One of the most heartwarming experiences as a parent is introducing your little one to the world of solid foods. It’s a significant milestone, a beautiful way to connect with your baby during family meals, and a fun exploration of new flavors and textures. For parents mindful of nutrition, especially those with family histories of food allergies, making homemade baby food offers unparalleled control over ingredients. A Best Baby Food Maker is an invaluable appliance for this journey, allowing you to create nutritious meals while saving money compared to pre-packaged options.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
SALE
Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend at Amazon $100 $84
Best Blender:
SALE
Nutribullet Baby Bullet Blender at Amazon $70 $53
Best Design:
BEABA Babycook Neo Baby Food Maker at Amazon $260
Best Value:
Nuby Mighty Blender Baby Food Maker Set at Amazon $50
Most Straightforward:
SALE
Evla’s Baby Food Maker at Amazon $125 $99
Finding the best baby food maker means prioritizing convenience for busy parents. The ideal appliance should be simple to set up, easy to operate, and compact enough not to dominate your kitchen countertop. To guide you through the choices, the Parents Lab rigorously tested 16 baby food makers, processing 20 pounds of peas and carrots to assess their design, user-friendliness, effectiveness, cleaning ease, and overall value.
We also consulted with pediatrician and registered nurse moms to gain expert insights into essential features of a great baby food maker and crucial safety measures for homemade baby food preparation. Our top recommendations below will help you select the perfect baby food maker for your family’s needs.
Is Homemade Baby Food Better for Your Baby?
According to Bianca Gaxiola, BSN, RN, PHN, a registered nurse, “From a medical standpoint, both homemade and commercially prepared baby foods can be healthy and nutritious, provided they meet a baby’s nutritional requirements.”
However, homemade baby food gives parents greater control over ingredients, textures, variety, and potential allergens. “Parents have the option to use fresh, organic, or locally sourced produce and introduce a broader spectrum of flavors,” Gaxiola explains. She also emphasizes the advantage of allergen control when making food at home, which was particularly beneficial when her own daughter had food allergies as a baby.
Best Overall
Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend
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PHOTO: Amazon
$100 $84 at Amazon $84 at Target $93 at Walmart Affiliate Program
Why We Like It
The Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend stands out as a compact appliance that integrates the functions of a pot, steaming basket, and blender. With a simple dial twist, we could cook, steam, and puree ingredients within the same container, saving valuable counter space and reducing dishwashing. The auto-blend cycle, which automatically steams and then blends food, was a particular highlight. Furthermore, you can easily adjust the puree’s thickness and texture to your preference.
Unlike conventional blenders, the Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend operates with minimal noise. During testing, its quiet operation was so notable that we had to listen attentively for the completion beeps—a significant advantage for parents preparing baby food while their little one is sleeping. Cleaning is also straightforward, with plastic components being dishwasher-safe.
Using raw, room-temperature carrots, the Nutribullet steamed them thoroughly in 26 minutes. The resulting carrot puree had a consistency remarkably similar to store-bought baby food jars. Steaming and blending frozen peas took a bit longer, yielding a consistency closer to hummus or split pea soup. Overall, the food produced was visually appealing and had an ideal texture for babies starting solids.
What Parents Say
“This is a nifty product for a busy parent. When used as a combination of a steamer and blender, the Nutribullet Baby Steam + Blend is pretty terrific.”—Elizabeth, tester
But Take Note
While the Nutribullet includes a defrost setting, it performed optimally with room-temperature ingredients. Compared to the smooth consistency of pureed raw carrots, the frozen peas were slightly chunkier, although still suitable for consumption.
The Details:
- Functions: Defrosts, steams, blends
- Capacity: 16 oz
- Dimensions: 10.63 x 5.91 x 9.17 in
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
Best Blender
Nutribullet Baby Bullet Blender
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PHOTO: Amazon
$70 $53 at Amazon $53 at Target $70 $56 at Walmart Affiliate Program
Why We Like It
This compact yet powerful blender provides everything necessary for preparing, serving, and storing homemade baby food. Beyond the 32-ounce blender bowl, it includes a freezer tray, a short cup with a lid, a recipe book, and six storage cups that fit neatly into a tray for organized puree storage. We found the storage cups particularly useful for portioning baby food, ideal for on-the-go feeding. The date dial on the storage cup lids is another excellent feature, ensuring you always serve the freshest food to your baby.
Although this blender lacks a steaming function and timer, its blending speed and quiet operation impressed us. The user manual’s clear, step-by-step instructions on achieving the correct puree consistency for different baby ages were highly appreciated. The included recipe book also offers excellent ideas for food combinations, serving as a valuable resource for parents.
