The Best Baby Food Processors
When setting up your baby registry, think a little ahead and consider things you might need 6 months down the line. Because when it comes to babies, time flies!
A baby food processor should definitely be on that list.
Sure the jars and pouches seem convenient at first, but you can never be sure if your baby will even like those in the first place. Besides, it’s a lot more cost-effective to make your own baby food – you’ll be able to pick the best ingredients and ensure that your baby loves every spoonful.
With a baby food maker in your kitchen, you can experiment with different food combinations. No matter which device you choose to buy, the process remains pretty much the same: decide the ingredients, prep them, steam/puree/chop, and then hope against hope that your child will love it (could go either way).
This is a quick guide to help you choose a baby food maker that looks great in your kitchen and makes perfect baby food. Let’s find one that’s right for you:
Best Baby Food Makers
Our Top Pick — BEABA Babycook Pro 2X
If you have twins and need to prepare twice the food at the same time, or you want to make an extra serving in advance to save time later on, we suggest the BEABA Babycook Pro 2X; it is the best baby food processor on the market and our top pick!
The Beaba Babycook Pro 2X has a steamer, blender, heater, and defroster — basically, everything you need to prepare solid food as well as purees. Additionally, the unit is so efficient that you can make up to nine servings in about fifteen minutes.
It is a comprehensive solution for making vegetables, fruits, fish, or meat more palatable for your baby — it can prepare anything.
The BEABA Babycook Pro 2X has a steamer so you can be sure that no nutritional value is lost, two bowls are included so that you can make two separate meals simultaneously. The power cord can be removed, making it easy to carry around, especially while traveling.
The twin steamers and bowls are also quite convenient to operate. They can be removed from the machine, cleaned and put back in place thanks to the large handles.
Above all, it is made from lead-free plastics, which makes it child-safe; and you get a spatula, recipe booklet, and mixing lid free.
Pros
- Prepares two types of food simultaneously
- Makes nine meals in 15 minutes
- Works as a steamer, blender, heating and defrost
- Takes very less counter space
Cons
- Difficult to clean
Perfect For Busy Parents — QOOC 4-In-1 Baby Food Maker Pro
If you have a lot on your plate and want to ensure that the chosen processor does a lot and easy to maintain, the QOOC 4-In-1 Baby Food Maker Pro is right up your alley.
A durable and easy to clean unit that allows you to steam, blend, defrost, or reheat food, and it features a cooking timer so you can always cook to perfection.
The QOOC 4-In-1 Baby Food Maker Pro allows for one-touch operations. The food is ready in about 25 minutes or less. And courtesy of the built-in cooking timer, it turns off automatically once the food is prepared.
One word that perfectly defines the unit is convenience; apart from making food, it is seamless to clean it — everything necessary comes apart and is dishwasher safe.
To top it all, the QOOC 4-In-1 Baby Food Maker Pro is made from high-quality materials that ensure longevity, and plastics are lead, BPA, and phthalate-free. You also get a cooking basket, spatula, measuring cups, mixing lid, and large bowls that can prepare food in surplus.
Pros
- A user-friendly device
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Multiple functions
- All nutrition value remains intact thanks to the steamer and the bowl’s lid
Cons
- Not the best option if you to make food for more than one child
The Best Portable Baby Food Processor — Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
If you require a food processor that is lightweight and does a fine job of blending, the Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor is what you need.
From grinding spices and chopping herbs to blending foods, this device can do it all.
The Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor is quite easy to operate — press a button, and thanks to the powerful 250-watt motor, your food will be ready in no time. The super sharp blade allows you to blend or chop hard and soft items.
The unit has a 24-ounce bowl that’s good enough if you want to prepare food in small batches. That makes it an ideal pick if you’re going to give your little one with a variety of freshly-prepared meals throughout the day – or you want to carry along a food processor when on the move.
The device is made from durable material, which ensures that it will last for years to come, and its upkeep is quite simple courtesy of the featured dishwasher-safe bowl and lid. You can also rest assure that the unit is safe for your baby as all included plastics are BPA-free.
The DLC-2ABC also has a small footprint, so it requires less counter space and can be easily stowed away when needed.
This baby food processor comes with a 1.5-year warranty as well as a recipe book with some easy to follow recipes.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Small footprint
- Hidden cord storage
- Made from durable and child-safe materials
Cons
- Noisy operation
Perfect For Children At All Development Stages — Homia Baby Food Maker
If you need a comprehensive solution that can prepare food for years to come, look no further than the Homia Baby Food Maker, this unit is perfect for making food for young children at different development stages.
