A baby food maker can be such a game changer! Is it imperative to have? No. Can it make life a whole lot easier for you? Yes! Baby food makers come in all different shapes, sizes, features, and prices, so don’t feel like you have to break the bank to make it fit your lifestyle.
Without wasting another minute, let’s jump into the ins and outs of the best baby food makers!
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Benefits of a baby food maker
A baby food maker isn’t a must-have item but there are lots of benefits of having an appliance dedicated to this purpose. If you have the space in your kitchen and it’s in your budget (they come in a range of prices), then a baby food maker can make your life a heck of a lot easier.
Removes the mystery
You have full control over what goes in your baby’s food when you are making it yourself. You don’t have to question and stress over food labels.
Convenience
Honestly, having a dedicated appliance for making baby food is super convenient! And there are tons of them on the market. They range anywhere from a mortar and pestle masher to a full on fancy blender, and everything in between! Whichever one you choose, you are bound to add some convenience to your life.
Easy to use
Most baby food makers on the market are pretty easy to use. With some of the fancier ones, making baby food is as simple as dumping in the food and pressing a button – pretty hard to mess that one up, right? And even the less fancy ones are still, for the most part, very user friendly!
Money saver
There is the initial, up front cost of the baby food maker, which can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want. After that, all you are spending money on is the actual food. Those jars and pouches of baby food aren’t individually expensive but over time, they certainly add up.
Drawbacks to a baby food maker
We’ve touched on the benefits, now let’s talk about potential cons to buying a baby food maker.
Time consuming
Yes, a baby food maker can make life easier and more convenient, but it can also be more time consuming. Some baby food makers require chopping, baking, or steaming, and then there is, of course, storing involved. Definitely a bit more time intensive than unscrewing a baby food jar!
Takes up space
You can find some that are more compact but at the end of the day, a baby food maker is going to consume some kitchen real estate. I know how cluttered kitchen counters can get, and a baby food maker is just one more thing to make space for.
Initial cost
In the benefits I talked about how a baby food maker can save you money in the long run, but you do still have to make the initial investment. Some are pretty inexpensive, but if you are looking for one with all the bells and whistles you might be spending $150 or more.
Storage
There’s a good chance you will have leftovers when making food with a baby food maker. Before purchasing, make sure you have the fridge/freezer space for any leftovers.
Baby food maker alternatives
One reason someone might forgo a baby food maker is because they already have something that performs the same, or similar, functions. This might be a blender, a steamer or steaming basket, a food processor, or something else along those lines.
Even though these items are not specifically intended for baby food, most of them can be used to make baby food!
Another option is to get some refillable pouches or baby food jars. This is also a great on the go option!
Baby food making supplies
The actual baby food maker is the main component but it’s not the only one! There are some other baby food making supplies and accessories you will want to have on hand:
- Storage containers with lids
- Freezer storage containers
- Reusable baby food pouches
- Oxo baby food masher
- Haakaa reusable baby food pouches
- Infantino squeeze station
- The Big Book of Organic Baby Food
- Numnum baby spoons
- Munchkin stay put suction bowls
- Baby’s first foods tracker fridge magnet
- Bumkins sleeved bib
- Bumkins splash mat
Best baby food makers
Below I have listed my top 5 favorite baby food makers, including a little detail of each and what specific features they offer. If you are eager to jump ahead and view all the baby food makers in one place, you can do so using the button below!
1. MomCozy Baby Food Maker
This set comes with a food dispenser, a freezer tray, 2 silicone spoons, and a silicone spatula. Each piece of this set is separate from the motor, making it easy to clean. What’s more, it can be washed in the dishwasher – woohoo!
This baby food processor is equipped with a powerful 300-watt engine and multi-blade design for more effective blending. To ensure safety, the machine automatically turns off if the engine tilts.
2. NutriBullet Complete Food-Making System
Included in this set is a 200-watt motor base, a blending blade, a 32 ounce bowl with lid, a 12 ounce cup with handles and a re-sealable lid, 6 storage cups with date ring lids and storage tray, a silicone freezer tray with lid, and a recipe book.
The bowls and cups are made of non-toxic, BPA-free, durable plastic. The items are dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleaning. With this set, you can make food for every stage of development, covering ages 6 months and up.
3. Grownsy Baby Food Maker
I love this baby food maker! You can steam and blend fruits, vegetables, and meat, and it also has a self-sterilizing feature.
With its smart touch LCD panel, you can choose between auto or manual mixing modes. And with the press of one button, you can automatically steam and blend. Most of the parts are dishwasher safe for convenient and easy cleaning too.
4. BEABA Babycook Solo 4 in 1 Baby Food Maker
This 4 in 1 machine can steam, blend, defrost, and reheat food! You can make any consistency of food, from purees to solids, and it can steam cook raw meat, chicken, fish, fruits, and veggies all in under 20 minutes.
The large capacity bowl can make up to 4.5 cups of fresh baby food in just one cooking cycle. Plus, the bowl has built-in markings for easy measuring. The bowl is made of high-grade, food contact safe material, which is safe at high temperatures.
Babycook has a safety lock design and will not power unless all components are properly locked into place. Not to mention, this one has a sleek and aesthetically pleasing look about it.
5. Babymoov Duo Meal Station Food Maker
This thing is fancy! An all-in-one design allows you to cook, blend, warm, and defrost food plus warm or sterilize bottles! The components are BPA, lead, and phthalate free and are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
The LCD display and audio alerts make operating this baby food maker a breeze. It’s fully programmable (with 6 different functions) and alerts you when it’s done. It also has an automatic shutdown feature.
The large capacity allows you to make up to one week of fresh food in just minutes. You can even use steaming and blending features simultaneously to expedite the process.
Looking for more product recommendations?
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