As a parent, you know that babies can be very demanding. Your little one requires lots of attentive care and monitoring to make sure that they remain happy and cry-free. The nourishment you give to them plays a big part in this as well. Unfortunately, not all store-bought baby food is as healthy as the meals that you could provide them from your kitchen. Baby food blenders aim to make this process a lot easier than attempting to do it with common kitchen appliances. However, the best baby food maker for your child may not be an easy thing to come by. The reviews below offer detailed analysis on each product, an excellent way to shorten down your purchasing options. And be sure to check out the buyer’s section, so you’ll know what features to look out for (and what to avoid). The conclusion finishes off with the best baby food maker from the list announced.
What You Need to Look For
This section covers lots of information regarding the baby food processor types, features, and the attributes that make top-shelf brands better than the others. While it’s always recommended to go with what you prefer, taking this knowledge into account before you begin your purchase will significantly reduce the likelihood is ending up with something you weren’t expecting. As such, make a note of what you believe could help you beforehand!
Baby Food Blender Types
So far, the term “blender” has been used often to describe the entire range of baby food processing devices. But these machines can do much more than emulsifying food into smaller pieces. They can heat up food to warm temperatures, clean themselves out (some brands contain steam containers with this feature), and even break down hard content such as nuts. Such qualities may not be available on every product, however, so be sure to look at the description and user manuals whenever possible. Additionally, other alternatives could serve as a baby puree maker (described further below) but as a whole, blending and mixing serves as the two primary features given to most, which includes all products on the list.
Storage
You’re probably already familiar with how to properly store your baby’s food that won’t be consumed immediately, but some the baby food makers have accessories that make this much more straightforward to do. If you are planning on getting something that’ll create the food in bulk, look for products with large pots and multiple storage cup. Not all of those shown below are ideal for doing this, but those that can are easy to spot. Some even have built-in date marks on the containers, which aids significantly in avoiding confusion about food that you thin is past its consumption date. Furthermore, containers can also be taken away from home and transported quickly when you and your little one are on the go. Consider this if you don’t have much time for making baby food but enjoy preparing meals that will last you a while.
Glass over Plastic?
Plastic, while very good, isn’t always preferred by parents. This is often a big deciding factor on the type of baby food processor consumers gravitate to. Plastic, although durable, will often erode and wear down much quicker than baby food storage containers glass. Yet the risk of shattering and cleaning difficulties can also arise with blenders that have containers and pitchers made of the latter material. If you are going to go with a baby food preparer that’s mostly plastic, always check to identify if there are compounds within in that could be potentially harmful, such as BPA and BPS plastic. These are the most significant avoidances, but lead and phthalates could be equally risky. It is of no concern regarding glass though; choose it instead if you’re picky over the former. Your baby’s food will be in contact with one of the two, either in the blending process or during storage.
The Use of Steam
Steam is used to help break down the solid food pieces you place into the baby food processor for easier blending. Water must be added into a reservoir to achieve this (on the products that have it). If you’re going for one that does offer steam, keep in mind that you must use bottled water, as liquid from the tap could damage its container very quickly. Corrosion and sediment would build up until its space is rendered useless, necessitating a replacement. Of course, you may already be reliant on cleaner water for your child, but this is often a mistake that’s a surefire way to deplete the lifespan on any baby food processor with the feature.
The Manual Option
In the earlier part, the different types of categories for the products to be reviewed were detailed, but there’s also another that may not be what you were expecting to see. The best baby food steamer and blender for you might not be a bulky machine at all. Have you heard of the Infantino Squeeze Station? Products such as this are considered to be manual. Handheld products also exist and work in the same fashion as a cocktail stirrer, but one of a more powerful tong that’s built to pulverize through fruits and vegetables quickly. They’re also advantageous in the storage department since the tool can just be placed inside of a dresser drawer, and not left as an object of clutter on your cabinet top. They don’t do as much as the more state-of-the-art types but can handle most basic meals with little trouble. Truthfully, what you consider as the best food processor for baby food could be operated entirely by hand.
Where Improvements can be Made
There’s no such thing as a perfect kitchen product. Many baby food maker reviews will focus on what works, and rightfully so. But there are also things that you be familiar with with the collective as a whole. The biggest issue is the quantity stored. Even some of the blenders with cups and “large” pitchers aren’t nearly the same size as a standard blender. That means you’ll have to rely more on measuring out the right amount of food before you get started. And with some notable exceptions, build quality isn’t always as good as it should be including the fact that not all brands carry good baby food freezer containers. This isn’t something that’s descriptive of all products shown in the baby food processor review below but often comes up when consumers experience issues with their blender.
