Best Baby Food Makers of 2021
When you’re creating your baby registry, thinking about starting your little one on solid foods may sound like a long way off. But, as is the case with so many things when it comes to babies (except for those middle-of-the-night feeds, of course), time flies, and before you know it you’ll be thinking of what’s on the menu for baby’s first meal.
Baby food makers are a great solution for making the process of cooking homemade food for your little one fast, simple and even fun. Here’s what you’ll want to know when you’re considering which baby food maker is right for you. Let’s get cooking!
In this article:
Do You Need a Baby Food Maker?
Figuring out whether or not you need a baby food maker is going to depend on your lifestyle, culinary comfort level and what existing kitchen gadgets you already own.
Skipping the jars and pouches and making your own baby food will definitely save you money and reduce environmental waste. Your role as head chef puts you in charge of ingredients and quality, and gives you free rein to get creative and experiment with fun food combos as much as you’d like.
If you’re not super comfortable in the kitchen, don’t mind sacrificing some counter space and are looking for a foolproof way to dive into making your little one’s food, then a baby food maker is a wise purchase. No matter what type of gadget you go with, the process is pretty much the same: prep the ingredients, steam, puree or chop, and eat. (Your baby will add a few more messy steps in there…so be ready with the wipes). Check out our baby food-making how-to video for step-by-step instructions.
If you’d rather skip the baby food maker altogether, it’s definitely possible to take the DIY route, as long as you have a few key kitchen items on hand. Things like a large pot, a steam basket, some type of blender (a food processor, immersion blender or standard blender will all do the trick) and even your microwave are all key when it comes to making your own baby food.
Baby Food Storage Tips
Whether you’re using the kitchen gadgets you have on hand or letting your baby food maker do the work, you’ll need somewhere to store all of that delicious food so your efforts don’t go to waste. If you’re cooking up single foods (think carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.), we recommend making a few large batches in bulk and then freezing each food in trays like the ones below. After the food freezes, simply pop out the individual cubes and store them in large freezer bags so you can defrost—and mix and match—as needed.
- OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Tray
- Mumu & Bubi Solids Starter Kit
- BabyBliss Eco Friendly Silicone Baby Food Freezer Storage Tray
For multi-ingredient, more complicated recipes, or for storing food on the go, these storage solutions get the job done:
How We Chose Our Best Baby Food Makers
We asked thousands of real Babylist families about the baby products they love the most, then took the top products they shared with us and added our own research and insight to tell you about the best baby food makers.
Top Chef
Why We Love It
The ninja of baby food makers, the Beaba is a 4-in-1 wonder that steams, blends, defrosts and reheats fruits, veggies, fish and meat in just 15 minutes. The one-handed operation means you can hold your baby, sing Itsy Bitsy Spider and make a homemade meal all at once. Its compact design won’t hog counter space, and it’s truly easy to clean, even after stubborn foods like spinach or beets. We also love that the stainless steel water reservoir holds onto the condensed water, which you can pour in while pureeing to get important nutrients back into the food.
Keep in Mind
At around $150, it’s definitely a pricier way to puree. But, remember it does a lot more than that…and quickly. Many parents find this time-saving system useful well into the toddler years.
What Babylist Parents Say
“So easy to use and clean. We love this baby food maker! It has been great as she transitions to non-purée foods but still needs things soft given her lack of teeth. We actually cook some of our food in here, too.” -M.R.
“I absolutely love this machine! I make so many different combinations and types of food in it. It has saved us so much money on baby food. I usually either steam or just puree food, freeze it and dethaw it for daycare.” -Rachel W.
Mini Must-Have
Why We Love It
The Baby Bullet is easy, convenient and comes with a 20-piece kit of awesome accessories to take your culinary game to the next level. Simply sterilize and steam your produce in the Baby Bullet Steamer, pop it into the Batchbowl, attach a blade (there are two for creating different textures) and blend fresh food in just a few seconds. Parents love the included trays and storage cups with dials for setting the freshness date, as well as the ultra-creative Baby Bullet recipes and feeding recommendations.
Keep in Mind
The steamer is separate from the blender, so it’s a two-step, two-dish process when you need to cook and puree. And as much as you’d like to put everything in the dishwasher when you’re done working your magic…the Baby Bullet’s assorted components and containers need to be hand washed (womp womp).
What Babylist Parents Say
“It was nice to have. Especially with all the extras it comes with.” -Adela S.
Jack of All Trades
Why We Love It
We know what you’re thinking: “Can’t I just use my regular Cuisinart to puree carrots?” Absolutely. But Cuisinart’s Baby Food Maker steams, pulses and purees (or chops) all in the same container, saving you time and sparing you from lots of extra washing. Better yet, it also has an integrated bottle warmer, so you get two gadgets in one. The 4-cup bowl allows you to make big batches for a freezer stash.
Keep in Mind
The included booklet takes away the guesswork by telling you the exact food-to-water ratio, so meals are always done to perfection.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Easy to use, and it came with a book that details which foods to try at what ages, and also some recipes for mixed foods. No complaints!” -Jaclyn J.
Affordable 2-in-1
Why We Love It
Hesitant to splurge on a high-tech baby food maker? Sage Baby Puree and Blend is the perfect, affordable way to puree. This combo includes an immersion blender (consider it your baby food magic wand) and a food processor attachment. Glass storage containers, sold separately, are an awesome alternative to plastic. Better yet, they’re freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe.
Keep in Mind
You’ll be surprised by how handy an immersion blender is for making grown-up foods like salsa, hummus, pesto and even soups. This is a great buy that’ll last well beyond the baby food phase.
What Babylist Parents Say
“1.) Immersion blender is sturdy 2.) Jars are glass and not plastic 3.) Has different size jars for different sizes of food storage. 4.) Customer service is great!” -Aurea M.
All-in-1 Glass
Why We Love It
This all-in-one steamer and blender uses a sturdy glass bowl (most baby food makers on the market use plastic). From fruit to veggies, meats to fish, mealtime magic happens with the simple press of a button. You can steam, blend or steam and blend in one container, without worrying about all the mess of extra dishes.
Keep in Mind
Thanks to the dishwasher-safe glass bowl, cleanup is a breeze.
What Babylist Parents Say
“It’s so easy to use. I can’t recommend this enough.” -Aline H.
The Command Center
Why We Love It
One machine, so many uses. The large-capacity Duo 5-in-1 cooks, blends, warms and defrosts food, and can also be used as a bottle warmer and a sterilizer. What really sets it apart, though, is the ability to steam two separate baskets of food for different cook times, which ensures all the flavors and nutrition are just right. (You’re never too young to appreciate good eats, right?) The XL steaming bowl and blender cooks over six cups of fresh food (around 25 portions!) and warms up to three bottles at once, making it a great choice for families with multiples.
Keep in Mind
The Duo takes up more counter space than most other baby food makers, but still has a much smaller footprint than if you had a separate baby food maker, bottle warmer and sterilizer.
Choosing the Right Baby Food Maker for You
Whether you’re competing to be the next top chef parent or simply trying to get dinner on the table each night, a baby food maker can take a lot of the guesswork out of preparing healthy, homemade meals for your brand-new eater. You’ll want to keep in mind things like counter space, capacity, and accessories when you’re figuring out what’s right for you and your family. Happy cooking—and even happier eating!
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