Baby food making doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task with all the new appliances available. But with options varying so greatly in function — from baby food mills to multi-functional blender and food processor options — it can be hard to know what will work best for you.
That’s why we created this guide. We’ll explain the difference between the most common baby food making appliances and what they work best for.
We’ll also review the best baby food makers currently available based on quality, cost, and functionality. These appliances take the pain out of pureeing and the boredom out of blending.
Armed with all the info you need to purchase with confidence, you’ll be ready to make your own healthy and inexpensive baby food in no time.
- Produces whole baby banquet per batch
- Keeps food fresher for longer
- Multifunctional product
- Acts as steamer and blender
- Easy to clean
- Long lasting
- Single-button controls
- Includes lock function
- BPA- and phthalate-free
- Simple and straightforward
- Durable
- Portable
- High performance
- With additional juice setting
- Simple to clean
- Serves multiple functions
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to use
- Can make frozen desserts
- Quiet motor
- Compact design for portability
- Great automatic features
- Simple-to-use platform
- One-hand operation
- Self-cleaning time-saver
- Award-winnning design
- Includes six food pouches
- Very affordable
- Microwave safe
- Great for on-the-go use
The Best Baby Food Makers of 2024
Here arpresetavorite baby food makers on the market.
Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System and Blender
Best All-in-One Baby Food Maker
The Ninja blender is equipped with five pre-set programs. Moms who don’t have time for trial and error will find this appealing — you select your program, and it does the rest.
The sleek design and high functionality might have you feeling like you’re in a James Bond movie, not making baby food.
This one is also a serious producer. It has a 1500-watt motor capable of powering a 72-ounce blender and 64-ounce food processor.
The large-capacity vessels allow you to whizz up a whole baby banquet in one hit. If you’re like me and prefer to plan for the entire week, this unit does the job.
We love that this blender is a multi-purpose item useful for so much more than just baby food. We use it to make fresh smoothies, blend soups, and mix up perfect pizza dough. My kids especially love it when I use it to make them slushies!
Pros
- Multi-functional device mixes up so much more than baby food.
- Can easily produce generous baby-sized servings in a single batch.
- It’s fast at creating an even texture.
Cons
- The mouth of this processor is smaller than on some other units.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Baby Brezza Baby Food Maker Machine
Best One-Step Baby Food Maker
The Baby Brezza is a simple tool for making baby food easily. The two-cup capacity is just the right size to make small batches of baby food. You don’t want to overdo it and throw that food away because it goes bad before your baby eats it.
This one-dish wonder can help you quickly do all the steps you need — it steams and blends. And when you’re done, cleanup is a snap. The bowl and blade can go in the dishwasher, and they are BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry about potentially harmful chemicals contaminating your baby’s food.
When your baby is older and you no longer need to blend their food, this machine can still be a staple in your kitchen. You can use it to steam rice, pasta, vegetables, or to make fresh soup.
The unit comes with a recipe book, so if you’re new to baby food making, you’ll have some basic information to get started.
Pros
- Steams and blends, meaning fewer dirty dishes for you.
- Easy to clean.
- Many other uses once your child is past the baby food stage.
Cons
- The small capacity limits its functionality for other purposes.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
QOOC Baby Food Maker
Best 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker
This baby food maker is a multi-tasker. Set it up on your presetr, and you can use it to defrost, steam, blend, and reheat food. In less than half an hour, you could have dinner on the table — or meals prepped, stored, and ready to go.
We love the timing function, and if you’re new to making baby food, the preset cooking times are a godsend. It takes the guesswork out of the process — I simply select the preset and let the QOOC do the rest.
This appliance even works for making nut butters — just hit the pulse button at 5-second intervals until it reaches your desired texture.
The single-button controls are designed to be used with only one hand in case you’re holding your baby in the other. They are straightforward and user-friendly.
When you’re finished making meals, this unit might feel like child’s play to clean, and all the detachable tools are dishwasher safe.
Pros
- The water reservoir is easy to refill and clean.
- The water level can be seen while in use.
- Safety conscious device includes a lock function to operate the blender.
- BPA- and phthalate-free.
Cons
- The size of this food maker limits multi-purpose use.
