Best baby food steamer
6 Best Baby Food Makers of 2023
When you’re creating your baby registry, thinking about starting your little one on solid food may sound like a long way off. But, as is the case with so many things when it comes to babies (except for those middle-of-the-night feeds, of course), time flies, and before you know it you’ll be thinking of what’s on the menu for baby’s first meal.
Baby food makers are a great solution for making the process of cooking homemade food for your little one fast, simple and even fun. Here’s what you’ll want to know when you’re considering which baby food maker is right for you. Let’s get cooking!
In this article:
- Babylist’s Best Baby Food Maker Picks
- Do You Need a Baby Food Maker?
- Baby Food Storage Ideas
Do You Need a Baby Food Maker?
Figuring out whether or not you need a baby food maker is going to depend on your lifestyle, culinary comfort level and what existing kitchen gadgets you already own.
Skipping the jars and pouches and making your own baby food will definitely save you money and reduce environmental waste. Your role as head chef puts you in charge of ingredients and quality, and gives you free rein to get creative and experiment with fun food combos as much as you’d like.
If you’re not super comfortable in the kitchen, don’t mind sacrificing some counter space and are looking for a foolproof way to dive into making your little one’s food, then a baby food maker is a wise purchase. No matter what type of gadget you go with, the process is pretty much the same: prep the ingredients, steam, puree or chop, and eat. (Your baby will add a few more messy steps in there…so be ready with the wipes). Check out our baby food-making how-to video for step-by-step instructions.
If you’d rather skip the baby food maker altogether, it’s definitely possible to take the DIY route, as long as you have a few key kitchen items on hand. Things like a large pot, a steam basket, some type of blender (a food processor, immersion blender or standard blender will all do the trick) and even your microwave are all key when it comes to making your own baby food.
Baby Food Storage Tips
Whether you’re using the kitchen gadgets you have on hand or letting your baby food maker do the work, you’ll need somewhere to store all of that delicious food so your efforts don’t go to waste. If you’re cooking up single foods (think carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.), we recommend making a few large batches in bulk and then freezing each food in trays like the ones below. After the food freezes, simply pop out the individual cubes and store them in large freezer bags so you can defrost—and mix and match—as needed.
- OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Tray
- Mumu & Bubi Solids Starter Kit
- BabyBliss Eco Friendly Silicone Baby Food Freezer Storage Tray
For multi-ingredient, more complicated recipes, or for storing food on the go, these storage solutions get the job done:
- Sage Spoonfuls Glass Snack Pack
- OXO Tot Baby Blocks Storage Containers
How We Chose Our Best Baby Food Makers
We asked thousands of real Babylist families about the baby products they love the most, then took the top products they shared with us and added our own research and insight to tell you about the best baby food makers.
Top Chef
What Our Experts Say
The ninja of baby food makers, the Beaba is a 4-in-1 wonder that steams, blends, defrosts and reheats fruits, veggies, fish and meat in just 15 minutes. The one-handed operation means you can hold your baby, sing Itsy Bitsy Spider and make a homemade meal all at once. Its compact design won’t hog counter space and it’s truly easy to clean, even after stubborn foods like spinach or beets. We also love that the stainless steel water reservoir holds onto the condensed water, which you can pour in while pureeing to get important nutrients back into the food.
What’s Worth Considering
Looking for more? Beaba’s NEO model has a glass bowl instead of a plastic one and a larger bowl capacity (5.2 cups for the NEO versus 4.7 for the Solo) as well as a stainless-steel steam basket. For even more capacity, check out the Duo. It features two separate bowls for a total of a 9.4 cup capacity, making it a good choice for multiples or if you want to make food in larger batches.
What Babylist Parents Say
“It makes homemade baby food simple! I would probably buy store-bought if I didn’t have this. I love it even more than I thought I would.” -Anna
All the Accessories
What Our Experts Say
The NutriBullet is easy, convenient and comes with all awesome accessories to take your culinary game to the next level. There’s a small blender, portioned batch cups for grab-and-go convenience and storage options for the fridge and the freezer. Also included is a baby food recipe guide for some inspiration.
