Nursing & Feeding Products The 7 Best Baby Food Makers, According to a Dietitian By Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN Eliza Savage, MS, RD is a senior editor at Verywell Fit, a registered dietitian, and a published author. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 19, 2023 Medically reviewed by Willow Jarosh, MS, RD Medically reviewed by Willow Jarosh, MS, RD Willow Jarosh, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and nutrition coach specializing in intuitive eating. She is the author of "Healthy, Happy Pregnancy Cookbook." Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. For parents who want to make their own pureed baby food, a baby food maker can take the stress—and mess—out of the process. While it may be an investment, the appliance will likely help you save money, time, and energy in the long run. Consider if the appliance's functions and cleaning capabilities will fit into your family's lifestyle. We carefully considered value, design, material, ease of cleaning and use, and functionality when reviewing products. A registered dietitian on our Review Board also reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity surrounding what to look for in a baby food maker, as well as information about when babies typically begin eating purees and, later, solid foods. Here are the best baby food makers on the market. Our Top Picks Best Overall: BEABA Babycook Duo 4 in 1 Baby Food Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Runner-Up: Nuby Mighty Blender Baby Food Maker Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best Steamer + Blender: Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend at Nutribullet.com Jump to Review Best Portable: OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill at Amazon Jump to Review Best Multipurpose: Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Pouches: Infantino DIY Dishwasher at Amazon Jump to Review Best with Glass Bowl: Baby Brezza Glass One Step Baby Food Maker at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Best Overall BEABA Babycook Duo 4 in 1 Baby Food Maker 5 Amazon View On Amazon The BEABA Babycook Duo is our top pick thanks to the appliance's dual cooking feature. It’s a multitasker's dream unit, allowing you to steam cook on one side while you puree on the other. This dual feature option helps you to get through big batches of recipes in a short period of time. An afternoon with this machine could result in weeks of food to freeze and store for the future. An audible alert lets you know when the food is ready, so you can do other things while the baby’s food is being prepared. With a detachable power cord, it also stores away neatly when not in use. Price at time of publication: $215 Best Overall Runner-Up Nuby Mighty Blender Baby Food Maker Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Nuby.com This comprehensive blender comes as part of a complete kit with everything you need to create a range of different delicious recipes for your baby. It includes accessories to steam baby’s food, make large and small quantities, and store all your batches. The blades can be adjusted to make food for different stages, including beginner's purees and chunkier toddler mini-meals. It even has a milling blade to use with oats and cereals. The starter kit comes with a set of spoons and a freezer tray, which allows you to pop out and prepare individual portions easily. These freezer portions are really convenient for those midweek dinners when you're short on time and energy. The high torque power motor will last for years but is super lightweight, weighing in at only five pounds. The Nuby Garden Fresh Mighty Blender is the only baby food maker you’ll need. Price at time of publication: $70 Best Steamer + Blender Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend Nutribullet View On Nutribullet.com We love the 2-in-1 functionality of Nutribullet's Baby Steam + Blend unit, featuring a 450-watt steamer and an 150-watt blender that can defrost, steam, blend and pulse ingredients, all in one appliance. It features an automated cycle that steams and blends food and also has a pulse button that allows you to control the food texture to suit different ages and stages of eating. Additionally, it comes with a recipe guide with tasty and nutritious meal ideas for your little one. The work bowl base and lid are top-rack dishwasher safe, while the blade base is hand-wash only with soap and water. This product weighs just under four pounds and is under ten inches in length, making it a compact and easily manageable kitchen appliance. Price at time of publication: $100 Best Portable OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill Amazon View On Amazon If portability is important to you, consider a simple unit like the OXO Tot Mash Maker, which can easily be packed up in your bag for an overnight visit to the grandparents or a weekend away. The Tot Mash Maker is easy to operate. Just fill, grind, and feed. A bonus: the non-motorized option fits easily into the top shelf of the dishwasher for effortless cleanup. Price at time of publication: $30 Best Multipurpose Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Abt.com If you are looking to save a few bucks, removing the word “baby” from your search can reveal some big savings. Although this processor doesn't have a steam option, it will transform cooked fruit and vegetables, grains, and more into smooth, delicious purees for a fraction of the price of some more expensive models. It features a 250-watt motor and a patented reversible steel blade