Be Sure to Inspect
Like anything for your child, you’ll want to inspect the product before you begin to cook and blend with it. Those shown below are proven to be safe for your baby, but looking out for defective parts and other issues is a must. You’ll want to do with before every meal you cook. Go through the interior pieces, paying attention to anything that looks out of place. The portions of the baby food containers that touches food contents should always be sterile and free of buildup from previously cooked meals. And while most of those shown are dishwasher safe, it’s always suggested for parents to wash their food puree machine by hand. Doing so will increase the life of the product and alert you to parts that need to be fixed or replaced.
Top 9 Best Baby Food Blenders
Magic Bullet Baby Care System
The Magic Bullet Baby Care System is a modern food puree machine that’s loaded with lots of great cooking and blending utensils for you to use during preparation. It’s one of the best, if not the best food processor for baby food. If you’re big on extras, then look no further. There’s enough here for any parent to completely rid themselves of store-bought baby food. And if there’s not enough, setups and instructions are painless and fun. There are six cups in total, all made from BPA and BPS-free plastic. If you’re looking to upgrade to something more permanent than the Infantino Squeeze pouches, the cups should serve your baby well. They each have an individual slot on a separate tray table to which they can be housed inside until ready to eat. This is an excellent way to keep up with your baby’s food in the fridge without causing clutter.
The blender itself is very slim and easy to store in a cabinet. The shape is slightly odd though; smaller at the bottom than the top. Food is placed above (the pitcher is located on top) and blended until complete. A spoon is added to help with mixing during and in between the puree. As for improvements, the lower operation of the device may leak on some occasions and make cleanup somewhat tricky when it does happen. And be sure to check out the rubber under the blades whenever you’re done blending, as it might need a replacement sometime after the warranty is up. And while there are lots of baby food containers here, you’ll only be able to make a tiny amount of food at a time, something that could significantly increase the time you spend in the kitchen due to dealing with the pitcher.
Other than these small hiccups, the Magic Bullet Baby Care System is a great way to introduce any parent to a product that helps with producing food for infants. The cups are phenomenal and serve as great baby food freezer containers for extended storage. It’s the best puree machine for baby food and has strong blades, durable craftsmanship, and all the storage accessories you likely ever need for the beginning of your child’s life.
Pros:
- Lots of utensils and blending accessories included for creating and storing baby food
- Comes with detailed and easy to follow instructions for setup and operating
- Comes with six storage cups with the ability to set dates on each by hand; tray table included
- Slim design that protrudes outward along the top of the blender
- Can be used with a baby food squeeze station
Cons:
- Contents may seep out of the lower chamber of the blender
- Only small meals can be made; difficult to produce baby food in bulk (due to pitcher size)
- Rubber located under the blades may wear down over time
BÉABA Baby Cook 4 in 1 Steam Cooker & Blender, 4.5 cups and BÉABA Baby Cook 4 in 1 Steam Cooker & Blender, 9.4 cups
If your number one priority is finding the best baby food blender for getting the most amount of content processed in one sitting, then the BÉABA Baby Cook Steam Cooker, Blender and Steamer is a top baby food maker bundle to add to your kitchen. It looks sort of like two blenders in one, but that isn’t the case. One side is for blending, and the other is dedicated to steaming the food. There are two large pitchers available with the device, holding approximately 1.5 liters in total. This machine makes blending a lot easier with its simple to use button layout and controls, and you’ll most likely not have to rely on a timer to get the majority of your baby’s food ready.
As for the noise department, it will quite possibly be the most silent tool you will add to your kitchen. Your sleeping baby won’t be woken by its spinning blender, and while it is slightly audible in a room nearby, not to the point where a disturbance is likely. If you like to leave your items out for storage on the countertop, the product shouldn’t take up too much space since the shape doesn’t protrude outwards; everything stays within one line. The pitcher on the right left, and the center console. Just remember that all your food can only be blended into one section, not both. It’s also quite a chore to clean up and is recommended by users to do it by hand to ensure that everything comes clean.