What’s Worth Considering
The NutriBullet is a blender only; there’s no steam, defrost or reheating options here. If you do want to steam, check out the brand’s Turbo Steamer sold separately.
What Babylist Parents Say
“It was nice to have. Especially with all the extras it comes with.” -Adela
Simple and Affordable
What Our Experts Say
Low-tech isn’t always a bad thing.
If you’re simply looking to mash up soft foods for your baby—and you aren’t looking to spend a ton—this food masher from OXO Tot is a great option. Both the masher and the bowl have ridges to make the mashing easier, and there are even teeth on the masher that fit inside the teeth on the bowl so you can get to every last bit of food. Everything comes apart and fits inside the lidded bowl for storage and easy transport.
What’s Worth Considering
There’s nothing fancy going on here…but that’s sort of the point. And while you can just use your own small bowl and a fork for mashing, this gadget truly does make the process faster and easier. OXO also makes a baby food mill if you’re looking for another affordable tool for starting solids.
What Babylist Parents Say
“It’s a must have when introducing solids to your baby, especially when they can eat chunkier consistency! We use it every day and it can mush everything that is soft naturally (bananas, avocados, berries) or is cooked to be fairly soft.
” -Angela
All-in-One Glass
What Our Experts Say
While many baby food makers use plastic bowls, this all-in-one steamer and blender uses sturdy glass. From fruit to veggies and meats to fish, this one-stop baby food maker makes four cups of baby food in about 10 minutes with the simple press of a button. You can also choose between steam, blend and steam or just blend, and the blade and bowl are both dishwasher safe.
What’s Worth Considering
If you don’t want to spend quite as much, Baby Brezza’s One Step Food Maker Deluxe will save you about sixty bucks and does pretty much the same thing. The prep bowl on this model is plastic, however.
What Babylist Parents Say
“This baby food maker is amazing! I can make my baby food in 15 min. I’m glad I bought it. The most important of this product it’s the glass, it’s better than plastic.” -Towatei
Affordable Two-in-One
What Our Experts Say
The Sage Baby Puree and Blend is an easy, affordable way to puree.
This combo includes an immersion blender (consider it your baby food magic wand) and a food processor attachment. You can pair it with storage containers (the brand makes a host of different sets, sold separately) and you’re ready to go.
What’s Worth Considering
You’ll be surprised by how handy an immersion blender is for making grown-up foods like salsa, hummus, pesto and even soups. This is a great buy that’ll last well beyond the baby food phase.
What Babylist Parents Say
“1.) Immersion blender is sturdy 2.) Jars are glass and not plastic 3.) Has different size jars for different sizes of food storage. 4.) Customer service is great!” -Aurea
The Command Center
What Our Experts Say
One machine with LOTS of uses, the large-capacity Duo 5-in-1 cooks, blends, warms and defrosts food, and can also be used as a bottle warmer and a sterilizer. What really sets it apart, though, is the ability to steam two separate baskets of food for different cook times, which ensures all the flavors and nutrition are just right.
The XL steaming bowl and blender cooks over six cups of fresh food (around 25 portions!) and warms up to three bottles at once, making it a great choice for families with multiples.
What’s Worth Considering
The Duo takes up more counter space than most other baby food makers, but still has a much smaller footprint than if you had a separate baby food maker, bottle warmer and sterilizer.
What Babylist Parents Say
“It’s everything in one. Easy to use, easy to clean, space-saving on countertop, no mess when making the food, versatile—you can use it for multiple things—and it’s something that will last well beyond the baby years. Love it!” -Claudia
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The Best Baby Food Makers Make Life Easier
The best baby food makers make it simple to whip up homemade, high-quality food for your little one. Sometime between four and six months old, your baby will make the exciting—sometimes nerve wracking—transition from subsisting solely on breastmilk and/or formula to eating solid foods. Navigating baby food can be intimidating for the best of us: Should you make purées or do baby-led weaning? What should your baby’s very first food be? And do you really need a baby food maker?