- It doesn’t always make a totally smooth puree.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Green Sprouts Baby Food Mill
Best Baby Food Mill
If you’ve been looking for a simple tool to make mealtimes a little easier, this is a great solution. This food mill turns table food into baby food. With your baby’s health and safety in mind, Green Sprouts uses BPA- and phthalate-free plastic.
You don’t need any form of electricity or batteries to operate this mill — just flex those muscles and twist the handle.
The stainless steel blades wear well and won’t rust. Best of all, the food mill easily disassembles, and you can place it in the dishwasher for fast and easy cleanup.
Whether you have a new eater and need an extremely fine puree, or an established eater learning to chew, this mill should provide the food consistency they need.
It’s easy to toss in your diaper bag for when you go out to dinner and want to share your meal with your new eater.
Pros
- Simple and straightforward to use.
- Durable.
- Great for older babies and toddlers transitioning to table food.
- Portable.
Cons
- The manual grinder takes a little arm power to operate.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
GoWise USA Baby Food Maker
Best Glass Baby Food Maker
No matter how safe plastic is, some parents feel better avoiding it altogether and using glass. Plastic is the readily available option, so finding a quality glass product can be difficult.
The GoWise baby food maker comes with a 59-ounce glass pitcher and six blending presets. With a powerful 1,400-watt motor, this unit can easily process all kinds of food. The eight stainless steel blades work together to create a fine puree that’s suitable even for beginner baby food makers.
It’s also equipped with a heating element so you can warm up or cook your baby’s food as you go. You may find it cuts your time in the kitchen and the amount of work involved in the cleanup.
For moms who need a little inspiration, this blender comes with a recipe book to get you started. Its large capacity also offers scope for use in other types of food preparation.
Pros
- Great for making more than one meal at a time.
- An additional juice setting means you can also prepare your child fresh drinks without preservatives.
- Simple to clean.
Cons
- The low-profile blades only come in one size.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Babymoov Duo Meal Station Baby Food Maker
Best Complete Food Station
This meal station has everything you need to make, heat, and defrost your baby’s food. It has two steamer baskets to cook fruits and veggies to soften them up. Steaming your fruits and veggies preserves many of their vitamins and essential nutrients.
With this unit, you can steam two foods at once, which is nice for giving your baby a little more variety for their meals.
The three-speed blender can puree the food so it’s ready for baby gums. Thanks to the amount of space in the blender and steamer, you can make a week’s worth of baby food — up to nine cups — at once, saving you time as a busy parent.
Although the station takes up a fair amount of counter space, it eliminates your need for a bottle warmer and sterilizer because it can handle those duties too. The unit has 10 programmable settings, and the audio indicator will alert you that the operations are complete.
Pros
- It serves multiple functions.
- It’s dishwasher safe.
- The unit is easy to use.
- It’s not a super tall unit, so you can store it in cabinets to save space.
Cons
- The blender isn’t as powerful as some other options.
- You can’t buy replacement parts.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Sage Spoonfuls Immersion Blender
Best Budget Baby Food Maker
If you’ve been searching for a reasonably priced option, check out this immersion blender. Although costs a fraction of many other appliances, you can make baby food easily that is on par in quality. When you’re budgeting, the little extras can really add up, so it’s nice to know you can use a single product and be ready to go.
This two-piece set is simple to use and easy to clean. Place the food you’re using into a bowl, and insert the stainless steel immersion blender. You choose the bowl size and the quantity of the batch you’re creating.
This food maker switches conveniently between a handheld blender and a food processor. Whether you need a fine puree or a textured meal, turning your table food into baby food shouldn’t take long.
This unit is also made with BPA- and phthalate-free plastic and doesn’t contain lead or PVC. The detachable parts are dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup a cinch.
Another feature we love is that it’s very light and compact. This appeals to us mobile moms who are always on the go.
The immersion blender is perfect for making soups into bisques or blending smooth mashed potatoes. You will use this for many future meals, not just baby food.
Pros
- A great-value buy that comes with everything you need.
- You can make frozen desserts with this set as well as regular meals.
- Suitable for both the beginner and advanced eater.
- This unit has a quiet motor and can handle all types of foods — even tougher meats and stalky vegetables.
- Super-portable compact design.
Cons
- The food processor attachment doesn’t work well with smaller amounts of food.
- There’s a bit of a learning curve to using the blender — be prepared for some accidental food splatters in the beginning.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker
Best Baby Food Blender
This Beaba baby food maker is so quick to use. No matter which function you choose, it will have your baby food ready within 15 minutes.
