Whether it's a baby's first puree or your fussy toddler's introduction to veggies, baby food makers can save time and energy.
Nowadays, these things are awesome. No longer one function food pulverizers, modern baby food makers can cope with a variety of food preparations quickly and simply.
And it's more than a nutrition hub for a tiny person. A baby food maker is a life saver for a sleep deprived adult who wants quality food on the table but can't afford the mental energy to answer the question, "What separate meal am I going to make this kid for breakfast, and then lunch, and then dinner?"
The best baby food maker we found was the Homia 8 in 1 model. From steaming and sterilizing to chopping and puree, it pushes other appliances off your counter, keeping the food quality high and the clutter to a minimum.
Want to take it up a notch? You want the BEABA Babycook: Something like the Vitamix of baby food makers.
If you're looking for something a bit different keep reading below to see our full list of the best baby food makers followed by the our budget picks, and a breakdown of what to look for in each pick.
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What Should You Look For in a Baby Food Maker?
If you're having your first baby, you might not know what to look for in your baby food maker. Or maybe you're buying friends a gift and don't have kids of your own. Basically, you'll want something that doesn't just blend your food but assists in its preparation in every step, and you'll want something safe and quiet. We've broken down all the criteria for you below.
Criteria #1: Functions - As I've already mentioned, your baby food maker should basically be your one-stop automatic kitchen. You're not just blending up food and calling it a day. We want to look for a device that can act as a blender, food processor, vegetable steamer, re-heater, and defroster all in one. If you find a baby food maker that can really do everything for you, you'll have a lot more free time on your hands, and parenthood will be that much more manageable.
Criteria #2: Design - This refers both to the way the different features on the machine work and the physical layout of the machine. All the features in the world won't help you much if they're too difficult or cumbersome to use, and we want to help you find a baby food maker that is easy to set up, easy to use, and easy to store.
The best baby food makers can be taken apart to be easily stored, have one button for every feature so that it's basically automatic, are dishwasher-safe (or clean themselves with an auto-clean feature) to save you time on dishes, and have safety features like an auto-shutoff or a timer. It's hard to find a machine that has every one of these features, but that's what we're going to strive for.
Criteria #3: Speed - I know how stressful raising a family can be. Sometimes it feels like you're just running all over the place all the time, doing a million different chores at once, and like there's not enough time in the day. The best baby food makers will get everything done quickly, so that you can relax a bit and won't have to feel like you're constantly running late. While the speed of baby food makers will vary a little bit, 15 minutes from start to finish is a good mark to aim for.
Criteria #4: Size -This one will vary a little from person to person depending on the size of your kitchen and how many children you have, but generally speaking you want a baby food maker with a large container, so you can make more food at one time and save yourself some trouble later by simply reheating a second serving. A large container is also especially useful if you have more than one baby in the house. You definitely don't want to be in a situation where you have to run your machine more than once every time it's time for your babies to eat.
Criteria #5: Price - Especially if you're raising a newborn baby, you have enough to worry about budget-wise without adding a crazy-expensive baby food maker to the list. The best products are obviously going to be a bit more expensive, but we're here to help you find the best deals that completely overperform their price tag. Don't buy a $400 machine if you can get the same performance for $150.
These are our criteria, and they're the characteristics we'll be discussing when we evaluate each baby food maker. If you decide to do your own research, I highly recommend you keep these criteria in mind during your search.
Here's How We've Determined the Best Baby Food Maker
Using our criteria above, we looked at the official specifications of baby food makers from the top brands on the market to see how they hold up. We've also looked at YouTube video reviews and written reviews as well as customer reviews at online stores like Amazon and BestBuy.
And without further ado, here are our favorite baby food makers.
#1: Homia Baby Food Maker Homia Baby Food Maker (Best Value - All-Purpose)
Advertised as an 8-in-1 device, the Homia Baby Food Maker is guaranteed to make feeding your newborn baby as quick and easy as possible. With this amazing machine, you can steam, puree, and chop your food, and there are even options for sterilizing, defrosting, warming, and juicing.