While you can certainly get by without one, baby food makers make life a little easier—and for new parents, anything that makes life a little easier is worth its weight in gold. Many makers multitask, so you can also steam veggies for your toddler or make a smoothie for your own breakfast. Investing in a baby food maker means you know exactly what your baby is eating, you can save money over time, and you can get meals on the table (er, highchair, and possibly the floor) quickly and easily.
Here are the very best baby food makers.
- Best Overall: Beaba Babycook Solo
- Blender: Bamix Immersion Blender
- Puree Maker: Breville Mini Wizz
- Grinder: OXO Good Grips Food Mill
- Smoothies: Grownsy Baby Food Maker
- Steamer: Baby Brezza One Step Homemade Baby Food Maker Deluxe
- Masher: OXO Tot Food Masher
Beaba Babycook Solo
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7"D x 9"W x 9.5"H | 4 pounds | plastic
- Works as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster in one
- Easy to clean and store
- Fast - makes food in 15 minutes or less
- Auto shut-off cooking timer means there’s no need to watch over the machine
- Pricey
- Must descale with vinegar occasionally to get rid of mineral deposits (true for any steamer)
Why we chose it: This awesome appliance steams, blends, defrosts, and reheats fruits, veggies, fish, and meat, making it the ideal one-and-done baby food champion.
That means you can put in raw meat and come out with perfectly cooked and pureed food for your baby without getting any pots, pans or blenders dirty. Plus, it’s intuitive to use. “It's easy to use, virtually mold-proof, and cooks and reheats in under 15 minutes,” says Christen Costa, CEO of Gadget Review. “It also has built-in blending capabilities which make it a perfect all-in-one baby food maker.” Its compact design is great for small spaces, and it’s truly easy to clean. Bonus: its ergonomic one-handed design means you can hold your baby in one hand and prep organic baby food with the other, like the super parent you are.
Blender
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4.8 x 2.8 x 14.4 inches | 2.6 pounds | Metal
- Highly durable, with two-year warranty
- The AC motor keeps a constant, precise speed under heavy loads
- Relatively small and easy to store
- Stainless steel blades can blend almost anything with ease
- Only one function - no steaming, etc.
- Expensive
Why we chose it: “A baby food maker can be a good choice for preparing baby food, but it has limited use,” says Colleen Colodany, CEO of kidswiki.co.uk, a website that reviews kids’ products.
“Instead of buying a baby food maker, an immersion blender would do the job just as well. It has diverse use in the kitchen and does multiple things.” She recommends the Bamix Immersion Blender for its small size, ease of use, and durability. Plus when the baby has moved onto eating like a toddler (hi mac and cheese!), you’ll have a well-made kitchen tool on hand.
This blender will become a favorite in your kitchen, for making baby food and beyond. It’s built by hand in Switzerland, and Bamix has been making excellent appliances since 1954. Found in the kitchens of professional chefs, it has three interchangeable blades and offers both power and precision, making quick work of puréeing baby food. You can purée soups, turn frozen fruit into sorbet, and whip milk into cream after your baby has enjoyed their pear purée, and when you’re all finished, it’s easy to clean thoroughly with water.
Puree Maker: Breville Mini WizzPuree Maker
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18.
5 x 14 x 22.5 cm | 250 watts | 1.5 kg | stainless steel
- One-year replacement warranty
- Useful for baby food and beyond
- Attractive design, easy to clean and store
- Only one function - no steaming, etc.
- Too small to make big batches
Why we chose it: Whether you’re turning basil and garlic into silky pesto or steamed sweet potatoes into baby food, Breville's Mini Wizz will easily and efficiently do the trick.
With its compact frame, it’s friendly to kitchens where space is in short supply. It’s also refreshingly easy to use, with ergonomic design and simple controls. The lid has two small holes in the indents on top so that you can easily add liquid ingredients as you prepare food for your family.