Steaming and blending are the hallmarks that the best baby food maker will have. The BÉABA Baby Cook Steam Cooker and Blender will definitely allow you to make some great recipes for your child and steer you away from more unhealthy cooking options. It’s the best baby food steamer and blender out of the others shown in this list, so if you are in need of this combination, give the BÉABA brand a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Pros:
- The pitchers are sturdy and large enough to be used for preparing ingredients by themselves
- There are enough cups (and pitchers) to make two separate foods simultaneously
- Easy to blend most items without relying on a separate timing mechanism
- Makes little noise during operation
- Its shape allows for the blender to be placed close to the wall, conserving lots of counters and shelf space
Cons:
- Food contents can only be blended on one side
- The blender may need to be replaced within a year of regular use
- Interior pieces that touch food require thorough cleaning and do not disassemble
BÉABA Baby Cook Neo with a Glass Bowl and Stainless Steel Reservoir
With it’s sleek looking design, the BÉABA Baby Cook Neo is one of the most attractive blenders in the list. But looks aren’t everything that the brand does right here. For starters, this baby food storage containers BPA free. No toxins of any kind on the interior and exterior pieces. The reservoir for the food itself is big, holding about 6 ounces. If you like to make your baby’s food in small batches that can be eaten in short segments during the day, this blender should serve you well. The two-button layout on the left of the holder is manageable for even the most inexperienced chef.
As mentioned earlier, glass baby food containers should be inspected regularly. These baby food storage containers are made up of glass but aren’t shatterproof, so you’ll want to be careful without you handle it. Even a slight drop could result in pieces chipping away, so use caution whenever your carrying the baby food blender by the grip. You must also steam the food before you begin blending, and this process takes a considerable amount of time to complete. Furthermore, jamming is likely to occur at times, depending on the type of food you’re working with.
Denser items tend to be the worst, so if you’re planning on breaking down vegetables that are partially frozen, you’ll want to unthaw everything before you get started. Still, the BÉABA Baby Cook Neo maintains its spot on the list as a highly recommended product, particularly for anyone that wants a consistency that’s identical to what you’ve seen in store-bought brands. It’s the best baby puree maker and should do an excellent job at getting things evenly blended.
Pros:
- No BPA, Phthalate, or lead contained in the exterior or inside pieces
- The reservoir is huge and can be washed by hand quickly
- The cup and container sizes are ideal for making bulk baby food in minor portions (that will be eaten at a later date)
Cons:
- The glass jar can be shattered easily with the slightest drop
- Meals must be steamed thoroughly before blending
- At times, the blade may stop working and become jammed until the blender is cleared again
QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker
The QOOC Mini Baby Food Maker is a unique name but carries the same expected features that any top-shelf brand in the category would have. One of the best baby food steamer and blender products you can buy, you’ll find it easy to use and operate. The kitchen here is in the default features given to the product. While this doesn’t mean that you can place frozen solid vegetables into the pitcher and blend as usual, you will be able to unthaw partially hard food that isn’t straight from the freezer. This is a great way to cut prep time in half, especially for anyone that doesn’t own or lie to use a microwave to do it. The operation is straightforward, with controls that allow blending to finish quickly. The dial must be turned to mix, which should take only seconds to complete.
If you’re big on adding nuts into your child’s food, this blender is a dream come true. It emulsifies them well without leaving large chunks of untouched content left over in the end result. It purees fruits and veggies just as nicely and comes out so well, you may be tempted to try the food out for yourself! Additionally, you can cook with this, which warms up the food to a serving point that’s hot and ready to eat shortly after (be sure that the baby food isn’t too hot before you serve). However, rust is the main areas of concern, which could develop in portions of the reservoir’s interior. You’ll have to keep everything clean and dry to avoid this. A further deterrent is to immediately wash all parts down after you finished using them, taking extra care to get the inside dry.
Other than that, there’s nothing more to find fault with this baby food blender. The QOOC Mini Baby Food Maker performs well at its intended function and will keep your baby asking (or rather, crying) for more food that’s made from the device. A close second at being the best puree machine, and a definite competitor with all others mentioned, you’ll have this around for a long time, and the durable parts that the product is constructed from will likely hold up well into your little one’s toddler years.
