Baby Food Processor

A good baby food processor makes life easier

Many baby food makers come equipped with all the bells and whistles -- pacifier sanitizing, bottle warming and more -- but fail to deliver when it comes to steaming and pureeing. What sets apart the best-reviewed Beaba Babycook (*Est. $120) is that it reliably prepares perfectly pureed baby food for years, according to owners.

One of the first baby food makers on the market, the Beaba Babycook remains among the most well reviewed. Users say a dedicated food processor will outperform the Beaba when it comes to blending, but it's the best for steaming and blending in one unit. Owners almost unanimously agree that the Babycook is a breeze to use. Numerous reviewers say the Beaba gives them the confidence to cook their own baby food, even though they aren't pros in the kitchen.

Maintenance includes descaling the reservoir and can be a hassle, several users note, but most say the minor inconvenience isn't a deal-breaker. Given the overwhelming number of reviews for this baby food maker -- hundreds at each site where we find it -- there are surprisingly few reports of the Beaba Babycook breaking. If it does, it's covered by a one-year warranty, as are all the baby food makers in this report. The food prep cup doubles as a serving cup, although some owners say it's too large for single servings and too small for bulk food prep.

For larger batches, the Kidsline Baby Chef Ultimate Baby Food Maker (*Est. $80) is a good choice. It can steam and puree two separate batches at once, allowing you to produce twice as much food in the same amount of time. Owners generally find this unit easy to use and easier to maintain than the Beaba Babycook. There are some reports of parts breaking, but users say customer service is very responsive.

We also found recommendations for the Kalorik Baby Gourmet (*Est. $80) and Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker (*Est. $100), although neither performs as well overall. For example, the Baby Brezza steams and purees well and is the only unit to do both on a timer, but it breaks down with surprising regularity; many owners say they've experienced total or partial failure. While Baby Brezza reviewers say customer service is at least responsive and helpful, the Kalorik Baby Gourmet seems to break just as often and owners say getting a replacement is a major hassle. They also find the Baby Gourmet difficult to clean and call its performance mediocre.