Best Baby Food Makers
What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links.
- Best Baby Food Maker Overall : Béaba Babycook
- Best Affordable Baby Food Maker : NutriBullet Baby
- Most Multifunctional Baby Food Maker : Elechomes 8-in-1 Multifunctional Baby Food Maker
- Best Compact Baby Food Maker : Qooc Mini Baby Food Maker
- Best Portable Baby Food Maker : Oxo Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill
- Best Baby Food Maker for Meal Prepping : Babymoov Duo Meal Station Food Maker
- Best No-Mess Baby Food Maker : Baby Brezza One Step Food Maker Deluxe
- Best Blender That Doubles as a Baby Food Maker : Ninja BL610 Professional Countertop Blender
- Best Baby Food Maker for Snacks : Infantino Squeeze Station
Buying for baby is a little overwhelming, to say the least — and this counts for just about every category, feeding included. Whether or not you’re set on making your own baby food, you may be wondering if you should add a baby food maker to your registry.
It’s a wise idea, according to many parents: Baby food makers come in handy for more than just what they’re designed to do. Most provide steaming and pureeing capabilities, which can be useful even for new parents who are looking to make a quick steamed side dish or blend up a delicious fruit smoothie. And if you use a baby food maker to whip up homemade meals for your baby, you’ll find several advantages.
Benefits of using a baby food maker
While baby food makers aren’t a must-have for every family, many caregivers swear by them. Here are some of the benefits:
- You save money. Like most baby-related products, store-bought baby food doesn’t come cheap. This is especially true if you opt for organic and pasture-raised ingredients that often cost more to produce. Plus, manufacturers have to factor in many other costs, such as packaging, factory space and selling to grocery stores. But if you’re able to purchase the bare-bone ingredients separately, you can save big over time.
- You know exactly what your baby is eating. Unless you read the ingredients list on absolutely everything, you don’t know the full story when it comes to what you’re feeding baby.
- You can introduce new flavors. Making your own food is a great way to introduce baby to the foods that you traditionally eat as a family, which may be difficult to do with store-bought baby food.
- You control the quantity. Jars of baby food can end up providing too little or too much food for baby. And, as a result, you may end up opening more than you need. Making your own baby food at home allows you to figure out the right portion control for your little one in advance, and even freeze extras.
What to look for in a baby food maker
Not every baby food maker does the same thing. Here are a few factors to consider when making your choice.
- Steaming and food processing capabilities. Some baby food makers will steam, blend and puree your ingredients, but they tend to cost more. Others will simply grind or blend your food. Figuring out in advance which will work best for your family — and your budget — is important.
- Price point. Baby food makers can range in price from $30 for a basic model up to $175 or more for swankier options.
- Material. Consider whether you prefer a food maker made with glass or plastic. It can’t hurt to double check that the model you’re considering is BPA-free, either.
- Portability. Planning to travel with baby or want to make fresh food on the go? A portable baby food maker that doesn’t require electricity may be the best bet for you.
- Efficiency. Some baby food makers will need more time than others to get your ingredients ready to eat. Read the product description or instruction booklet in advance to figure out how quickly the maker you’re considering works, and then think about how it fits into your personal needs.
- Ease of cleaning. Some baby food makers are dishwasher safe, but not every appliance meets this criteria. The more parts a maker has, the more time you’ll need to spend on cleaning, too.
- Size. If you’re limited on counter and pantry space, a bulkier appliance probably isn’t for you. Consider your space availability before you buy.
How we chose the best baby food makers
To select the best baby food makers, we consulted the What to Expect community of millions of parents to research which food makers worked best for a majority of parents. We also consulted testing feedback from parents on our team who used the baby food makers at home themselves. Price point, ease of use and functionality also factored in. And, of course, we made sure every baby food maker on the list was made with BPA-free materials.
Now that you understand some of the perks of purchasing a baby food maker, here are some of the very best ones on the market — and what you should know about each before making a purchase.