for chopping and grinding. The simple push-button control is easy to use one-handed for those days when the baby is fussy and needs to be held. Plus, when your baby is eating table food, you can use this to make pestos, pie crusts, and more. Price at time of publication: $40 Best for Pouches Infantino DIY Dishwasher Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart This fun product helps parents prepare and store their baby’s food in convenient pouches, which allow the baby to self-feed by squeezing. Alternatively, a caregiver can help out by using the included attachable spoons. This unit looks a bit like a test tube rack, but without a plug, it takes up much less space than a traditional motorized blender. The only downside is that you will need to ensure your foods are soft or pre-mashed before squeezing them into the tubes, so you will need to steam and blend using separate appliances. Because toddlers and older kids love pouches as well, this squeeze station can last you way out of the baby stage. Price at time of publication: $37 Best with Glass Bowl Baby Brezza Glass One Step Baby Food Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Potterybarnkids.com If you're looking for a baby food maker with an easy-to-clean glass bowl, consider the Baby Brezza Glass Baby Food Maker. Glass is perfect for those who prefer to avoid plastics (even BPA-free) and generally select more environmentally-friendly appliances. The convenient baby food maker comes with three settings: steam only, blend only, and automatically blend after steaming. The large 4-cup capacity makes it easy to whip up large batches of purees in minutes, with little mess and stress. Or, you can use the steam only function if you are also incorporating pieces of foods your baby can pick up themselves. Because the bowl and blade are dishwasher-safe, you can cook, blend, and then clean with ease. Price at time of publication: $130 What to Look for in a Baby Food Maker Functionality Baby food makers come with a variety of functions. If you're looking for an appliance to take you from raw veggie to smooth, steamed puree, choose a product that steams and blends. If you have an older baby who eats more textured items, a handheld masher or a basic food processor may meet your needs. Also consider how, what, and where you will feed your baby. If you're looking to feed your baby on-the-go, a baby food maker that helps you make your own pouches may be helpful. If you prefer to steam, process, and then store, choose a product with freezer or refrigerator storage options. Think about what you will be cooking, as some products work well for fruits and vegetables but aren't as compatible with meats or grains. Cost Cost is not always indicative of performance; however, some of the more expensive baby food makers are more efficient and easier to use. Consider how often you plan on using the baby food maker. If you plan to make most—or all—of your baby's food, then investing in a high-quality appliance that will simplify your life may be worth it in the long run. An investment may also be worth it if you plan on using the product for multiple children. If you plan on using the product for a few months or a small amount of food, then a less expensive option may be best. Material Baby food makers come in a variety of materials, including glass and plastic. If you prefer to avoid potentially harmful chemicals found in plastics and are more environmentally conscious, a baby food maker with a glass bowl may be best for you. If you prefer the durability of plastic, choose a BPA-free product. Care and Maintenance Always read the care instructions to learn how to properly clean your baby food maker before purchasing. Because the product is being used to make food for your baby, it is important to ensure that it is properly cleaned after each use to avoid potential foodborne illness. If you're short on time and energy, you'll likely prefer an option that can be put in the dishwasher rather than washed by hand. Frequently Asked Questions Is it cheaper to make your own baby food? Making your own baby food can be cheaper than buying store-bought baby food. Consider, for example, the cost of a single sweet potato, which could yield you 2 to 3 servings of baby food, versus the cost of 2 or 3 jars of pre-made baby food. But you should also take convenience into account as well. For some parents, convenience outweighs the cost. How long do babies eat purees? Babies can eat purees when they show the developmental signs of readiness, starting around the 6-month mark. Some people start babies with purees and some do not. Whether you start with purees or not, allowing babies to feed themselves is important to developing feeding skills and body autonomy. By the time they are 8 or 9 months old, you can introduce finger foods (if you haven't already) and move toward soft, solid foods with a goal of feeding baby a variety of foods and textures. Be mindful of choking hazards until you are confident your baby has mastered chewing and swallowing. When do babies start eating baby food? Babies can start eating solid food when they reach the developmental milestones required for feeding solids. This typically happens somewhere around 6 months old. You can choose to start with baby food purees, either homemade or store-bought, or with baby-led weaning. Baby-led weaning involves skipping purees and moving straight to soft finger foods. There is no “right” way to introduce solid foods to your baby, so do what feels best for your family. 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