food a lot more nutritious
- Before you feed your baby the food you’ve cooked for them, make sure that the temperature and texture are appropriate for them. Not doing this beforehand can have detrimental consequences (you may burn your baby’s mouth!)
- You can also try combining foods that are rich in vitamin C to ensure that the food you make food for your baby is rich in iron
- Ensure that you’ve washed and peeled the produce and that you’ve removed the pits and the seeds before you start cooking or blending the food in a food maker
- There’s no need to add sugar or salt but you can add other spices or flavors to give the food you prepare an extra kick
- You can also use baby milk formula or fresh breast milk when you’re pureeing foods for added nutrients in your baby’s food
- Make sure that you avoid cow’s milk and honey for at least a year in your baby’s food
Here’s How You Can Store Baby Food
After you’ve gone through the process of making baby food, you’ll have to freeze it so that your baby can have it later on and you don’t have to make it repeatedly. Remember: you’ll have to freeze baby food since it won’t last more than three days in a fridge. If a puree is frozen, it can last in a fridge for at least three months.
Consider following these tips for storing baby food appropriately:
- Label each jug or jar with the date you made the food and the name of the item you’ve made it
- After you’ve made the food, let it cool until it is only slightly warm
- Make sure the puree has frozen completely before you crack it out of the tray. Once they’re out, place the cubes into the freezer in a stasher bag or a plastic zip-lock bag. If you’re using a jar to do this, then your puree should stay in the jar
- Cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid and then place it inside the freezer
- Once its time to feed your baby the food, spoon it out into your favorite container
Does Baby Food Taste Better When You Use a Food Processor?
Since food processors do a better job of slicing up the smallest of chunks from the ingredients you’ve put into the blender, you can end up with a better puree for your baby. The best part is that they let you control the consistency and the chunkiness of the food.
Since they have a lot more room than a blender, you can use them to make baby food in large quantities and then store it for months in the freezer.
If you already have a food maker in your home, there’s no need to get a separate baby food maker for your baby’s diet. Since processors are also versatile, you can also use them with both hot, dry, and cold food without worrying about them stopping from working. That said, you must pick a good one if you want it to be truly versatile.
A Buyer’s Guide for Choosing the Best Food Processor for Baby Food
You’ll have to consider several factors when you’re looking food processor for baby food. Be it the fact that it has stainless steel built or that it comes with a glass bowl – here’s what you should consider before getting one.
Its Total Functions
Many baby food makers have a long list of functions that ensures that a busy parent can make a nutritious meal in a matter of minutes. The more functions your food processor has tells you exactly usable it is going to be in the future.
Even if it serves up fresh baby food in a matter of minutes, it should also nail other aspects of the job. The functions that you use also depend on the kind of meals you’re trying to prepare.
Is It Safe?
You must also ensure that the baby food processor that you’re using is safe to use, is incredibly durable that the materials that were used to construct it are free from lead, BPA, and phthalate. This way it’s not going to contaminate the ingredients that are inside the food processor and there aren’t going to be any health risks for your family, too.
Ease of Cleaning
Apart from making it easier for you to cook baby food, a great food blender should also save you time when you’re trying to clean it. Pick a food processor that is dishwasher safe, easy to clean, and well-built. Almost all food processors are going to have their specifications listed in their product listing so make sure you go through it religiously.
The Price and the Size
Depending on the counter space you have, the size of the baby food processor is going to be a vital factor. While the baby food-making process isn’t essentially complicated, it can seem like a chore if you don’t have ample counter space.
A multifunctional or an all-in-one model is going to be heavier and larger. On the other hand, a simpler option that has limited functions is going to be lighter. Simpler food processors are a lot easy to store since they have a small size. The price is a huge consideration factor, too since there are several options and their price can vary greatly.
That said, it’s also essential to remember that a food processor’s price isn’t exactly a great indicator of its performance. Some of the m0re expensive options in the market today are a lot easier to use and are more efficient but that doesn’t that all expensive options do a great job at making baby food.
Be it the QOOC baby food maker or a baby food blender, picking one that works well for you comes down to the requirements you have.
If you plan to make the most of the baby food-making experience we would recommend investing in a high-quality appliance. This is going to simplify your life and it’s going to be worth it in the long run, too.
A heavier investment is also going to be worth it if you plan on using a baby food processor for making food for several children. However, if you only plan to use one for a small amount of time then you can get a cheaper option.
Material
Baby food makers come in a different range of materials including plastic and glass. If you’re trying to avoid the harmful chemicals that are present in the plastic and want to take on a more environmentally-friendly approach, then a baby food maker with a glass bowl may suit you more.
On the other hand, if you prefer the durability that plastic offers, we would recommend buying a product that is BPA-free.
Maintenance and Care
Make sure that you’ve read the instructions properly for cleaning the baby food. If you plan to use only a baby food maker for preparing food, it is essential that you clean it properly. This can help you avoid foodborne illnesses.
If you’re short on energy and time, it’s possible that you’re going to prefer a food processor that you can put in the dishwasher rather than you washing them by hand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a baby food maker and a food processor?
Baby food makers usually have a steaming function and a pureeing function. Food processing equipment is used only when you need blended, processed, chopped, and pulverized food to a varied consistency. The main difference is cooking the food first before you pulse.
Do I need a blender or food processor for baby food?
Depends on how you want to use them. In baby food, the food processing machine may offer much greater flexibility. A blender helps to puree baby food. Nonetheless, the size of the blender’s basket can make small batch food difficult to handle.
How do you make baby food with a food processor?
Homemade baby foods are simple to eat. Cook the food, let it cool briefly, and put the ingredients into blenders. Use stick mixers as well as immersion blenders. You can puree your baby food and mix it with your imagination and age.
Can I use a regular food processor for baby food?
It is possible to get a separate food processor and food maker for babies in your house. It is easy to finely puree many foods in food processors to produce the best possible results for babies to eat.
Conclusion
Preparing meals daily for your baby can be a tough task. That is why several parents opt for baby food makers every day since they let you avoid potentially harmful chemicals and make baby food that is good for your baby’s health. Moreover, they let you save time and energy which means you’ll have more time left over for yourself.
That said, no matter which option you choose to go with, always seek professional medical advice before you decide on the ingredients you plan to include in your baby’s food. Don’t forget to stock up on those food containers, too! While fruits and vegetables are healthy options, you’re still going to need all the accessories to ensure the task is completely hassle-free.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
