Preparing baby food (and adult food for that matter) every single day to provide a healthy and balanced diet requires a lot of planning, shopping, preparation and hours spent in the kitchen trying to balance everything. Then by the time you're done, the kitchen is a huge mess and you don't even know where to start cleaning.
And it's easy for our days to become just that – just cooking and cleaning. An hour or two of sleep in between and maybe a shower once in a while sounds like heaven, right?
But with the right utensils, appliances, and kitchen gadgets, the whole process can at least be a little easier, with fewer dishes to wash and generally a little less stressful.
So here are some of the things that we found were the most helpful when preparing food – saving us a whole lot of time, soap, and sanity.
So what kitchen appliances for baby food do you REALLY need?
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. However, we are not being compensated by any of the companies we mention below and all opinions are our own.
1. Kitchen Scale
Why you need it
Understanding portion sizes for both ourselves and our kids is important and having a scale available makes it not only easy but quickly makes it intuitive as well giving you the benefit even when the scale is unavailable.
Many recipes also require you to measure out food in cups or spoonfuls but measuring by weight is much more accurate AND saves you having to wash up so many extra cups and spoons. This is especially relevant when you're baking as using too much or too little flour (for example) can make a big difference to what comes out the oven. And anything that reduces washing up is a big plus.
Most scales will be able to show lots of different units of measurement as well so if you're used to seeing something in grams but the recipe is showing ounces, you can just hit a button and not think twice about it.
Which one do we use
Joseph Joseph TriScale Compact Folding Digital Kitchen Food Scale
Pros:
- Folds away and tucks into the corner of a drawer when you're not using it
- Super transportable so if you're going away and want to take it with it couldn't be easier
- Simple controls
- 2-year guarantee included
Cons:
- Some people have reported issues with the battery life (although we haven't had that problem)
Another great choice
GreaterGoods Digital Food Kitchen Scale
Love the design, love that it says "Nourish" on it, and love the price. Perhaps most of all, love the company's commitment to sustainability and community.
2. Blender
Why you need it
A blender is truly a must-have and one of the most versatile appliances you'll own.
Purees are done in 30 seconds. Smoothies, juices, dips, soups, nut butters – all super easy with a blender. Making pancakes? Stick the ingredients in the blender and your batter is done in 30 seconds.
Don't want to chop up onions or garlic? Or grind up nuts or nutmeg? 5 seconds in the blender and you're done.
There are amazing but pricey options (totally worth it) or cheaper one like this Magic Bullet which is actually for smoothies but you can use it for so much more.
Which one do we use
Pros:
- Small footprint (we take this with us when we travel sometimes because it's so easy and so useful)
- Easy to clean
- Blend directly in your cup – barely any moving parts and less to clean
- Simple functionality (single speed, no buttons)
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Not the most powerful
- Sometimes it's size/simplicity works against it if you're going for big volumes
Other great choices
Vitamix Standard Blender or Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
These are both more expensive options than the Magic Bullet, but they come with way more power, space, and functionality. Vitamix and Blendtec each have even more expensive options available but frankly, you won't need them for your day to day cooking.
So if you want to splash out a bit more and can afford the counter space (apparently not every kitchen looks like our bite-size Manhattan kitchen) then you can't go wrong with these.
3. Food Processor
Why you need it
Whatever your blender can't handle, your food processor can. With these 2 appliances, the range of what you can do in a kitchen (and the speed you can do it) is just so broad that you'll wonder how you managed before.
The food processor can do a lot of similar things to your blender, but often in larger batches (e.g. soups, dips, sauces etc.) but where it really shines in its ability to shred and slice, while doing so at speed and at volume.
Shredding cheese? Making zucchini noodles? Want sliced potatoes or tomatoes or anything really? Your food processor can slice or grate things super consistently in a few seconds. Many of them will even come with a dough blade so you can make bread just as easily.
It's such an amazing time saver when you're prepping food and surprisingly easy to clean – just chuck the whole thing in the dishwasher and you're done (I personally handwash the blade but even that can go in the dishwasher if you prefer).
