Consider if the appliance’s functions and cleaning capabilities will fit into your family’s lifestyle. We carefully considered value, design, material, ease of cleaning and use, and functionality when reviewing products. Here are the best baby food makers on the market. The BEABA Babycook Duo is our top pick thanks to the appliance’s dual cooking feature. It’s a multitasker’s dream unit, allowing you to steam cook on one side while you puree on the other. This dual feature option helps you to get through big batches of recipes in a short period of time. An afternoon with this machine could result in weeks of food to freeze and store for the future. An audible alert lets you know when the food is ready, so you can do other things while the baby’s food is being prepared. With a detachable power cord, it also stores away neatly when not in use. Price at time of publication: $215 The blades can be adjusted to make food for different stages, including beginner’s purees and chunkier toddler mini-meals. It even has a milling blade to use with oats and cereals. The starter kit comes with a set of spoons and a freezer tray, which allows you to pop out and prepare individual portions easily. These freezer portions are really convenient for those midweek dinners when you’re short on time and energy. The high torque power motor will last for years but is super lightweight, weighing in at only five pounds. The Nuby Garden Fresh Mighty Blender is the only baby food maker you’ll need. Price at time of publication: $70 A bonus: the non-motorized option fits easily into the top shelf of the dishwasher for effortless cleanup. Price at time of publication: $30 It features a 250-watt motor and a patented reversible steel blade for chopping and grinding. The simple push-button control is easy to use one-handed for those days when the baby is fussy and needs to be held. Plus, when your baby is eating table food, you can use this to make pestos, pie crusts, and more. Price at time of publication: $40 This unit looks a bit like a test tube rack, but without a plug, it takes up much less space than a traditional motorized blender. The only downside is that you will need to ensure your foods are soft or pre-mashed before squeezing them into the tubes, so you will need to steam and blend using separate appliances. Because toddlers and older kids love pouches as well, this squeeze station can last you way out of the baby stage. Price at time of publication: $37 The convenient baby food maker comes with three settings: steam only, blend only, and automatically blend after steaming. The large 4-cup capacity makes it easy to whip up large batches of purees in minutes, with little mess and stress. Or, you can use the steam only function if you are also incorporating pieces of foods your baby can pick up themselves. Because the bowl and blade are dishwasher-safe, you can cook, blend, and then clean with ease. Price at time of publication: $130 Also consider how, what, and where you will feed your baby. If you’re looking to feed your baby on-the-go, a baby food maker that helps you make your own pouches may be helpful. If you prefer to steam, process, and then store, choose a product with freezer or refrigerator storage options. Think about what you will be cooking, as some products work well for fruits and vegetables but aren’t as compatible with meats or grains.
Cost
Cost is not always indicative of performance; however, some of the more expensive baby food makers are more efficient and easier to use. Consider how often you plan on using the baby food maker. If you plan to make most—or all—of your baby’s food, then investing in a high-quality appliance that will simplify your life may be worth it in the long run. An investment may also be worth it if you plan on using the product for multiple children. If you plan on using the product for a few months or a small amount of food, then a less expensive option may be best.
Material
Baby food makers come in a variety of materials, including glass and plastic. If you prefer to avoid potentially harmful chemicals found in plastics and are more environmentally conscious, a baby food maker with a glass bowl may be best for you. If you prefer the durability of plastic, choose a BPA-free product.
Care and Maintenance
Always read the care instructions to learn how to properly clean your baby food maker before purchasing. Because the product is being used to make food for your baby, it is important to ensure that it is properly cleaned after each use to avoid potential foodborne illness. If you’re short on time and energy, you’ll likely prefer an option that can be put in the dishwasher rather than washed by hand.