This little food processor is well designed, easy to clean, and a great size when you only need to feed a very little human.
Grinder
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14.75 x 7.25 x 10.25 inches | 2.29 pounds
- Can wash all parts in the dishwasher
- Silicone coating for comfortable grip
- Can make applesauce, marinara, and more for the whole family
- Only a grinder - will have to cook food separately
Why we chose it: Low tech can be a positive thing. The OXO Good Grips Food Mill is a smart choice if you’re ok with a manual option for processing food into smooth purées.
It includes three grinding discs for fine, medium, and coarse textures, and the stainless steel inner bowl won’t stain even when you’re dealing with messy foods like beets or carrots. It’s easy to exchange discs and disassemble, and its legs fold for easy storage.
Smoothies: Grownsy Baby Food MakerSmoothies
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0.5"D x 2"W x 2"H | 4.11 pounds
- See-through design means you can watch food being made
- Warming function means you can put a bottle in the water tank to warm the milk
- Large container can accommodate a week’s worth of baby food
- Multi-function and easy to use
- Takes up a relatively large amount of counter space
Why we chose it: This steamer, grinder, and blender is incredibly multi-functional—the Grownsy Baby Food Maker monitors and maintains food temperature as well.
It’s also incredibly easy to use for sleep deprived parents: you can control the speed of its four precision blades with a handy LCD touch screen panel. It can also heat milk, keep things warm, and even self-sterilize. It’s great for smoothies as the special blade design makes it easy to turn fresh and frozen fruits into a silky-smooth consistency. Pour a satisfying smoothie for your baby, and make one for yourself while you’re at it.
Steamer: Baby Brezza One Step Homemade Baby Food Maker DeluxeSteamer
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- Easy to use and clean
- Comes with three reusable food pouches and filling funnels
- Takes about 10 minutes to make 3.5 cups of baby food - fast!
- Relatively expensive
Why we chose it: This all-in-one baby food maker has plenty of useful features.
Its one-button option for steaming and blending lets you add water and food and come out with freshly steamed and puréed fruits and veggies in about 10 minutes. If you only want to steam or blend, you can do that, too. It’s an especially great steamer as its steam tank is fully accessible for easy cleaning, and it’s fast, reliable, and easy to use. It’s also great for non-baby foods: you can use it to steam pasta and vegetables, make hard boiled eggs or even soup.
Masher: OXO Tot Food MasherMasher
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4.5" L x 7.1" W x 8.1" H | .42 pounds
- Super affordable
- Lifetime manufacturer's warranty
- Compact and easy to store
- Only one very specific use
Why we chose it: For those who aren’t into fancy baby food makers, this product is genius in its simplicity.
Turn tender foods like avocado, bananas, and berries into mushy goodness perfect for babies eating (and smearing everywhere, as babies love to do). Steep sides prevent food from slipping out of the bowl while you’re using it, and teeth help scoop food out when it’s ready for serving so you won’t waste food. The already compact masher collapses into two parts for easy portability, and a 360 lid can be snapped shut in multiple positions, making it easy to handle.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Baby Food MakerCapabilitiesSome baby food makers will steam, blend and purée, while others simply grind or blend your food. Decide which functions are important to you, and how much you want to invest, as the makers with more capabilities tend to have a higher price tag.
Your kitchen is probably already taken over by baby bottles, just as your home is taken over by baby stuff. Decide how much counter space you’d like to devote to making baby food, keeping in mind that it will be for a specific period of time.
“A baby food maker is definitely worth the investment if you want to be 100% certain of all of the ingredients in your little one's meals,” says Costa. Making your own food also means you can introduce your little ones to your family’s favorite dishes, instead of being limited to the store-bought foods on offer. Another bonus: prepping your own baby food lets you figure out the perfect portion for your baby in advance, and even freeze any leftovers.