Which one do we use
KitchenAid 11-Cup Food Processor
Pros:
- High quality for a good price (have had no issues or leaks)
- Super multi-functional (multiple blads, grating, and slicing discs so you can get the exact outcome you want)
- Multi-speed
- Big and small openings depending on what you are chopping
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Plastic base doesn't feel as stable as some "heavier duty" options
- Some reviews say people have had issues with food sticking under the blade or lid but we haven't had that problem
Other great choices
Lower cost: Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor
The Cuisinart food processor is a great option if you don't want to spend as much and don't need the full suite of functionalities that the KitchenAid offers. If you're going lower cost then just make sure whatever you choose has extra disc blades (or you might as well stick with the blender) and is also dishwasher safe so you aren't stuck handwashing it. And be warned that the cheapest options available might look good now but won't last that long before needing to be replaced.
Top of the range: Magimix Food Processor 5200 XL
Meanwhile, the Magimix comes with a hefty price tag but it all quality. It's quieter, more powerful, more durable, and will last longer with no issues. Even if you had a problem, it comes with a 30-year guarantee as standard so that's a pretty solid quality endorsement right there. If you can spend more and will get use out of it, this is an amazing option.
4. Steamer
Why you need it
Simply put, having a steamer allows you to cook loads of things with incredible ease, with minimal water while retaining the micronutrient content of food much better than boiling or frying.
There are a lot of different kinds of steamers, from baskets you just drop in a pot, to dedicated steamers on which you can hit start and walk away while it does its thing.
Whatever you prefer, since vegetables are an important part of almost every meal for us, if they aren't going in the oven, we're usually steaming them.
Which one do we use
Pros:
- Super cheap
- Very small, so stores easily and takes up zero counter space
- Versatile – works well with the Instant Pot if you have one (which we do) but equally easy to use in a regular pot on the stove
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Not the most durable – after a while segments of ours came loose which didn't help it maintain its structure
- Difficult to remove from pot if you lose the hook that comes with it (whoops!)
Other great choices
Stove-top steamer: Oster Sangerfield Steamer Set
The dedicated stove-top options are great, still cheap and very simple to use and clean. Plus you can use the bottom part as a regular pot when not using the whole steamer. You'll want to make sure you get stainless steel and don't bother with ones that have rubber handles – position the pot a little wrong just once and you'll be smelling plastic. Rather opt for metal handles and just have the oven gloves handy.
Set it and forget it: Rosewill Electric Food Steamer
The "set it and forget it" options are great for exactly that – you can set it on a timer and walk away while it does its thing, leaving you with time to watch your child instead. I personally don't like using much plastic in the kitchen but if you aren't bothered, just make sure you get one that's BPA-free. They are also a little more expensive and less durable than a regular stove-top set, and take up a little more space (both on the counter and in the dishwasher), however I know plenty of people that swear by them for the convenience!
All-purpose BabyCooker: BEABA Babycook 4 in 1
Finally, the all-purpose BabyCooker is quite a bit more expensive but does enough to justify its price tag. The 4 in 1 version can steam, blend, defrost, and reheat. That means I can chop up some food, add it to the cooker, hit the timer and walk away until it's done. Then turn it over and press another button to blend it into a puree. Literally couldn't be easier. Defrosting or heating food is just as easy.
5. Food Storage Containers
Why you need them
This one should be obvious but if you aren't storing food, then you are cooking too often! I'll rarely cook for one meal at a time, and often meal prep for a few days at once (for adult and child meals). That means lots of food gets stored and I can have a whole meal ready in no time. Keeps my son happy and stops me running out of time to feed myself.
Which ones do we use
Pyrex Simply Store Glass Round Food Container
Pros:
- Glass (which I always prefer to plastic)
- Stack well when not being used
- Super durable (I've been surprised by the falls mine have survived)
- Oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe
- Clean very easily
- Lid seals surprisingly well
- Lids are BPA-free
Cons:
- None that I can think of
- Just make sure you get genuine Pyrex if you order on Amazon as some people have apparently received knock offs – they should be labeled as being made in the USA
Other great choices
Other glass options: OXO Tot Baby Blocks, Prep Naturals
I'm a big fan of glass and there are plenty good options there. Just look for ones that are oven, freezer, and dishwasher safe and have BPA-free lids.
Silicone options: KIDDO FEEDO, WeeSprout
Silicone options are great for freezing small portions as well. Make a batch of purees, portion them out, freeze and just pop one out into a bowl to defrost when you're ready.
Let us know what you use!
What's that 1 thing you have in your kitchen that you use every day and could never live without?
Do you use any of the above already?
Let us know what we forgot and hopefully we can also discover something new to make life easier!
Dora
Thank you!