Every option is clearly labeled on the Homia baby food maker's easy-to-read and easy-to-use LED screen, so even if you've never set foot in a kitchen before, you'll have no problem preparing food for your new bundle of joy. The LED screen also has controls for the device's timer to give you complete control over how long everything cooks for and make sure nothing goes wrong.
The BPA-free housing is shatter-proof, so you won't have to worry about any accidents. It has three different compartments so you can prepare three different meals for your little one at once. On top of all of that, the Homia Baby Food Maker comes with a recipe book, so you'll never run out of ideas for mealtime.
I can't really say enough about this baby food maker. The layout makes it about as easy to use as possible. The blades are removable and dishwasher-safe, which means it'll be easy to store and easy to clean, and the three different containers mean you can either prep all three of your baby's meals in one go or have a different meal ready for three different children to cater to everyone's different tastes, which is especially great in case you have any picky eaters on your hands. On top of all of that, this machine comes in at a great, affordable price, and that's why we were forced to give it our number one spot as the best baby food maker on the market. Thanks to Homia, making baby food has never been easier.
Customers absolutely loved the Homia Baby Food Maker, so you don't need to take just our word for it. With thousands of positive reviews, you can ask nearly anyone. Reviewers really fawned over how easy to use this machine is, and everyone loved the ability to prepare three different meals at once.
#2: BEABA Babycook Baby Food Maker and Blender (Best Machine)
One reviewer called the BEABA Babycook Baby Food Maker and Blender "The grand poobah of pureeing - and so much more." And once you finish reading our review of this product, it'll be clear how it earned that prestigious title. Though it's more expensive than our #1 pick, there are a few reasons you might be willing to spend a bit more and go with the BAEBA device instead of the Homia Baby Food Maker.
Reason #1 to Choose This Product: Ease of Use
I spent a lot of time mentioning how sleek and easy to use the Homia's LED screen is, but with BEABA, the only way things could be any easier was if their baby food maker had a mind of its own. There's just one button to press, and that's it. Everything is automatic from there.
Just like with the Homia baby food maker, the BEABA machine is equipped with a timer that turns off the machine and emits a noise when it's done, so you'd have to actually try to mess anything up. Boasting one-hand operation and one-touch open and close, this baby food maker is perfectly designed to allow you to keep an eye (or hand) on your little one while you're preparing their dinner, so nobody will go running off on you and causing trouble while you're not looking.
Reason #2 to Choose This Product: The Size
While it doesn't have the three separate compartments of the Homia, the BEABA Babycook has a large 1-liter container that will allow you to prepare up to 18 servings of baby food in one go. That means that while this machine is helping you save money from buying baby food at the grocery store, you'll only need to use it about once or twice a week. After that, you can just reheat servings in the microwave. On top of that, the cord is completely removable, so even though this machine is big, it won't feel bulky, and you'll have no problem storing it in between uses.
Just like with the Homia, customers loved how easy-to-use the BEABA Babycook baby food maker is, and they pointed out that it works great. The only common complaint was of mold growing in the water tank, but as long as you clean the machine in between uses, that shouldn't be a problem. And it's dishwasher-safe, so even that's not such a nuisance.
Despite being more expensive than the Homia, the BEABA Babyfood Maker and Blender only acts as a 4-in-1 device, with the ability to steam veggies, blend, defrost, and heat food. However, that's still giving you a lot for its price. There are pros and cons to each, but the Homia and the BEABA are two of the best baby food makers available.
If you want the product that's easiest to use, you should definitely go with BEABA. But if you want the best all-in-one device with the most options, and a cheaper price, the Homia baby food maker is the perfect assistant for your homemade baby food. No matter which you choose, you'll be making baby food at a professional level in no time at all.
#3: Braun Immersion Hand Blender & Baby Food Maker (Best Immersion Blender)
Some people just don't want another full-sized appliance taking up room in their kitchen. Maybe you live in a smaller house or apartment and you don't have a lot of room, or maybe you have too many appliances and you're already running out of space, or maybe you just prefer to live a minimalist lifestyle. Whatever your reason for wanting a smaller baby food maker, the Braun Immersion Hand Blender & Baby Food Maker is perfect for you.
