Cooking and Processing Are Combined into One
The original baby food manufacturers were glorified food processors who changed their names and marketing and made them with some cute colors to attract new parents. With these old systems, you had to cook fruits and vegetables separately in a steamer and then puree them in a processor. This method gets the job done, but it’s definitely time-consuming. More dirty dishes, more hands-on kitchen work, and more time away from your baby.
All of the new systems we recommend are all-in-one steamers and processors that go far beyond the capabilities of a classic blender or a modern masher or other baby food grinder. Add fruits and/or vegetables, add some fresh water, and at the touch of a button, the system will steam for you. Isn’t it there after the steamer ends? Don’t worry, just come back later to make the puree, and by the way, it’s just a matter of pressing the button again. With the press of a button, you’ll be ready for a freshly steamed, smooth mud masterpiece for your little Munchkin man. Some newer models even have a one-touch function, such as the Baby Brezza: press the “Steam + Mix” button and in 10 minutes the food is ready to go!
Maybe dinner is a healthy vegetable puree and dessert is a fruit mixture? You’re now a chef and no longer worry about what Crown options are on the shelves, or about harmful additives! Need to save time and enjoy high-quality pureed food with ease? Check out our list of top organic baby purees.
Easy to Use
This is what differentiates baby food manufacturers from good and bad. The fewer steps the better, and the more logical the better. Some systems do this well, while others go wrong. If a rocket scientist is needed to help you figure out and understand the user manual, it’s a poorly designed product. All of the systems we recommend are highly rated for their ease of use.
Reliability
Just like the average food processor and steamer system, there have been reports of smoking motors, melting plastic, blades quickly dulling, clips breaking, and various other defects. Some systems have more problems in this regard, while others are always reliable and offer reliable guarantees. All of the systems we recommend have a history of high reliability and customer satisfaction. We want to be clear that if you don’t do the following three things, every baby food machine with a steam function will experience scaling, discoloration, hard water stains, and even stickiness.
First, always use distilled water. It’s easy to be lazy here, but after a few months, you’ll regret using tap or bottled water when your system’s tank and heating elements become very disgusting.
Second, regularly clean the water reservoir with white vinegar and a sponge or baby bottle brush.
Thirdly, after every 5-10 uses or so, fill the tank with white vinegar and allow the system to complete the entire cycle. This will help prevent pesky sludge, mold, or mildew from accumulating inside the reservoir and the appliance of the heating element itself. Even the absolute best baby food steamers, like Beaba and Babymoov, receive bad reviews from parents on Amazon and other sites for not following the instructions to use distilled water and clean the equipment regularly.
Efficiency
If you’re planning to spend more than $100 on a good baby food machine, you’ll want a device that can make smooth purees quickly and efficiently. You don’t want to run it, check if your food is mixed well, and keep trying. Weak and slow motors, dull blades, and poorly designed blades can all lead to reduced efficiency and more trouble. You’ll need a fast steamer, a powerful motor, and sharp blades. You’ll also need a bowl that’s big enough to hold enough food to make a few servings. Avoid using appliances with a capacity of less than 3 cups, as you will find yourself spending too much time washing, peeling, steaming, and smoothly pureeing! All of our most recommended systems demonstrate high efficiency during the cooking and processing phases.
Safe
The plastic steaming baskets and bowls used by the original baby food manufacturers contained BPA and phthalates, which many scientists and doctors believed would leach into food. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health and developmental problems. A new system from major baby food manufacturers has removed these harmful chemicals to provide safer food for your little one. Even better, some use heavy-duty glass bowls, such as the Baby Brezza baby food maker, and use stainless steel instead of plastic parts. The safer your baby’s gear, the safer your baby will be.
Storage and Portability
So, what do you do with all the delicious food that’s being steamed and mashed? Never fill up those extra baby bottles, that will make a mess! Parents usually put food in small freezer containers (like these awesome containers from OXO) and then take them out as needed.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do this at home!? Well, the new Infantino Squeeze Station makes this possible. Simply steam and puree your food in one of our favorite food makers below, then use the squeeze station to pour the puree into those awesome squeeze bags. Not only is this a great portable baby food maker option, but your child can take care of the feeding and you won’t end up getting stuck with a dirty spoon or dirty container!
| #1. Beaba Babycook Solo |  |
| #2. Babymoov Duo | |
| #3. Evla’s Baby Food Maker |  |
| #4. Baby Brezza One Step Deluxe | |
| #5. QOOC Mini Food Maker |  |