Best baby food makers and blenders to buy in 2024: 8 options reviewed by a weaning mum

Is your baby ready to start weaning? Then the best baby food makers and blenders can make this journey a whole lot easier. 

Introducing your baby to solid foods can seem a bit daunting. What will they eat? What should you feed them? And how much should you give them? Yes, you might have only just got the hang of making formula, breastfeeding or bottling breastmilk. But if the time has come to wean your baby, don't fret. This is where the best baby food makers and blenders are here to save the day.

In addition to pureeing food, the best baby food makers and blenders might also be able to steam, blend, warm bottles, sterilise, reheat and defrost food. So they really are handy to have. 

To discover the best on the market in 2023, I tested out eight different gadgets that each have their appeal. Including an all-singing-and-dancing baby food gadget that will take up plenty of space in the kitchen to a nifty miniature budget blender that's ideal to travel with. I tested out all their different features and functions to help prepare healthy and home-cooked dishes for my baby daughter. 

There are baby food makers that focus solely on blending and steaming. But I also tried out a couple of non-baby-specific blenders, from the likes of Ninja and KitchenAid, for those who are looking for gadgets that will last last long beyond the weaning years. 

What might suit one parent might not necessarily suit another. But with such a broad range of baby food makers and blenders to choose from, there really is something to suit all lifestyle needs and budgets. 

If you're preparing to wean your little one, you might also find our guide to the best highchairs helpful to read. Or our guide to the best bottle warmers which can help those expecting plan and get ahead. 

Best baby food maker 2024 - our top three

Of the 8 gadgets I tested, the best baby food maker overall is the Babymoov Nutribaby(+) XL Baby Food Maker- it renders additional equipment obsolete since it does everything - steaming, blending, sterilising, defrosting, and reheating - efficiently and effectively but also in style; I love the navy blue and copper colourway.

If you're happy to spend a little more, the best 'premium' baby food maker is the Ninja 3 in 1 Food Processor, and for those wishing to spend as little as possible, the best 'budget' baby food maker is the Vital Baby Nourish Prep & Wean.

Best baby food makers 2024 - tried and tested

If you’re after a food maker for your whole family that will cover all kinds of kitchen scenarious and stand the test of time, you just can't go wrong with the Nutribaby(+) XL from Babymoov. 

On the left-hand side, you can steam food across three tiers, or just remove the plastic yet sturdy dividers to make one large jug. On this side, you can also sterilize baby bottles, dummies, and suitable teethers and toys, and also defrost or reheat food. 

To the right, and at the same time as you’re using the steaming side, you can blend using a 600ml capacity jug. (That's the max capacity for blending, though the jug can actually hold 700mls if you pop it in the fridge as storage). 

The control panel sits front and centre and looks great, but as the various buttons lack captions, I found that I needed to take some time getting to grips with what each button meant and did - not easy when you have a hungry baby waiting for their sweet potato”. Once I had tackled this, however, I was left with a machine capable of fulfilling every possible food-making need. 

The design is lovely, in a navy blue and copper colourway with a slight sheen to some parts. However, it's not a case of style over substance - all the practical details have been thought of too; the jug is printed with measurements, a light indicates when it's time to descale, and the hole for the steam to escape is outlined in red to remind you to turn it away from your face. 

All the pieces are strong and sturdy. From the range of functions it offers to its stylish design, this is undeniably one of the best baby food makers you can buy. Overall, it's a wise investment for anyone looking for a gadget to make food from babyhood right through to adulthood.

• Read our full Nutribaby(+) XL Baby Food Maker review

With such a bold name, I expected a lot from a brand called Ninja. Upon unboxing, I was hoping for a polished design, extra-sharp blades, and nothing unwieldy to deal with. And I was really happy with what I found. 

Along with a well-designed base unit - complete with user-friendly, annotated buttons and a digital display - you have the choice of three attachments. There is one large food processor bowl, with a very generous 8-litre capacity, along with two jugs (one is 2.1 litres and the other is 700mls). It’s the perfect collection for baby and child food prep and creation while also allowing you to make adult-suitable meals both today and in the future. 

Thanks to sturdy blades and a 1200W motor, I found it did the jobs it promises - blending, chopping, slicing, and kneading - effectively and without any faff. I didn't need to run the setting several times over to get the consistency I wanted either, which is a huge time and hassle saver. It’s also a comfortable size- not too small to render itself useless for all but the tiniest meal size, but not so large that it's an eyesore. 

I like the simple black and deep grey colourway, and the fact that it's so straightforward and efficient to use. There is no wrestling with tricky-to-seal lids (they come with grips, which makes life easier) or pressing a dozen buttons until something happens. In fact, it’s all so logical and intuitive that you could probably figure out how to use it without even opening the manual. 

• Read our full Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor review

With two-tier steaming, efficient blending, a sterilizing function, and even a pre-set programme for descaling, the Nourish Prep & Wean from Vitalbaby covers all the main baby food-making needs.

