The 7 Best Baby Food Makers for Speedy Meals and Snacks

checked mark Fact-Checked by Erin Cavoto  | January 10, 2024
Best Baby Food Makers

Quick Summary

The best baby food maker is the Béaba Babycook, according to parents on the What to Expect staff and in the What to Expect community, because it has multiple functions, is easy to use, and is relatively compact.

When you’ve moved to solids, there are a few key items to have, including baby plates and bowls, a sturdy high chair, baby-safe spoons — the list goes on. One item that could make this transition easier for your child (and most of all, you) is a baby food maker. These devices provide steaming and pureeing capabilities to help introduce baby to solids like fruits, vegetables, beef, chicken and more. And, the best part is that you can use these gadgets for more than just making baby food: blend a smoothie or steam a veggie side dish after you’ve fed your little one.

As a mom of two who loved making homemade baby food, I leaned on my experience to find the best baby food makers on the market. I did most of my baby food making by hand, painstakingly peeling, steaming and pureeing fruits and vegetables and freezing mush mixtures in ice cube trays to make baby-sized servings that could easily be reheated at mealtime. Because of this, I know what types of features would be most useful in a baby food maker: essentially, one that makes your life easier and is worth the investment.

How we chose the best baby food makers

When selecting the best baby food makers, I used my personal experience as a mom of two who made homemade baby food to decide which devices are the most worthwhile based on their capabilities. However, because I didn’t invest in an all-in-one style baby food maker when my sons were babies, I also sought the advice of several What to Expect staff members who have tested many of the top-recommended baby food makers. I also relied on the experiences shared by numerous parents in our What to Expect community, to make sure that the devices I selected are well-received by parents making baby food.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Overall Baby Food Maker

Béaba Babycook

Best Baby Food Makers - Beaba Babycook 4-in-1 Steam Cooker
Buying Options
Pros
  • Large capacity
  • Auto shut-off timer
  • Quiet blender
Cons
  • Pricey

Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 9.4 inches

Capacity: 4.5 cups

Functionality: Steams, blends, defrosts, reheats

Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

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 easily make large batches to have for the week or even month. It also comes with several helpful extras like a mixing lid, spatula, steam basket and recipe booklet.

“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," says Robin Hilmantel, Senior Director of Editorial Strategy & Growth on the What to Expect team, who used the Babycook to make food for her children. 

Despite all the functions, it's fairly compact, measuring around 9 inches across and 9 inches high, so you can likely leave it on your counter (the super-sleek, aesthetically-pleasing design doesn’t hurt, either!). Parents also appreciate that the steam basket and cooking container are dishwasher-safe. And because the lid locks securely in place, you only need one hand to operate it — a definite perk if you're holding a baby.

Community Reviews
  • "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.

  • “This one is amazing. On the pricier side, but put it on my registry. My son is 3 and we still use it for quick smoothies and steamed veggies.”

  • “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. Then I store in Beaba freezer safe containers.”

Best Affordable Baby Food Maker

NutriBullet Baby

Best Baby Food Makers - Nutribullet Baby
Buying Options
Pros
  • Easy to clean
  • Includes storage and freezer containers
  • Two blend cup sizes
Cons
  • No steam function

Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.2 x 11 inches

Capacity: 32-ounce batch bowl

Functionality: Blends, purees

Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

From the popular brand that offers adult-sized blenders comes a smaller, 32-ounce version meant for baby food that’s incredibly convenient, affordable and easy to use. In addition to providing both blend and puree functions, the NutriBullet Baby comes with a lidded freezer tray for storing leftovers, as well as six refrigerator storage cups. What’s more is that the fridge storage cups have dials on them that tell you how long they’ve been stored, so you use them before they expire. And, the two blend cups allow you to make small or large portions for further customization. 

Keep in mind, however, that this device can’t steam, so you’ll have to do that first.

Community Reviews
  • "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!"

  • “I have the babynutribullet. that one is very somewhat quiet. i love it bc you can purée at any consistency. i usually do them when my baby is present so she can see / hear new things i tell her okay the blender is gonna go off rn. and she does good no crying / whining.”

Best Portable Baby Food Maker

OXO Tot Food Masher

Best Baby Food Maker - OXO Tot Food Masher
Buying Options
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Microwave-safe
  • No-slip base
  • Everything stores inside the bowl
Cons
  • Manual mashing required

Dimensions: 4.9 inches from bowl base to top of masher handle

Capacity: 4.6 ounces

Functionality: Manual blending

Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Why We Love It

A portable masher, in my experience, is a must when traveling with babies. Specifically, this OXO Tot food masher. The non-slip base ensures it won’t move around as you use the handheld masher to press and separate steamed veggies, fruits, cooked meats and more. And the bowl — which you can give right to your baby — has ridges on both the interior and on the masher to make smashing food quick and efficient. When you’re done, simply toss everything in the dishwasher.