One-hand operation and a streamlined design strike the right balance between looks and functionality. The small design allows for easy storage and is helpful when you have limited counter space.
This model offers multiple functions, including defrosting, blending, steaming, and reheating. We think it’s great how smooth the final product is when using the blender feature.
Beaba has been in the baby product business for the past 25 years. This model was one of the first baby food makers to hit the market, and over time, it has been fine-tuned to suit all kinds of users. A multi-purpose mixing blade creates just the right texture, and the steam cooking feature locks in nutrients.
This food maker has a steam basket that helps separate the food from excess liquid. Once it completes the steam cycle, you just remove it and prepare for blending.
The automatic cut-off feature, and the audio alert that signals when the food is ready, are also great to have in a baby food maker. It means busy moms can tackle the next job without having to watch over it.
With a capacity of almost 5 cups, it’s easy to produce multiple meals in a single batch.
Pros
- Automatic features make baby food making a breeze.
- Easy-to-use platform means anyone can successfully use this machine — from a college-aged babysitter to a grandparent.
- The stainless steel water reservoir is easy to clean and maintain.
- Cooks baby food within 15 minutes.
Cons
- The capacity is too limited for making anything other than baby food.
- The lack of a timer makes it challenging to gauge when food will be ready.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Evla's Baby Food Processor Blender Grinder Steamer
Best Self-Cleaning Baby Food Maker
Evla’s has built up a solid reputation creating convenient and easy-to-use products. If you’re looking for something you can clean with ease and get the job done, this will be a handy assistant for you.
It doesn’t get any easier when it comes to packing for a trip as this unit comes with six reusable food pouches. The single-serving containers are a suitable size for on-the-go baby meals, and we love that it has a spillproof lid to help you avoid any mess.
You can have your baby’s meals squared away for the week in just a few minutes. You can use the large reservoir for full batches and the small one for a single meal. It has two blend options — one for pureeing and another for milling.
Cleanup is fuss-free too; all you have to do is to add water and let the machine do the cleaning.
This unit is made with sturdy, BPA-free, non-toxic plastic, with zero phthalates, petroleum, and lead — so you don’t have to stress over synthetic nasties.
Pros
- Self-cleaning time-saver.
- Includes free food pouches.
- Award-winnning design.
Cons
- The instruction manual is not very clear.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Nuk Mash and Serve
Best Baby Food Masher
I love this Nuk product. It’s easy to use and great to bring along with me when I’m on the go.
I can mash the food directly in the serving bowl. I already have enough dishes to take care of, so I really appreciate this feature. And the entire set is dishwasher safe. Simply load it into the top rack.
The masher is great for potatoes, squash, grains, cooked vegetables, fruits, and even some meats. Since you have to operate it by hand, you may find your personal mashing ability may vary.
It’s microwave safe, which is handy if you like to soften up foods before hitting the masher or for taking the chill off anything straight out of the refrigerator. If your child has just started self-feeding, the non-skid base should hold it in place so they can concentrate on eating.
The plastic is sturdy and durable. You won’t need to worry about cracks or breakages if it gets dropped on the floor. The textured surface of this bowl helps food mash evenly and easily.
Pros
- Very affordable.
- Easy to care for and use.
- Great for use on the go.
Cons
- Doesn’t work well for food with firm or crunchy stalks or many types of meat.
- Some parents found food can get stuck in the masher and the base of the bowl, creating food waste and cleaning difficulties.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Types of Baby Food Makers
There are many devices you can use for making baby food. These are some of the most common.
1. Blender
A blender functions like a food processor, using blades to reduce solid foods to a smooth puree. You can use it to puree raw fruits and vegetables or pre-cooked foods. Partially blend the food to allow some textured chunks to remain for an older eater.
2. Masher
This is typically a handheld device that mashes food into smaller bits for easy consumption. Like with a potato masher, you’ll use manual force to reduce a large item into a meal you can feed your little one with a baby spoon.
3. Steamer
Steaming is an excellent option for cooking food while locking in nutrients. Steaming can soften hard-to-eat vegetables like broccoli so you can puree or mash them for your baby to eat.