Pros:
- Has a defrost feature that allows partially chilled food to unthaw completely
- Simple configuration layout that doesn’t require reading through the manual to use properly
- Soft and some hard foods, such as nuts, can be pureed to an even consistency
- Food can be cooked during the blending process
Cons:
- Unless cleaned thoroughly, the reservoir may rust around the corners
- The reservoir may also leak on occasion
- Goes through water fast and quickly overheats when almost empty
- When blending, a metallic smell may emanate from the interior
BabyMoov Dual Station
Your baby’s food deserves the finest quality ingredients and utensils for creating it. The BabyMoov Dual Station is the right tool for parents who want to maintain this. The baby food blender is built to the create food that is high in quality without sacrificing any of its nutritional value. One thing that’s often not mentioned with such brand in this category is the way that some blenders take away the vitamins and minerals that are healthy for your baby during the steaming and blending process. This product retains everything inside and will churn out a large amount of food in a very short period. You can wash everything safely in dishwater as well, and (also unlike some of the other products mentioned) there’s little difference in the level of cleanliness and wear when compared to hand and dishwashing.
If you wanted, the BabyMoov could be used as a standalone water heater for your baby’s formula, so consider this if you tend to alternate between food and milk during your child’s meals. Most of the improvements can be made with the interior. Small pieces of food may become stuck in areas inside that are difficult to get out, even when you’re washing with a cloth. This is due to the motor, which has low wattage. Working with pureed food is not a fast thing to do at times. General veggies and fruits shouldn’t create any issues as far as time, but denser items will inevitably slow things down. And moving the blended food into different containers is hard since the device cannot be picked up like normal. You must instead rely on a scooper to do the job. Overall, the BabyMoov Dual Station is still a good product for most parents, especially those that looking for the best baby food processor of ordinary vegetables, which it excels at.
Pros:
- Comes with six different functions for cooking and blending on the front configuration pad
- Up to 25 meals can be made in one sitting with the steamer
- All parts are dishwasher safe (except for the configuration pad)
- Can be used as a standalone water heater for drinks
Cons:
- The blender’s motor is low in power and may leave lumps of unprocessed contents in the food
- Moving steamed food into a blender is a chore and must be scooped; cannot be poured
- Pureed foods must be done slowly; not recommended to mix for longer than five seconds
MLITER All in One
The MLITER All in One is a playfully designed blender with lots of great features and accessories. There’s a nice LED screen housed on the front, which has indicators for time and other valuable cooking information. As your blending, you won’t have to open the container during the process to monitor the water levels; it can all be done by merely making a note of it with the screen. And if safety is a primary concern, this machine has a switch that will turn it completely off when the steamer is too low on water. This is an excellent tool for preventing damages that could fry the inside and make the entire blender impossible to use.
Drawbacks included the number of parts required to use the blender and the smell that’s produced when the machine is in working progress. It smells strongly of plastic and will likely be a turn off for anyone that tends to dislike synthetic cooking materials. The user manual could also be better and is very difficult to follow. If you’re having trouble getting everything started, it’s advised to look online for a tutorial that will show what every piece of used for, and all the things that are possible to be done with the blender itself. The MLITER is the best baby food blender for anyone that likes timers and monitors on their cooling hardware, and this product performs well in this regard.
Pros:
- A bright LED screen is built into the device and allows parents to gauge defrost and steaming times accurately
- The container doesn’t need to be opened to check water levels; transparent design
- To avoid overheating, the blender will shut off completely when the water is depleted
- The blending jar is approved by the FDA
Cons:
- The steam compartment smells strongly of plastic when in use
- Numerous parts make up the entirety of the device, lots of maintenance and cleanup required after preparation is finished
- Difficult to follow user manual
Infanso Baby Food Maker Food Processor BF300
Not to be confused as an Infantino Squeeze Station review, the Infanso Baby Food Maker Food Processor BF300 looks almost similar to other blenders that you may already have tried before but is built entirely for your baby’s food. This is truly an automatic experience, and once set, should keep you away from having to memorize annoying controls to get the food you want to be done. The water tanks don’t need to be cleaned by hand. In fact, it cleans itself out once finished. And food comes out about the same, being sterilized during the blending and steaming process naturally.
Noise levels are low, and the blender shouldn’t be heard from distances longer than you would expect for a machine of this type. Just be careful not to topple the blender over. The shape is a little awkward and gives it a slight risk of being knocked down if not careful. And the reservoir may become damaged if you’re not using bottled water during the steaming. Avoid water from the tap, and this issue won’t occur.