Cleaning a standard blender can be challenging due to intricate parts and sharp blades. However, the Nutribullet Baby Bullet Blender was remarkably easy to clean by hand, and most components are also dishwasher safe.
What Parents Say
“The whole blending process using this product was very easy and quick. I can see myself using this on a regular basis because it is simple and convenient to use.”—Amy, mother of two
But Take Note
While its small footprint is a plus, the blender’s power cord is somewhat short, which might restrict placement options in your kitchen.
The Details:
- Functions: Blends, purees
- Capacity: 32 oz
- Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.2 x 11 in
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
Best Design
BEABA Babycook Neo Baby Food Maker
$260 at Amazon $260 at Nordstrom View on Pottery Barn Kids
Why We Like It
If an appliance is going to be a permanent fixture on your counter, aesthetics matter. The Beaba Baby Food Maker excels in design, with a sleek, modern look that you’ll be happy to display. Its black-and-white color scheme provides a sophisticated and elegant touch. Featuring a glass bowl, stainless steel steam basket, and a large stainless steel reservoir, this baby food maker is more stain-resistant and eco-friendly than plastic alternatives.
Beyond its appealing design, the Beaba Baby Food Maker is engineered for parental convenience. It’s fully operable with one hand, and its set-and-forget functionality includes a triple beep signal when cooking is complete. A standout feature is the ability to pre-select food consistency. After a 20-minute steam and blend cycle, our peas and carrots retained vibrant colors and achieved a smooth, appetizing texture.
But Take Note
The instruction manual for this model was somewhat unclear, primarily due to inaccurate illustrations. Additionally, the blend button required considerable pressure, causing finger soreness after extended use.
The Details:
- Functions: Steams, mixes, defrosts, reheats
- Capacity: 41.6 oz
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 10.5 x 8.5 in
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
Best Value
Nuby Mighty Blender Baby Food Maker Set
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PHOTO: Amazon
$50 at Amazon $73 $63 at Walmart Affiliate Program View on Nuby.com
Why We Like It
For exceptional value, the Nuby Mighty Blender surpasses all other baby food makers. At just $50, this 22-piece system equips you with everything needed to prepare, serve, and store fresh baby food. Alongside a 15.6-ounce batch bowl, it includes food storage cups and lids, a freezer tray, a microwave-safe steaming basket, feeding spoons, and a cookbook. It also features two blades—one for blending and another for milling grains—plus a spatula, which proved very useful for scooping every bit of food from the blender bowl.
Despite its compact size, the components and accessories of this blender feel durable. Once we reviewed the instruction manual, the blender was remarkably easy to operate: simply press the blender bowl onto the motor base to start blending.
While the blender lid got a bit messy during testing, cleaning the entire system was quick and easy. The glass blender bowl and cup are conveniently dishwasher safe, although the remaining plastic parts are not.
What Parents Say
“This machine did a great job of blending the food, and was very efficient at turning it into a nice puree. The texture of our carrots and peas was absolutely beautiful.”—Amy, tester
But Take Note
The instruction manual advises against running the blender for more than one minute continuously. Also, we noticed that the inner lid of our blender bowl became stained orange after a single use, even after a full dishwasher cycle.
The Details:
- Functions: Steams, blends, warms, and defrosts
- Capacity: 15.55 oz
- Dimensions: 10.43 x 8.20 x 11 in
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
Most Straightforward
Evla’s Baby Food Maker
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PHOTO: Amazon
$125 $99 at Amazon $150 at Target $125 $99 at Walmart Affiliate Program
Why We Like It
For sleep-deprived parents, complicated appliances are the last thing needed. Evla’s Baby Food Maker is remarkably straightforward, quickly becoming an effortless part of our daily routine. Its user-friendly design and two-step process allowed us to steam, blend, and store homemade baby food in mere minutes. We particularly appreciated the suggested steam times printed on the blender’s side for quick reference and the instructional manual’s video links, which were easy to follow while multitasking.
The auto-blend cycle and readiness alarm further enhance its hands-off operation. The self-cleaning feature, recommended after each use, is a major advantage. A baby food maker that prepares food and cleans itself? It’s a game-changer!
But Take Note
While incredibly user-friendly, the auto-blend cycle didn’t consistently achieve the very liquid consistency sometimes needed for babies just starting solids. A second blend cycle might be necessary to reach the ideal texture for younger eaters.