This immersion blender and baby food maker comes with a stainless-steel blender arm and blade, as well as a beaker that acts as the perfect place to prepare and serve your little one's meal. It also has a 1.5-cup food processor bowl that attaches directly to the blender arm. The Braun baby food maker comes with a freezer tray perfect for preserving future meals to save you time later.
The size of this immersion blender / food processor / baby food maker is perfect for going to the grandparents for a weekend, and your baby can still get the homemade baby food he or she is used to. Hand blenders like this Braun product are also incredibly easy to clean, as pretty much all you have to do is wipe down the arm with a sponge.
Unfortunately, there are downsides to the convenience of this portable machine. Its 300-watt motor isn't very strong, so you'll pretty much be limited to blending fruits and veggies for your baby. While it's simple to use, it only has two speeds and doesn't give you much in terms of versatility. That being said, it's also one of the cheapest options available, so if you want a cheap and portable option, the Braun Immersion Hand Blender & Baby Food Maker is perfect for you. (FYI, another Braun Immersion Blender is on sale at this year's holiday sales.)
Reviewers loved this product and said it's durable and works great, but pointed out that it's best for smaller portions.
#4: OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill (Best Low-Cost Option)
If you're really prioritizing saving money over everything else, look no further than the OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill, which is pretty much the cheapest baby food maker on the market. This dishwasher-safe baby food maker is completely manual, with zero electricity involved, so there's almost nothing to say. Just fill the base with fruits and veggies or cooked meat and start turning the crank, and that's all there is to it. You can also add hot water or broth to the mill, if you want a specific texture for your baby.
This baby food maker isn't exactly glamorous, but it'll get the job done. It has a non-skid base to make sure it doesn't slide around while you're using it. It's about the size of a coffee mug, so you can really bring it anywhere and everywhere and make sure that your baby can always have a nice home-cooked meal.
Reviews of this product were a little mixed, with some users saying that it worked perfectly and others saying it didn't work as advertised. Some users pointed out that it worked well but not when it came to harder foods, or that any liquid poured into it tended to spill. Users also noted that the OXO Tot Mash is very easy to use.
You basically have to remember that you get what you pay for with this product. You can't expect the amazing performance of the Homia Baby Food Maker or the BEABA machine, but it'll get the job done and will make making baby food a little easier. This is the best option if you need to save, and even if you decide to go with one of our more expensive options, it could be a great investment as a portable alternative for when you need to feed your hungry baby on the go.
#5: Magic Bullet Baby Bullet Baby Care System (Best Low-Cost Option) (The Perfect Meal Prep Kit)
Magic Bullet has become one of the biggest names in blenders and food processors, so it's no surprise to find out they also have a top-of-the-line baby food maker. The Baby Bullet Baby Care System is made out of completely BPA-free and non-toxic plastic, and it boasts the fastest turnover rate on the entire market. This baby food maker claims to make your baby's food for an entire week in less than five minutes.
Designed with an adorable smiley-face pattern on all of the parts, the Baby Care System comes with a single-serve blender, as well as a bigger blender jar, and 6 easy-to-store cups that are perfect for future use and will stay organized in your fridge. Everything comes apart, so even though it's a lot of material, these different jars and containers will fit in your refrigerator and cabinet with ease.
The Baby Care System comes in at an affordable price, falling into the same price range as the Homia Baby Food Maker, but it's much more minimalist and is lacking all the bells and whistles that Homia offers. Because it comes with two sets of blades that are suited to different purposes, you can mill and blend food with the Baby Bullet, but it doesn't exactly offer the versatility of the Homia or BEABA baby food makers. It's also lacking their appealing user interface. It's nothing fancy, but the Magic Bullet Baby Care System is the perfect option to help you stay organized while you're dealing with the chaos of raising a baby.
Recap: How Is a Baby Food Maker Different from a Food Processor?
Hopefully reading this article has cleared up any confusion you might have. Since a blender, a food processor, and a baby food maker all seem pretty similar on the surface, it can be hard to understand exactly what the difference is. The truth is, all three machines could make baby food. But remember, when making food for an infant, you're ideally looking for a machine that will also be able to steam your food, making it easier to puree and giving it the perfect texture for a small child to eat.