What is the difference between a baby food maker and a food processor?Top-of-the-line baby food makers often include a steamer and a blender or food processor in a single appliance. In contrast, a regular food processor can make purée, but you’ll need to cook or steam the food separately. You can absolutely use a food processor to prepare baby food.
What are the healthiest baby foods?Just like for adults, there’s no single healthiest food for babies.
A healthy strategy is to intoduce your baby to a variety of flavors and foods. Many experts recommend starting with single foods or ingredients, like puréed squash, applesauce, mashed bananas, avocado, puréed peaches, puréed meats, and iron-enriched baby cereal like oatmeal. Your baby might start with puréed or semi-liquid foods, then graduate to strained food, and then start experimenting with finger foods. You can gradually introduce new ingredients and foods to your baby as they become more and more comfortable eating. Always consult your pediatrician before beginning solids.
Plastic is a durable, highly safe option if your product is free from BPA and phthalates.
Final thoughtsDepending on your budget and needs, the best baby food maker will take a lot of stress out of feeding your little one. Whether you want a 4-in-1 ninja that does it all or simply an immersion blender that can double as a tool to whip up creamy soups for the whole family, we have you covered.
As a food writer and the mother of a toddler and a baby, I’ve spent a lot of time feeding babies and thinking about the best way to make this sometimes thankless task quick and easy.
I surveyed fellow parents, friends, and family to see what baby food makers they swore by, then reached out to reputable sources to get their wisdom. I also read reviews from across the web and scoured Amazon reviews, too. Since babies only need specific food for a short window of time, value was an extremely important factor in putting together this list. Since parenting a baby is an exhausting endeavor, I nixed anything too complicated. The best baby food makers bring some ease into the day; there’s no room for anything that adds frustration in a parent’s life, period.
Every product is independently selected and vetted by editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
Rating of the best steamers-blenders in 2022-2023: TOP-10
The modern household appliances market offers many useful devices that can make life easier for the hostess.
The steamer blender is one of them. It is used to steam food and grind it in seconds. Two processes happen in one container.
Buyers are presented with two types of devices - stationary and manual. They differ not only externally, but also functionally, so the first step is to decide on the choice of the type of blender-steamer. Stationary is suitable for frequent preparations of mashed potatoes, sauces, cocktails. It works automatically, but it takes up a lot of space, as it is large. The hand blender steamer can be used for chopping and blending vegetables. It is compact, but you need to hold it in your hands all the time. nine0003
When choosing a blender parking lot, it is also worth paying attention to other characteristics:
| place | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 9000 / quality for 2022-2023 | ||
| 1 | Kitfort KT-2305 | Get price |
| 2 | Philips CF07 | Philips0030 |
| 3 | Beaba Babycook Duo Grey | Find out the price of |
| TOP-3 Best Blandar for the preparation of children's power | ||
| 1 | 0 KITRAT KITRAT KITRAT KITRT-21 Beaba Babycook Solo litchee0134 Kitfort KT-2305 The Kitfort KT-2305 blender-steamer has a mechanical control and a power of 400 watts. Thanks to the basket, steam circulates in the bowl during cooking and evenly heats all foods. At the end of cooking, the device automatically turns off, so you can be sure that the food is not overcooked. nine0003 We recommend visiting the rating: TOP 15 best stationary blenders in 2022-2023. convenient operation; thorough grinding of food; compact dimensions. there is an unpleasant smell of plastic. Philips AVENT SCF870 The blender has an overheat protection function. Using a simple control panel, the user will quickly find and turn on the desired mode. The device comes with a recipe book that contains dishes suitable for each of the three main stages of the introduction of complementary foods. fast cooking speed; automatic switch-off at the end of cooking; simple operation. not found. Beaba Babycook Duo gray Device power - 800 W. The blender-steamer is made of durable plastic; you can defrost already cooked food in special glass jars or heat-resistant containers. Using the device is extremely simple and easy. stylish design; quick cook; easy operation; two bowls. not found. TOP 3 best