As my boys grew, I used the bowl to lightly mash up entire meals we were eating as a family — think roast chicken with carrots and potatoes — instead of cutting or dicing things up, to make life easier. It will likely stay in heavy rotation in your kitchen through early toddlerhood, which makes it a versatile item. And, because it’s microwave-safe, you can use it to heat up leftovers, which isn’t the case for most other baby food makers.

Of course, because this is a manual masher, you’ll have to do everything by hand. But it’s a great, cost-effective option that’s easy to figure out and can be taken on-the-go.

Best Baby Food Steamer

Nutribullet Baby Turbo Steamer

Best Baby Food Maker - Nutribullet Turbo Steamer
Pros
  • Compact
  • Easy to clean
  • Includes egg cooking tray
Cons
  • Instructions can be confusing
  • No blending capabilities

Dimensions: 6.88 x 10.03 x 6.88 inches

Capacity: Two 4-ounce defrosting trays

Functionality: Steam, defrost, sterilize

Dishwasher-safe: No

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

If you already have a blender or food processor, the Nutribullet Baby Turbo Steamer is a smart addition: It steams, defrosts and even sterilizes. With five steam settings and a nifty built-in timer, you can transform fresh, whole fruits and veggies into baby-ready food to toss in a blender or hand mashed. You can also use it to defrost frozen baby meals for easy and thorough reheating.

“It doesn't take too much space, and it's easy to clean,” says Tika Fender, What to Expect Senior Art Director, and mom of an 8-month-old. “I like that it's not too pricey, and I use my own blender if I wanna do purees.” 

In addition to its handy baby food-making abilities, this powerhouse also doubles as a sterilizer for bottle nipples, pacifiers, toys and utensils (although some reviewers note it may not fit larger bottles). Bonus: The included egg cooking tray can quickly make up to six hard-boiled eggs for added versatility — you’ll probably use this gadget for more than just baby food! Although it’s not dishwasher safe, everything included comes clean easily with warm, soapy water and there are few parts to wash.

Community Reviews
  • “I use the nutribullet baby and the nutribullet turbo steamer. I got both as gifts from my baby shower and I love them.”

Best Handheld Blender Baby Food Maker

Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender

Best Baby Food Maker - Cuisinart Hand Blender
Pros
  • Mixing cup attachment included
  • Quieter than typical blenders
Cons
  • Some find it to be heavy

Dimensions: 2.25 x 2.25 x 15.5 inches

Capacity: 3-cup chopper cup, 2-cup mixing cup

Functionality: Blend, puree, chop, grind

Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Though not specifically designed for baby food making, the Cuisinart Smart Stick is a favorite handheld blender option for parents who make homemade purees. The powerful 300-watt design seamlessly transitions from low to high speed, so it’s great for managing exactly how smooth you make your baby’s food — because we all know every baby has their own preference, and it can always change! 

This hand blender has a comfort-grip handle and convenient push-button for continuous action, making it easy to use. The stainless steel blending shaft is perfect for pureeing, emulsifying or whipping to achieve that perfect consistency for your little one's meals. Parents in our What to Expect community love the convenience of the included BPA-free mixing cups that attach to the bottom of the blender stick. Though it’s a bit pricier than some handheld blenders on the market, you’ll likely use it for way more than just making baby food, so you can factor that into the cost as well.

Community Reviews
  • I love the immersion blender for baby food! So convenient and effective!” 

  • “We have this immersion blender from Cuisinart. It came with different attachments so I can use it with the container shown or in a pot the stick attachment. I have made some purées since we are just starting out.”

  • Honestly, my favorite appliance for making baby purées and smoothies is my immersion blender. Super inexpensive, easy to use and clean.”

Best Snack Pouch Baby Food Maker

Infantino Squeeze Station

Best Baby Food Maker - Infantino Squeeze Station Baby Food Maker
Buying Options
Pros
  • Helps avoid mess
  • Easy to use
  • Great for packing on-the-go snacks
Cons
  • Need to make baby food separately

Dimensions: 9.06 x 10.24 x 5.12 inches

Capacity: 4 ounces per pouch

Functionality: Packs baby food pouches

Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Baby food pouches are quite popular, as they are ridiculously easy to feed to your child no matter your location. This Infantino Squeeze Station allows you to prepare your very own snack pouches so you can get homemade food in convenient on-the-go packaging. Added perk: Bigger kids enjoy them, too, so you’ll get plenty of use out of this gadget. You could pack a smoothie for yourself in one, too, for your own on-the-go treat. 

“I bought this to make pouches for daycare and love it,” says Tika. “I needed an option to send [my son] with homemade purees instead of always buying premade stuff. And, they had to be disposable because they will absolutely get lost at daycare.”