Pros:
- Many of the features enabled are entirely automatic and do not require timing once set
- Purees come out smoothly and without lumps or untouched areas of the food
- The water tank cleans out itself, no scrubbing needed
- Sterilizes ordinary food into contents will fewer preservatives
- Very quiet; produces little noise
Cons:
- The buttons are all located on the top of the blender; awkwardly placed controls
- Easy to topple over if not careful; narrow base
- When used with tap water, contents may erode the reservoir overtime
Mueller Ultra Stick Immersion Hand Blender
The Mueller Ultra Stick Immersion Hand Blender is a little bit different from the other products featured on the list. It’s entirely handheld and must be placed into a cup or jar with the food, and turned on. Although this might be a little bit rudimentary at the surface, there are many advantages to using this that isn’t possible to do with the blenders that have been reviewed already. If you are steaming baby food in a pot on the stove, use this to stir the contents while it remains in the pot. That’s right-you can mix in heated contents without causing damage to it. Also, a lot of immersion blenders on the market fall short at only 85 to 400 watts of power. The Mueller Ultra, on the other hand, packs a serious punch at 500 watts, knocking out the competition.
The shaft is pretty small though, but this makes it easy to fit in most containers. It’s strong enough to blend nuts and partially hard food that’s been taken out of the fridge or freezer. The main area of concern deals with the bearings in between the shaft and handle. These will definitely need a replacement after a while. It produces a noise that gets louder as the friction causes the entire piece to heat up. Lubrication is recommended to do if you don’t wish to change the bearings to stop this. This is the best baby food processor for those who like to steam content on the stovetop.
Pros:
- 500 watts of handheld power
- Has a handheld operation that saves lots of time when compared to heavier baby food blenders
- The shaft is small enough to fit at the bottom of most small cups
- Pieces consist of stainless steel and are easy to wipe clean with only a rinse
- Can be substituted as a blender for adult drinks
- Powerful enough to blend nuts
- Can be used to blend contents that are hot
Cons:
- Bearings in between the handle and shaft are not oiled well and may need to be lubricated on occasion
- The steel shaft becomes hot to the touch when used excessively
BabieB Mash and Serve Bowl Set
The final product is the BabieB Mash and Serve Bowl Set, a basic-looking tool that’s made of plastic and serves as a manual presser. There are no glass baby food jars, no electronics, or anything automatic to speak of. Food is created using the bowls provided with the handheld pieces. Once added into the bowls, simple use the presser to “push” the food down until everything is small and consistent enough for your baby to consume. The best thing about doing this is the grooves on the bowl’s surface prevent anything the sliding around. It will help you work quickly without having content fly all over the place.
And if you were wondering, all pieces are free from toxic substances. No BPA or lead in the material. If you’re looking for something that’s identical to the Infantino Squeeze Station, this is a great alternative to add to your collection. And the best thing is that you can take it on the go with you. It’s travel-friendly and easy to clean, so consider as a secondary product to bring home with you, even if you’re sold on one of the other kitchen blenders.
Pros:
- The plastic material contains no toxins, BPA, BPS, latex, phthalate, PVC, or lead
- All manual parts that babies can consume from immediately after mashing are finished
- Travel-friendly; can be taken to restaurants and outdoor events for on-the-spot baby food preparation
- Material along the bottom of the bowls is skid resistant, meaning that food can be mashed fast without risk of spillage
Cons:
- The plastic masher cannot be used to puree hard food contents
- The spoon and fork may stain when used on dark-colored foods (tomato, pasta, etc.)
Conclusion
Still can’t decide which is the best baby food blender for you? There are lots of outstanding product featured in the reviews above. It’s difficult to rate only one product as the best, but when factoring the pros, cons, and quality of food that’s possible to be created, the best food processor award goes to the Magic Bullet Baby Care System. It has everything that one needs to look for is making these types of meals, with little else needed to include with the product that’s sold separately. It’s easy to clean, has high-quality accessories, and should hold up for a very long time.
If these attributes are essential to you, consider the brand as a top recommendation. As for the others, they are also great blender in their own right and should satisfy most consumers. In fact, you may find them more suitable for what you plan to do in the kitchen, so don’t rule them out entirely. Above all, know that whatever brand you do end up with, your baby will be in for a real treat when they taste the food that’s made with these great baby blenders!