steamer-blenders for cooking baby foodKitfort KT-2309 compact model; easy to use; is made of high quality plastic. not found. Happy Baby Fusion The power of the device is 300 W, it consumes little electricity and this is another advantage of the model. The bowl is made of high quality plastic, which is odorless and easy to clean. The blender-steamer has protection against overheating, which makes operation safe. nine0003 We recommend visiting the rating: TOP 15 best immersion blenders in 2022-2023. quick preparation of healthy meals; compact dimensions; easy handling. there is no audible warning about the end of the water in the heater. Beaba Babycook Solo litchee The Steam Blender also makes it easy to defrost food in small batches. Thanks to its compact dimensions and attractive design, the device will fit perfectly into any kitchen. There is a recipe book included. convenient operation; compact; you can cook porridge. spout sprays while cooking; The bowl darkens after several uses. TOP 2 best steamer blenders with large bowlPhilips AVENT SCF883 The steam blender has an open design so that the jar and blade can be washed in the dishwasher. The steam blender is operated mechanically. The bowl and body are made of high-quality plastic, which does not have an unpleasant odor. The indisputable advantage of this model is its compactness, it does not take up much space in the kitchen. compact; allows you to prepare a tasty and healthy meal; defrosts and reheats food. difficult to clean. AGU Octopy Touch control makes operation convenient. The steamer blender keeps food warm for up to 8 hours. The device has a self-cleaning mode and descaling in the water tank. The blender is quiet. If the water level reaches the minimum, the device will automatically turn off. The device has a visual and audible indication. multifunctional; sterilization of baby bottles; self-cleaning mode; easy to use. nine0003 not found. TOP 2 best budget steamers-blendersOursson BL1050HT The device combines the function of a steamer and a blender, with which you can prepare healthy and tasty meals for the first feeding. During steam cooking, all useful elements are preserved. The device has an attractive design and is presented in different colors. nine0003 reasonable price; stylish design; compact dimensions. does not grind food uniformly; no automatic shutdown. Philips AVENT SCF862 The water tank has a large opening that makes it easy to clean and wash the device. The jug keeps all the food inside and prevents them from falling into the water due to the lid with a lock. The model has an auto-off function. Due to the low power rating - 330 W, the device consumes a minimum of electricity. We recommend visiting the rating: TOP 12 best smoothie blenders 2022-2023. easy to clean; high build quality; ease of use. not found. Which company to choose?There are not so many companies involved in the production of steam blenders. Among those presented on the market there are both world-famous and budget devices from little-known brands. Reliable and durable performance is guaranteed by companies such as:
Also read: How to use the blender - care tips. Which steamer blender should I choose?Steamer blenders are mainly bought for preparing baby foods. That is why buyers pay attention to the speed of cooking and ease of use. Our editors have studied more reviews and deservedly chose the following models of steamers-blenders:
Useful videoFrom the video you will get an overview of the best blender steamers: 0001Philips AVENT SCF870pros
Quote from reviews Great product for parents with kids! | |
The device is easy to operate, has small dimensions - width - 24 cm, height - 24.5 cm, depth - 16 cm. The case is made of durable plastic, resistant to mechanical stress. The bowl is made of the same high quality material. It is easy to wash, it will not break, it does not have an unpleasant smell. 
After cooking with steam, the container can be turned over and the food is thoroughly chopped. nine0003 
nine0003 
The blender grinds food to a comfortable consistency for the baby. The control of the device is mechanical, but simple and clear. Just press one switch to change functions. 
nine0003 
nine0003 
A feature of the device is its compact size, so you can install it even in a small kitchen. Power consumption - 500 W. 
The bowl is made of high quality plastic. nine0003 
nine0003 
Better than cooking and grinding separately. The bowl is removable and easy to wash. I advise you to purchase. nine0343 
It's such a beauty. I have already used all the functions of this device. And most of all I am amazed by the quality and consistency of the puree at the exit! Very airy and soft! Much better than canned. Easy to wash, easy to use. Doesn't smell like plastic! nine0343 