Just know that this machine doesn’t actually make baby food itself, but rather, packs it up well. The system comes with 10 disposable pouches, but you can purchase more or buy reusable pouches that parents say work well with this device.

Community Reviews
  • "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."

  • “I had the infantino squeeze station - hands down the best - can’t imagine how much money I saved on puréed store bought food jars and pouches now with baby number two and using it again”

  • “Infantino squeeze station- I loveeee this thing! My family is lucky enough to to receive WIC so instead of spending a lot of the pre made pouches I can use the jars…or even make my own recipes for my little. I use this thing DAILY!!”

Best Compact Baby Food Maker

EVLA’s Baby Food Maker

Best Baby Food Maker - EVLA Baby Food Maker
Buying Options
Pros
  • All-in-one design
  • Self-cleaning
Cons
  • Touchscreen sometimes gives errors

Dimensions: 23 x 13 x 24 inches

Capacity: 10 ounces

Functionality: Steam, blend, puree

Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Looking for a do-it-all baby food maker that won’t take up too much precious counter space? Parents in the What to Expect community absolutely rave about the EVLA’s Baby Food Maker. It’s a multifunctional gadget that can steam and blend food to create a super smooth texture, effortlessly preparing meals in just three simple steps — and all within one compact device. Parents rave about being able to have a device that can steam, blend and puree without taking up a big portion of their countertop. Some also say it’s small enough to easily store in your cabinets between uses.

Its intuitive touch screen is customizable, with options for temperature, blend speed and cook time, plus a self-cleaning function for incredibly easy clean-up. Parents also love that the handle on the blender bowl makes it easy to pour and portion purees. It’s made from high-quality, BPA-free materials, and comes with six reusable food pouches for added versatility.

Some parents note that it’s on the loud side when blending, and, like the Béaba Babycook, it’s a pricey option.

Community Reviews
  • “Hey ladies - just thought I’d share this little gadget I found on Amazon - it’s AMAZING! It cooks all the food perfect, purées it in the same dish and is sooooo easy to clean! I make big batches each week and in between to little things frequently because it is so easy and convenient. Also, our house burnt down the month before little man was born and were currently living in a fifth wheel - it’s small enough to be a part of our tiny kitchen. Evla’s brand baby food maker - not crazy expensive and probably the best investment I’ve made lol”

  • I love my Evla’s Baby Food Maker — it steams and purées food plus it will sterilize too. It’s pretty small and just makes preparing her food so much easier.”

What to look for in a baby food makers

Based on the feedback I gathered from parents on the What to Expect staff and in the What to Expect community, as well as my own experience as someone who made baby food, here are a few qualities to keep in mind when shopping for a baby food maker:

Functionality: There are tons of different types of baby food makers on the market, and the best one depends on your personal preferences. Some baby food makers are designed with an all-in-one capabilities and can steam, blend and puree your ingredients, but they tend to cost more. Others that simply grind or blend food come in at a lower price point. There are also baby food makers that are configured to fill snack pouches for on-the-go convenience. Figuring out in advance which style of machine will work best for your family is important.

Ease of use: Some baby food makers have more capabilities, which means understanding various buttons and settings. If that’s too overwhelming, you may consider one with just one or two settings, or even a food maker that is entirely manual, like a masher. Another important factor to consider is whether the model is dishwasher-safe. The more parts a maker has, the more time you’ll need to spend on cleaning, so it’s important to think about what matters most to you when it comes to time spent cleaning.

Capacity: If you’re limited on counter and pantry space, a bulkier appliance probably isn’t for you. However, if you’re feeding multiple babies at a time, a bigger food maker will likely be worth the space it takes up. Consider your space availability and the machine’s capacity before you buy.

Versatility: Planning to travel with your baby or want to make fresh food on the go? A portable baby food maker that doesn’t require electricity is a great versatile option. You may want to also think about other ways to use your food maker, such as making smoothies for yourself. If that’s the case, buying one that can be used for other purposes outside of making baby food is a good idea, such as a handheld blender.

Cost: Baby food makers can range in price from $30 for a basic model to $175 (or more) for swankier options. Again, when my boys were babies, I wish more affordable options were available. Now, even the most inexpensive baby food maker on the market can be worth having for the sake of convenience.

FAQs

Although baby food makers aren’t a must-have for every family, many caregivers swear by them. Store-bought baby food doesn’t come cheap, especially if you opt for organic and pasture-raised ingredients that cost more to produce. Making your own baby food can save money over time, and the process gives you control over the ingredients and portions.

First, you should figure out your budget. Knowing how much you want to spend can help you narrow down the options before diving into other aspects of the machines, like functionality and capacity. It can also help to decide where you’ll keep your baby food maker so that you can figure out what size will work best for you.