The Details:
- Functions: Steams, blends, purees, cleans
- Capacity: 20.29 oz
- Dimensions: 6 x 6.50 x 9.5 in
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Parents / Leticia Almedia
Other Baby Food Makers We Liked
BEABA Babycook Express Baby Food Maker
$125 $104 at Amazon $190 at Nordstrom View on Beaba.com
$90 at Amazon $91 at Walmart Affiliate Program View on Chefhandy.com
Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker Deluxe
$130 at Amazon $130 at Target $130 at Walmart Affiliate Program
Braun MultiQuick 5 Baby Food Maker and Hand Blender
View on Amazon View on Braunhousehold.com View on Best Buy
Our Testing Process
To identify the best baby food makers, we gathered top-selling models from reputable brands for rigorous testing in the Parents Lab. For each baby food maker, we used peas and carrots to prepare stage 1 baby food, the ideal consistency for babies starting solids. Each baby food maker was evaluated based on these criteria:
- Design: We assessed each product’s size, capacity, and features. We focused on steaming, blending, and pureeing capabilities, as well as the utility of included accessories.
- Ease of Use: We examined manufacturer instructions for clarity and user-friendliness. We tested special features like auto-blend cycles to determine their practicality and experimented with different preparation modes.
- Ease of Cleaning: While only one baby food maker had a self-cleaning cycle, dishwasher-safe models were rated highest for cleaning ease. Hand-washable models were still considered easy to clean if they lacked complex crevices.
- Effectiveness: This critical factor judged how well each baby food maker pureed food to the desired smooth, liquid consistency without lumps. The blending process needed to be seamless for daily use.
- Value: The tested baby food makers ranged from $15 to $260, with a median price of $106. We assessed if the price was justified by considering all other factors and whether a baby food maker would save money long-term compared to buying store-bought baby food.
Our Experts
To understand why and how parents should make homemade baby food and safety precautions, we consulted:
- Lyndsey Garbi, MD, pediatrician, mom, and chief pediatrician at Blueberry Pediatrics
- Bianca Gaxiola, BSN, RN, PHN, nurse at Mariners Christian School and mother of three
Factors to Consider When Buying a Baby Food Maker
- Functions: A fundamental baby food maker should puree food to the correct consistency for your baby’s age. Steam capability is highly beneficial for softening foods like carrots before pureeing. Consider models with defrost, reheat, and chop functions for broader cooking versatility. A self-cleaning cycle significantly reduces post-preparation cleanup.
- Capacity: Remember baby food purees are temporary. Large batches aren’t necessary. Choose capacity based on making a few days’ worth of food, or smaller if just starting solids or with limited counter space.
- Ease of Use: The best baby food maker is user-friendly. Clear instructions, consistent pureeing, and easy cleaning are key. Simplicity ensures regular and enjoyable use.
How to Safely Use Baby Food Makers
“Homemade food requires careful preparation, storage, and hygiene to prevent bacterial contamination,” advises Gaxiola. “Wash hands with soap and water, use clean utensils, cutting boards, and countertops, and rinse fruits and vegetables to remove dirt and pesticides. A fruit and veggie spray can assist with this.”
Choose puree consistency based on your baby’s age and avoid spices, salt, or sugar. “Ensure fish is boneless, food is cooked adequately, and your baby can handle the food’s amount and size,” adds Dr. Garbi.
Store homemade baby food in the refrigerator for 1-2 days in glass or stainless steel containers, or freeze for up to three months in small portions, notes Gaxiola. For plastic containers, avoid those with recycling codes 3, 6, or 7 (unless labeled “biobased” or “greenware”).
Are Baby Food Makers Worth It?
A baby food maker is worthwhile if you’ll use it. Buying bulk fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats for homemade baby food is more cost-effective long-term than buying jars and pouches. Homemade baby food is less wasteful, and you control ingredients, avoiding preservatives and ensuring freshness.
What’s the Difference Between a Baby Food Maker, Food Processor, and Blender?
A baby food maker combines blender, food processor, and steamer functions. Food processors excel at chopping and shredding but are larger than baby food makers for pureeing. Blenders puree but lack steaming, essential for softening foods before pureeing.
Is It Better to Buy Baby Food or Make Homemade Baby Food?
Gaxiola emphasizes, “fed truly is best.”
“Parents should choose what works best,” Gaxiola says. “Both store-bought and homemade foods are good, offering options. Ensure a balanced diet with essential nutrients and a satisfied baby.”
Who We Are
Laura Lu, MS, is a health and parenting journalist for Mayo Clinic, University of California, San Francisco, Parents, Health.com, The New York Times, and Media Psychology. As a mom with food allergies, Laura has extensive experience preparing family meals, including homemade baby food.
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