Best Baby Food Maker Overall
Béaba Babycook
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The Béaba Babycook is the baby food maker — it can prepare just about any food, from fruits and veggies to meat or fish, all under 20 minutes. (That includes things like raw chicken — seriously!) It boasts a 4.5-cup capacity, more than most baby food makers, which means you can knock out several snacks or meals in one session. It also comes with several extras that will come in handy (even when you’re not using the Babycook), such as a mixing lid, spatula, steam basket and recipe booklet.
Despite all the functions, it's fairly compact, measuring around 9 inches across and 9 inches high — but you won’t mind having it sit on your kitchen counter, as the design is super-sleek and aesthetically pleasing. Parents will also appreciate that the steam basket and cooking container are dishwasher-safe. And since the lid locks securely in place, you only need one hand to operate it — a definite perk if you're holding a baby.
Robin, a parent on the What to Expect team, used the Babycook to make food for both of her children (now 3 and 19 months). “I loved that the Babycook made it possible to steam and puree foods quickly and in one device, so that I didn't have to get a lot of pots, pans and blenders dirty," she says. "I will admit that I was a little confused about how much water to add for different foods at first — it wasn't immediately clear to me that you're supposed to look at the little '1, 2, 3' lines on the back of the food bowl, rather than the measurement lines on the front. But after I got the hang of that, it was so easy to use."
For parents that prefer glass dishware for their babies, you could opt for the Babycook Neo, albeit for a more expensive price.
Functionality: Steams, blends, defrosts, reheats
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 9.4 inches
"I have the Beaba and I love it. I think that it is completely worth the money because it does it all in one and I don't have to pull out my food processer and steamer and everything else all at once. One little machine to do it all. I'm all about convenience even if it is pricey."
“I had beaba for both of my older kids. Loved it. And used it even when they got older. I am about to get a new one.”
“I looooove my Beaba! Steams it and blends it all in one. The blender is also quiet since I cook while baby is sleeping downstairs.”
Best Affordable Baby Food Maker
NutriBullet Baby
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From the popular brand that offers adult-sized blenders comes a smaller, 32-ounce version meant for baby food that’s loaded with cool features. In addition to providing both steam and puree functions, the NutriBullet Baby comes with six storage cups so you don’t have to buy them separately, as well as a freezer tray with a lid for frozen treats. (Meal prep just got way easier!) You'll also score a recipe book with parent-approved dishes to make for your little one. The design is downright adorable, too.
Functionality: Blends, purees
Weight: 4.79 pounds
Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.2 x 11 inches
"I swear by my baby bullet. It's so much cheaper, I know exactly what's in his food, and I can mean plan for him in advance. The blender itself, in my opinion, was a great deal. It was $60 and yes it's smaller, but the strength is comparable to the expensive ninja blenders, so the food is a purée almost instantly. The storage containers and freezer containers are awesome and I love the cookbook that has foods to make from purees all the way to their first finger foods!"
Most Multifunctional Baby Food Maker
Elechomes 8-in-1 Multifunctional Baby Food Maker
This baby food maker does it all: sterilizes, blends, chops, steams, warms, defrosts, juices, you name it. From the freezer to your baby’s plate, the entire process (whichever cooking method you choose) is incredibly seamless.
Once the steaming portion is finished, you simply remove the steaming basket and pour the contents into the blender, which whips up a delectable baby puree in no time. Once the food is pureed, simply place the machine’s parts into the dishwasher for easy cleaning. (Even the blade is removable!) Last but not least: The sleek, compact design doesn’t take up too much space on your precious kitchen counter — it's only about a foot long.
Functionality: Steam, sterilizes, blends, chops, defrosts, juices, reheats, steams
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Dimensions: 11.6 x 5.9 x 9.6 inches
Best Compact Baby Food Maker
Qooc Mini Baby Food Maker
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This baby food maker handles four important functions: steaming, pureeing, defrosting and even reheating prepared foods. The user-friendly interface means it’s easy to use, and the dishwasher-safe parts are a major plus. The only downside? It has a smaller capacity than some other baby food makers but as long as you plan on cooking in small batches, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Functionality: Steams, purees, defrosts, reheats
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.3 x 7.8 inches
“We ended up getting the QOOC 4-in-1 Mini baby food maker from Amazon, and we love it. Pretty much the same idea as the baby beaba, but half the price, and a bit smaller. We just couldn't rationalize spending $150+ right now.”