Although it can hold 900mls capacity, it doesn’t compromise on style - it isn’t clunky or sprawling, and it looks lovely. A rectangular shape, its dark grey colour is complemented by a vibrant blue water tank and matching digital display, which even flips out for easier reading. The icons on the front of the machine are just for decoration, but similar markings along the top light up to indicate which setting is in use. Clever.

Steaming is achieved by attaching an additional smaller jug to the top of the blending jug. Once in place, you remove the smaller attachment, pop on the easy-to-handle blending lid, and then simply start blending. Easy.

The water tank is located securely at the back, and neither the machine nor its parts felt delicate or easily breakable. As for sterilising, I could achieve this in just 8 minutes, making it a great alternative to a microwave steamer or separate machine. 

I found only a couple of downsides to using this machine - a rather loud beep to indicate readiness, and the fact the blending blades need to remain in the machine even if you're only steaming. However, I was willing to overlook both as the machine was otherwise perfect for my needs.'

• Read our full Vital Baby Nourish Prep & Wean review

The BabyBrezza would make a subtle, compact addition to any kitchen surface, even if you're a little short on space. With a ‘one step’ function, it can handle automatically blending food after steaming in just one step, namely turning the blades upside down. It can also just steam or just blend and can hold a generous 800g in total. 

I found the base well laid out, with easy-to-press buttons displayed in a logical order and a digital display to keep an eye on the progress of the machine - helpfully straightforward for tired parents. The black, white, and orange colourway offers a pop of colour without making the machine resemble a child’s toy. 

I like that the lightweight water compartment is removable, but think it's a shame there are no measurements printed on the side of the bowl. However, I appreciate that because everything happens in that one bowl I don’t have a huge pile of washing up to deal with once I’m done. Even better, the bowl and the blades are dishwasher safe, so I was able to tidy up really quickly and easily after using this machine - a real bonus, since no one wants to spend longer cleaning up than actually making baby food!

The bowl and water compartment both need handling with care. In particular, I found the way that the latter attaches to the machine a little bit delicate.

This baby food maker does what it promises, and does it well, though it is within the upper price bracket for a machine that can’t defrost, reheat or sterilise. 

However, if you don’t need these three additional functions - and don’t want to give up the extra surface space they need - this could well be the best baby food maker for you. 

• Read our full Baby Brezza Deluxe One Step Food Maker Review

At first glance, the Tommee Tippee Quick Cook Baby Food Maker looks like a smart piece of kit; it reminded me of a drip-coffee machine you’d expect to see in a classic American diner. And, unlike many of its competitors, it’s also available in a choice of two colours to best suit your kitchen decor; matte black or matte white.

It’s a step up from Tommee Tippee's entry-level mini blender, in terms of price, size, and capacity. However, it’s in this latter category that this baby food maker falls a little short. The main unit, which includes the water tank, is so large that the jug capacity for blending and steaming is very much on the small side. As such, it isn’t a machine that's up to the task of batch-cooking, or even cooking more than a couple of portions of food at once. 

On the plus side, it does steam as well as blend, and it does so inside one jug, reducing the amount of washing up I needed to do after use. The steaming jug, however, is very small, so keep this in mind if you're a fan of batch cooking.

It also has truly handy features that take away some of the common niggles of food preparation; there’s a memory function that saves me time programming every day, and it beeps to tell you when your mixture is ready - helpful if you're easily distracted, and who isn't, with a baby in the house?

It’s not a bargain, but nor is it extortionate. As such it would suit someone looking for something smart and subtle that needs just steam and blend functionality for cooking fresh mixtures and meals from scratch every day or so.

• Read our full Tommee Tippee Quick Cook Baby Food maker review 

The Philips Avent’s 4-in-1 name refers to its ability to steam, blend, defrost, and reheat. It’s a pretty comprehensive offering, and the machine itself is sturdy, with non-slip pads on the bottom and a straightforward method of switching between steam and blend. To do so, you simply detach the jug, flip it upside down and reattach it to the base again. This readies it for blending, which you do by holding down the central button for up to 30 seconds at a time. 

The jug, which handles all four functions, is dishwasher safe but there are no measurements on the side, which I found disappointing. The blending and steaming functions work fine, but the defrost method is especially tricky. To do this, you must fit your frozen mixture into a small, rigid disk - something that I couldn’t manage with anything I wanted to defrost. 

As for reheating, this has to be done in the machine itself; you cannot place a jar of food inside the jug, for example. 

The old-fashioned design also has to be mentioned - with white plastic and a green-tinged grey jug, it looks cheap and outdated. This is especially true when you consider some of the more modern baby food makers that you can buy in the same price bracket.

A short Healthy Weaning guide and a white plastic spatula are both included in the box, but it lacks a digital display and the ability to leave the machine to blend. All in all, a design refresh and a few small additional features are needed to bring this machine in line with its many competitors.

• Read our full Philips 4-In-1 Healthy Baby Food Maker Review

From a household name, this KitchenAid food processor holds its own alongside other baby food makers that focus on blending. It comes in various colours, including the rich cranberry red that I tested, and has simple but satisfying flip buttons on the front of the sturdy base for low and high speeds, plus pulsing. 

