Introducing solid foods to babies is an exciting milestone in their development, but it can be daunting for new parents. This is where baby food makers come in.
Baby food makers are specialised kitchen appliances that make preparing homemade baby food easier and more convenient. And, let’s face it, we need all the help we can get!
Instead of reaching for processed, ready-prepared baby food from the supermarket shelf, get yourself one of these babies (excuse the pun) and create healthy, tasty meals from scratch. You will have complete control over texture and ingredients, ensuring it is free from additives, while packed with as many nutrients and vitamins as possible.
Another huge advantage: Feeding your little one homemade food from the get-go will help develop their palate and create a preference for healthier, more diverse foods in the long run. They are going to thank you for this!
In this article, we dig into the word of baby food makers to help you choose the perfect kitchen assistant so your child loves the food you make.
What to look for when buying a baby food maker
The brand
Brand is always important. Make sure it’s reputable. If you’ve never heard of a brand before, it doesn’t mean don’t buy. Just check the reviews carefully to ensure other people’s experiences are good. For a baby food maker, a good electronic brand or a big name in the “baby” world is best.
Capacity
Capacity is another essential factor when choosing a baby food maker. If you want to cook in bulk and freeze go for a machine with a large capacity. Small is good if you’re low on space but too small you’ll find yourself preparing food more often which can be time consuming.
Ease of use
As a busy mum, you don’t want to spend too much time reading complicated instructions. Your machine must be super-duper user-friendly. Choose something that doesn’t require you to change heaps of parts when switching modes as well.
Durability
Of course, you want something known to withstand different types of food and modes. From making smoothies to boiling squash to shredding raw potatoes for your hash browns, your baby food maker must be able to handle various ingredients and repeated use.
Cleaning
Ease of cleaning is also one of the most essential factors you should check. Caring for a baby is hard, so you shouldn’t spend nap time hunched in the kitchen sink cleaning your machine. Thankfully, some brands offer baby food makers that come with self-cleaning features, at least for regular stains. Ensure most of the parts are dishwasher-safe, so you save time.
Safety
Baby food makers come in various materials, including glass and plastic. Glass is an excellent option for mums who avoid plastics. In contrast, plastic is great for mums looking for something durable. If choosing plastic, make sure the material is BPA-free and baby safe.
Guarantee
Baby food makers are machines, so it’s wise to consider one that comes with a guarantee. Top companies provide free warranties, sometimes even longer than how long you will be using the machine before your baby starts eating solids. It’s nice when you don’t need to worry about your device breaking.
Price
Price is another crucial factor to consider. After all, the best baby food maker is one that fits within your budget. Although the most expensive machine doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best, don’t fall for the cheapest option either. Always check if the price corresponds to the features and quality to find the best value for your hard-earned money.
Reviews
Finally, consider reviews from fellow mums. After all, they have experience in using these baby food maker brands. If you don’t have mum friends who can help, many mum Facebook groups serve as practical resources. You can ask their choice for the best baby food maker or experience on one you are planning to buy, and helpful mums will share their experiences with you.
Our pick of the best baby food makers in 2023
Baby Brezza
We love a machine that steams and automatically blends baby food in as fast as 10 minutes. This way, you have at least 10 minutes to do other important tasks or rest. It has three modes: steam and blend, steam only, and blend only. Transferring food for storage is also easy since the machine comes with reusable pouches and funnels. Customers also highly rate the Baby Brezza at 4.3 stars.
Find more about Baby Brezza Food Make Deluxe here: BabyBunting
Cherub Baby Food Maker Bundle
Cherub Baby’s Food Maker Bundle has everything you need: An all-in-one steamer, blender, steriliser and warmer, reusable food pouches with wash-off labels, pouch organiser, on-the-go bottle and pouch warmer, and pouch spoons and spouts. Whew! The bowl has such a large capacity that you can cook up to 12 meals at once. This really is a multi-purpose machine that steams food, baby bottle and utensils. Very handy.
Find more about Cherub Baby Food Maker Bundle here: Cherub Baby
Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer and Blender
This machine can steam and blend up to 200g of fruits, veggies, meat, or fish in fine or chunky purée with an automatic timer. Admittedly, it’s a tad bit pricier, but what makes Tommee Tippee’s Baby Food Steamer and Blender stand out from others in this list is its memory function. It remembers the last setting, making batch cooking a lot easier.
Find more about Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer and Blender here: Baby Bunting
Beaba Babycook Neo
We are obsessed with the aesthetically pleasing colours of this compact machine. It steams, blends, and reheats/defrosts your baby’s food in under 15 minutes. You can make fine or chunkier purées. The steamer also turns off automatically, so you don’t need to watch your machine as it cooks your baby’s food. The bowl of this beautiful machine is made of glass, and the basket of stainless steel, so it’s an excellent choice for mums who are avoiding plastic. If, for some reason, you don’t like this pretty colour, the Neo model also comes in white and grey, night blue, and terracotta.
Find more about Beaba Babycook Neo – Eucalyptus here: The Stork Nest Australia
Nutribullet Baby
Nutribullet is already a popular product in the health and wellness world, mainly because of its practicality and 200-watt motor base. This baby food maker is cheaper than the others on our list, but has fewer features. The machine only has a default speed and can only purée cold and room temperature ingredients, unlike others which can steam and warm food. Additionally, you can’t make single-serve food with the Nutribullet Baby, so it’s more beneficial for mums who make food by batch.
Find more about Nutribullet Baby here: Baby Bunting