These differences become more apparent when you're looking at the high-end machines like the Homia and the BEABA, but when you're looking at the budget options like the Braun Immersion Hand Blender, the OXO Tot Mash Maker, and the Magic Bullet Baby Care System, there starts to be much less of a difference between a standard countertop mixer or food processor and a product baby food makers. For the tailored baby food making experience, you'll need to pay a little more.
Best Baby Food Makers on a Budget
If the Braun Immersion Hand Blender or the OXO Tot Mash Maker didn't appeal to you, but you're on a higher budget, don't worry. We've compiled a list of the best budget options so you don't have to break the bank just because you haven't found exactly what you're looking for.
#1 Budget Option: Infantino Squeeze Station Press & Store System
The cheapest option on our list so far, by a sizeable amount, the Infantino Squeeze Station is perfect for anyone on a budget and is also pretty convenient if you're on the go a lot. The Squeeze Station is completely dishwasher-safe and works by feeding your pureed baby food straight into a squeezable pouch, making it perfect for storing future meals or for bringing your baby's next meal (or next few meals) with you on a trip.
The actual station itself is also almost weightless and is listed as weighing 0.1 pounds, so you can bring the whole Squeeze Station with you on any weekend getaway and not have to interrupt your newborn's routine one bit.
#2 Best Budget Option: NUK Oster Smoothie & Baby Food Maker Bundle
It's no surprise to see Oster make an appearance in the budget section of our list. The blender and food processor company has become known for their incredible prices and quality products, and baby food makers aren't any different. The NUK Bundle comes with a 250-watt blender with a blender bowl, a 12-ounce straw sippy cup, 6 stackable cups and lids, and a recipe book. The whole set is BPA-free, while the bowl, sippy cups, storage cups, and blade are all dishwasher-safe. Oster delivers with a great bundle that will help you get started with making baby food at an amazing price.
P.S. If you like Oster, their Pro 1200 model - while not on this list - is also a highly capable baby food maker that will take care of your smoothies, salsas and cookie doughs as well.
#3 Best Budget Option: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus 24-Oz Food Processor
While technically a food processor, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus is the perfect tool to help make your toddler's food on a budget. Its small size keeps it convenient and is ideal for baby-sized portions, and its blade will puree fruits and veggies in a jiffy. The great part about feeding babies is that, since they obviously eat less than adults, a food processor that advertises itself as "mini" can still make a few days worth of food for a baby in one quick cycle.
Verdict: Your Best Baby Food Maker
If you want the most options and the best value for money, pick the Homia Baby Food Maker.
The true all-in-one machine that fulfills 8 different purposes, this Homia product is incredibly user-friendly with its easy-to-use LED screen. That, plus its three different compartments that let you prepare three meals at once, makes this machine one of the best baby food makers out there. Between its versatility and its accessibility, the Homia is an amazing buy for beginners and experts alike.
If you want the most accessible machine, pick the BEABA Babycook Baby Food Maker and Blender.
While it doesn't have quite the same diversity as the Homia machine, it still serves four different purposes, and it has a nice sized 1-liter container that will help you prep for an entire week's worth of your child's food in one sitting. The real selling point of this BEABA product though is how easy it is to use. Literally just press a button, and that's it. The machine takes care of the rest automatically and you're left with perfect baby food from a machine that has an automatic timer and stopper so nothing will go wrong. The BEABA is a little more expensive than the Homia, but if you really value that easy-to-use experience, there's no other option for you when you're making baby food.
If you want to keep the spending cheap, pick the OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill.
The truth is there are plenty of cheap options on our list for you to pick from, and some of them are better than the manually-operated OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill, but if you absolutely need to save money, this is the best choice. Besides, your efforts to save will be rewarded with an incredibly convenient product that can fit in any bag and doesn't require any outlets, so your baby can have the perfect meal no matter where you are.
There you have it. We've laid out all the information for you and tried to make it as easy to process as possible. Remember to think about what you want when you're looking for your looking at baby food makers.
If you want the best all-around device in a nice package, you'll want the Homia device. Or you might want the streamlined experience of the BEABA. Or still, you might decide that your priority is staying organized, and the Magic Bullet Baby and its storage cups will be exactly what you're looking for. No matter what product you decide to buy for your kitchen, we wish you the best of luck with all your baby food needs.
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