To switch between functions you switch out the various blades that are included. There are five, and between them, they can blend, slice, grate, knead, and even crush ice. While it wasn’t the quietest food maker I tested, it was far from the loudest, and there was no low rumble to be heard (though there was something of a squealing sound instead). 

It’s a sturdy piece of kit at just shy of 4.5kgs, with a steady base, buttons that illuminate when in use, durable blades, and crucially a jug that didn't break when I dropped it. Handy extras include a lid to store the jug in the fridge, and you can fit all the blades and attachments inside the jug to make storage easier (and cleaner). 

Despite its weight, it is narrow and tall and would be an asset to any kitchen worktop as opposed to an eyesore. There are measurements on the side of the generous jug, which as suggested by the name has a 2.1litre capacity. As such, it is especially well-suited to larger portions, batch-cooking, and multi-children homes. It’s an excellent choice for parents looking for a blender that can be used regularly outside of - and after- the weaning journey.

With a simple white, black and grey colourway and miniature size, Tommee Tippee's tiny blender will suit mums and dads looking to try their hand at homemade mixtures and purees.

It’s easy to use, given that there are just three settings and a manual knob. There is no digital display, meaning I wasn’t able to figure out exactly how long I was blending, and it takes some effort to get absolutely smooth textures. Of course, this is dependent on what you’re blending, so thorough steaming of your produce beforehand (using a steamer or microwave steamer) is advisable if lumps worry you. However, I found it did the job for lumpier and chunkier textures, the latter of which can be achieved by a pulse-only setting. 

With a 50g capacity jug (and a variety of measurements handily printed on the side), I was able to make at least a couple of portions for a baby. Given its extra-small size, it lends itself well to travel use, whether that’s a holiday abroad or popping to visit friends or family for the day. It doesn’t steam items, just blends, though this is to be expected for a below £25 price tag.

If you’re looking for straightforward blending in small batches, using a piece of kit that takes up almost no surface space at all and comes at an affordable cost, this could be the one for you. However, its all-plastic outer shell and jug must be handled with care, as it is not designed sturdily enough to take many drops and bashes.

• Read our full Tommee Tippee Mini Baby Food Blender review

How to choose the best baby food maker

Through testing these eight blenders over two months, under the watchful gaze of my baby daughter as she grew from six to eight months, I kept three key requirements in mind:

• Ease of use - Parenthood is challenging enough without battling with overly complex manuals, fiddly parts and expensive products that don’t do what they promise on the box. Add a hungry baby into the mix and any of those things are only going to raise stress levels. So I considered just how straightforward each machine made whipping up food, be that a silky smooth puree or a batch of perfectly steamed veg to last a week.
• Price - Having children is expensive, and it's tempting to stock up on pouches and jars as you go, rather than venturing into the DIY space and investing your money all at once. So how much could each machine handle, both in terms of capacity and functions and how much longevity did they offer? For this reason, I also tested a couple of machines that aren’t branded as baby food makers, but offer the same functionality. With the Ninja, for example, you can blend large portions of puree at 6 months, and then when you send them off to school aged 4, you can blend yourself a large, icy margarita to celebrate. 
• Appearance - Don’t dismiss design; your chosen food maker will likely sit out on the side for months, if not years to come. Anything particularly unattractive or bulky is just going to look like clutter. And no parent needs more of that.

How we tested the best baby food makers

Our product review testing process is fair, consistent and robust. 

Our Consumer Editor Heidi Scrimgeour approved a shortlist of baby food makers based on her product knowledge and industry research. She looked at the latest offering from the market-leading brands - and as a mum of three and a parenting journalist for 15 years, what she doesn't know about baby products isn't worth knowing. 

We selected the final product line-up on the basis that each item is suitable for making home-made baby food. We also selected products from a broad range of price points so there's something here to suit every budget. 

Next, we called in each of the products on our shortlist and tested each product rigorously, using them to make a variety of different types of baby food.

After this, we gave each product a rating out of five for overall performance. We considered key factors including design appeal, functionality, practicality and price.

Best baby food makers 2023 - at a glance

Best buy overall: Nutribaby(+) XL Baby Food Maker - £149.99 | Amazon
Best premium buy: Ninja 3 in 1 Food Processor - £199.99 | Ninja
Best budget buy: Vital Baby Nourish Prep & Wean - £99.99 | Amazon
BabyBrezza Deluxe One Step - £159 | John Lewis
Tommee Tippee Quick Cook Baby Food Steamer and Blender - £77.50| Amazon
Philips 4-In-1 Healthy Baby Food Maker - £149.99 | Amazon
Kitchenaid 2.1L Food Processor- £149.99 | Amazon
Tommee Tippee Mini Baby Food Blender - £32.95 | Amazon

While you're looking for one of the best baby food makers and blenders, you might also want to start thinking about the best baby food recipes and the top healthy baby led weaning recipes. Alternatively, if you're feeling a little bit lost as to where to start when it comes to baby-led weaning, we've compiled a handy guide that should answer all your questions and more.