This seven in one baby food processor is easy to operate, and it can steam blend, chop, defrost, reheat, and disinfect. Plus, it’s entirely dishwasher safe, which makes it easy to clean.
The Homia Baby Food Maker takes only fifteen minutes to ready food and allows you to prepare a chunky or smooth blend, just the way your child likes it.
The steamer ensures that all nutrients remain in the food, the reheat and defrost feature gets the food to the right temperature; the built-in sterilizer helps in disinfecting pacifiers and bottles. Above all, operations automatically stop if the water container runs out of water.
It’s made from child-safe materials, FDA approved and comes with a three-year warranty
Pros
- Seamless assembly
- Auto clean functions
- Disinfect option
- Can perform up to seven tasks
- Has a small footprint
Cons
- Minimal capacity
Benefits of Investing In The Best Baby Food Maker
Here are some of the many advantages of owning a baby food processor:
- It costs less to prepare food at home than buying pouches and jars.
- You know precisely what you are feeding the baby – no additives or preservatives.
- It’s possible to experiment with food combinations to find what your baby likes best.
- Many units come with a steamer, which is known to preserve nutrition and make for a healthier meal.
Types OF Baby Food Makers
All-In-One
Instead of getting separate appliances to steam and blend meals, the all-in-one baby food processor makes your life a lot easier by doing it all. Some units may require you to transfer food from one bowl to another, whereas others do it all in a single container.
Blender
As the name gives it away, some food processors are meant to blend only. So cook up the food, put it in this blender and you are done. These units are quite easy to clean since they have very few attachments.
Manual Food Mill
Manual processors are meant to blend the food, but you need to put in all the effort. There is no electricity involved; therefore, you need to put in some energy to smash and blend everything.
Things To Consider
Electric Vs. Manual
Ask yourself if you have the time and energy to prepare meals on your own accord, or would you rather have the machine do it all with a click of a button.
Electric baby food processors require the power to run, and they can ready a meal quickly. On the other hand, manual food processors are not driven by electricity; instead, you have to put in some elbow grease to make them work.
Space
What would be the point of getting an all-in-one baby food processor that can’t fit your kitchen counter?
Stowing it away in a cupboard after each use is even not recommended, as it’ll be used several times a day.
An ideal move will be to measure the space you will designate for the processor, and shop for units that match the dimensions.
Capacity
Ask your self do you have the time to prepare several meals in the day, or would you prefer preparing food in bulk so that it can last longer.
If you have a busy routine, a food processor that prepares large quantities of food is an excellent investment — make away and store it in a fridge.
On the other hand, if you like to introduce different food types for your little one, a small-capacity unit may be worth buying.
Safety
Your chosen baby food processor shouldn’t be made of plastics containing phthalate, BPA, and lead —they are not safe for your child and must be avoided no matter the costs.
Also, the unit should be made from sturdy material that ensures shatterproof construction — under no circumstances should any part unwind and mix with the food.
Ease Of Use
Does it require assembly? Are there any one-touch features? Is it easy to clean? How many accessories and attachments are involved? Can it be easily used by other people in the household? How efficient is the unit, can food be prepared fast?
These are some of the many questions you should ask before investing in a baby food processor.
Durability
You need to buy a baby food processor that won’t break down in the first few years, and force you to buy a newer unit.
Therefore, invest in a unit that is built from top-notch materials that won’t succumb to any adversities thrown their way.
A pro tip is to check the provided coverage with your potential selection — an extended warranty period signified a high-quality product.
Cleaning
From changing diapers to ensuring your child’s safety and preparing their food to feed them — you have a lot on your plate.
This is why the selected unit should be easy and quick to clean, one that is easy to pull apart has dishwasher safe parts, and also has a detachable blade.
Price
While all-rounder processors are the obvious choice, they can be a lot more expensive. In other words, fewer features mean a cost-effective unit.
But also weigh in the money you would save on buying prepared meals; they can cost a fortune in the long run, especially in the case of organic food.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can A Blender Be Used To Make Baby Food?
If you are working with soft solids or liquids, a blender is excellent; however, it won’t work well with solid foods such as carrots or other fruits.
When’s A Good Time To Start Semi-Solids?
The ideal age to introduce solid food is between four to six months. It would be best to check with your pediatrician if you should add solid food to your child’s diet.
Is It Possible To Make Meat Purees?
Yes, they can, but please pre-cut the meat into small pieces.
Are All Baby Food Processors Dishwasher-Safe?
Most baby food processors are dishwasher safe, but it would be best to wash by hand with some soapy water.