4. 4-in-1 Device
This is a single unit capable of performing multiple functions. These usually include defrosting, blending, steaming, and reheating. It’s an ideal option for reducing kitchen clutter and making meal prep faster.
5. One-step
One-step models are capable of more than one job in the baby-food-making process. Unlike 4-in-1 models, a one-step unit is programmed ahead of time and left to do its thing. Simply insert your raw veggies, hit the desired food process, and your baby’s meal will be ready when the bell chimes.
6. Food Mill
A food mill is great for pureeing softer foods. Many mills are manual, but there are some automatic options. A handheld food mill may be best suited to a more advanced eater.
How to Choose the Best Baby Food Maker
While there are many products on the market, try not to become overwhelmed by the options. We use the following criteria to decide if a baby food maker will work for us or not.
Motor Size
The motor’s strength could dictate what food you’re able to make. Small motors may be better suited to pureeing cooked fruits or for occasional use. However, if you intend to introduce foods like beef brisket, you might need something with more oomph.
Maintenance
Do you hate washing dishes? The best baby food makers are dishwasher safe and have removable parts for easy cleaning.
Safety
While saving time is essential for moms, it shouldn’t be to the detriment of safety. Check if the appliance has been made with FDA-approved materials and whether it’s been put through any safety tests. Some food makers also include safety features like automatic shut-offs or child locks.
Materials
We always look for stainless steel blades and check for anti-rust or non-rusting labels. Products which are labeled BPA- and phthalate-free are ideal.
Use Frequency
Planning on whipping up your baby’s food at each meal? You may not need that heavy-duty option capable of preparing monster batches in one hit. If you only intend to use your baby food maker occasionally, you might not mind if some convenience factors are missing.
Location
If you’re only planning to use your baby food maker at home, size and bulk might not be such an issue. However, if you’re counting on taking it with you to your in-laws or dinner with friends, something more compact and portable could be more suitable.
Meal Types
Knowing what kind of food you’ll be preparing may influence which product is right for you. If you anticipate your child will eat mostly fruits and vegetables, you won’t necessarily need a baby food maker that can handle processing meats and nuts.
Your Baby’s Age
If your baby is just starting to eat solids, you’ll probably need something capable of pureeing. Older babies switching to self-feeding might already be able to deal with textured foods. In this case, something that mashes or chops might be sufficient.
Extras
Do you intend to batch cook your baby food? Or maybe you want to take it with you on the go. It’s a good idea to think about storage. Some baby food makers are accompanied by freezer storage pots or mini takeout tubs.
Functions
Are you a gadget geek, or do you like to keep things simple? Baby food makers range from no-frills models to high-tech gear with all the bells and whistles. While it’s nice to have lots of features, if you never use them, it defeats the point and could be a waste of money. Ask yourself if you’ll really use it.
FAQs
Is It Worth Getting a Baby Food Maker?
Yes, getting a baby food maker can be worth it, especially if you’re planning on making homemade baby food regularly.
It simplifies the process of cooking and pureeing food, ensuring it’s the right consistency for your baby. Plus, it’s a time-saver and allows you to prepare healthy, nutritious meals with fresh ingredients.
Is a Blender or Food Processor Better for Making Baby Food?
Both blenders and food processors can be effective for making baby food, but a food processor might have a slight edge.
It’s better equipped to handle a variety of textures and is more versatile for different stages of your baby’s food journey. Blenders work well for smooth purees but might struggle with thicker, chunkier mixtures.
How Long Is Homemade Baby Food Good For?
You can store your homemade baby food in the fridge for up to 48 hours. If you’re freezing it, it can last for one to three months.
Always label your baby food with the date it was made to keep track of its freshness. Remember, fresh is best, but frozen homemade baby food is a great alternative for busy days.
What Are the Disadvantages of Making Baby Food?
The disadvantages of making baby food include the time and effort required to prepare and cook the food, clean up afterward, and the initial cost of purchasing a baby food maker or similar appliances.
Plus, it requires careful planning to ensure you’re providing a well-balanced diet for your baby.
Is Homemade Baby Food Better Than Gerber?
Homemade baby food can have advantages over brands like Gerber, as it allows you to choose fresh, whole ingredients and avoid preservatives and additives.
However, Gerber and similar brands provide convenience and are developed to meet the nutritional needs of babies, which can be helpful for busy parents or as a supplement to homemade food.