Best Portable Baby Food Maker
Oxo Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill
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If you simply want a device that helps you churn out basic purees, all you need is a manual food mill like this one by Oxo. Not only does it do a great job at mashing just about any soft food you could think of, but it’s small and compact, which makes it perfect for traveling or using on the go — no electrical outlet needed. The non-skid base provides stability when you’re mashing, whether that’s on your kitchen counter or an airplane tray table. The wide mouth means you can scoop food directly out of the container with a spoon and feed it to your little one.
Functionality: Mashes
Weight: 0.58 pounds
Dimensions: 4 x 7 x 9 inches
"I still serve purees some and just come up with different combos, but I have also started giving her what we eat. I use the Oxotot food masher for that."
Best Baby Food Maker for Meal Prepping
Babymoov Duo Meal Station Food Maker
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If you plan on making baby food for the long haul, you may want to invest in a multi-functional, multi-speed device that lets you do twice as many batches at once. The Babymoov Duo Meal Station Food Maker has two separate steamer baskets so you can whip up double the amount of baby food as you may with other baby food makers — say, one of apples and one of carrots — at the same time. The Babymoov makes up to nine cups of food, which is equal to roughly 25 meals. In addition to steaming and blending, this machine also warms bottles, sterilizes, reheats, defrosts and purees. All that and it’s dishwasher-safe, too.
Functionality: Steams, blends, purees, reheats, defrosts, sterilizes
Weight: 5.95 pounds
Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 14 inches
“I’m using the babymoov duo meal station and I love it! Steams multiple foods, blends, sterilizes, reheats, defrosts.”
Best No-Mess Baby Food Maker
Baby Brezza One Step Food Maker Deluxe
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The Baby Brezza Deluxe makes the whole process of creating your own baby food seamless. This handy gadget automatically steams and blends your ingredients — up to 3.5 cups worth — with the push of a button. From start to finish, the process takes about 10 minutes, and you can choose from different textures like mashes, purees and soft chunks as your baby grows. This baby food maker also includes three reusable food pouches and filling funnels to help you portion out your food with no mess.
Functionality: Steams, blends
Weight: 9 pounds
Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 8 inches
“I bought the Baby Brezza Food Maker. …Steams and blends automatically.”
Best Blender That Doubles as a Baby Food Maker
Ninja BL610 Professional Countertop Blender
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Sure, this Ninja blender isn’t technically a baby food maker. But plenty of What to Expect community parents swear by it for churning out quality baby food at just the right texture. Plus, you can continue to use it once your baby is older, since it’s not designed specifically for baby food. The Ninja BL610 has a sizable 72-ounce pitcher and impressive crushing technology that can whip through whole fruits and veggies in seconds. Want to make smoothies or frozen drinks for yourself? It can handle that seamlessly, too!
Functionality: Blends, crushes
Weight: 7.1 pounds
Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 17 inches
“I made my daughter's food. She's 3 now. I steamed it myself and threw it in my Ninja blender. I liked this system because it was more cost effective for me. I can use the Ninja for others things and keep it around longer. I plan on doing the same for this lo.”
Best Baby Food Maker for Snacks
Infantino Squeeze Station
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Baby food pouches are all the rage right now. One reason why? They’re ridiculously easy to feed to your child no matter where you are. This fun gadget allows you to prepare your very own pouches so you can score the perks of homemade food and convenient on-the-go packaging. Added perk: Bigger kids enjoy them, too. You could pack a smoothie for yourself in one, too! Just know that this machine doesn’t actually make baby food itself, but rather, packs it up well.
Weight: 1.6 ounces
Dimensions: 9.06 x 10.24 x 5.12 inches
Functionality: Packs baby food pouches
"I just used mine and I totally loved it! Super easy and quick. Plus cleanup was a breeze. Took all of 10 mins to put all my food into pouches. … I love mine and can't wait to make more baby food."
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