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For the first six months of your baby’s life, you’ve been feeding him/her with breast milk exclusively. And now that your baby has reached the recommended age of introduction to solid foods, you can’t help but be excited. Before getting your camera ready for your baby’s first meal, you should also be prep-ready. 

By now, you must have already bookmarked all the baby food recipes that you found online. Perhaps you have also kept a list of the foods that you can feed your little one as well. But more than just the food itself, is your kitchen baby food ready?

As pointed out by CuteLittleDarling, all baby food recipes have one thing in common: they are all pureed. Depending on your baby’s age, some recipes also grind or chop the ingredients. Unlike adults, babies need some help with solid foods. In order for them to swallow solid foods safely, we have to mash the ingredients first. 

Looking at your kitchen, you start to think about whether you should use a blender or a food processor. Maybe you can also do it the old fashion way and use a mortar and pestle. However, that will take more time and effort. 

Preparing baby food is amazing because you’ll feel much better knowing what the ingredients are. It also allows you to hand-pick what goes in the meal, making the experience more intimate. Now, the lingering question is “which is better for preparing baby food? A food processor or a blender?

Using Blender for Baby Food

Generally speaking, a blender aims to turn ingredients into mostly liquid. Depending on the unit’s capacity, it can aerate your mixture, which is great for getting a smoother consistency. You can expect that a blender who can crush ice will easily blend boiled pasta or carrots. Perhaps, while preparing baby food, you can also prepare other dishes for the whole family. 

While you can use your existing kitchen blender, manufacturers like Magic Bullet also released models specifically for making baby food. The Baby Bullet, for example, does not only look cute, but it also has inclusions to make food preparation easier. The unit has silicone tray for freezing small portions and storage cups with numbers so that you can keep track of their date.

Using Food Processor for Baby Food

Food processors, on the other hand, give you foods that are slightly solid. They are perfect for milling baby cereals, or other ingredients for experimenting with texture. They are also known for having other blades for grinding, shredding, to even mixing dough.

Like blenders, there are also baby food makers like the Babymoov, which is marketed directly for baby food preparation. Unlike baby food blenders, baby food makers give you the option to steam in the unit as well. This feature is particularly useful for parents who want to save time and effort. There are even models like the Cuisinart BFM-1000 that boasts steaming and blending in one bowl.

Food Processor vs Blender: Who Wins?

Who wins? The answer, well, it depends on your lifestyle. There isn’t really any significant difference between the two, as both can give you fine purees. However, an advantage that a food processor has over a blender is the fact that it can also steam the ingredients for you. Simply come back once the timer alerts you and blend in the same device. Some models even have compartments for sterilizing milk bottles. 

Ironically, this exact same feature can also become a food processor’s downside. Because the model will have a water reservoir for the steaming function, you have to make sure that you have cleaned it thoroughly to avoid mold-buildup.

What about blenders? Gone are the days where models only have one blade and a big pitcher. Nowadays, you can also find blenders with different types of blades. There are even personal-size blenders that are made for small portions. But because blenders can’t cook food for you, you have to prepare the ingredients separately without a timer’s convenience.

If you want to be practical, opt for a blender or food processor that can also handle other food textures. Having a device that you can use for different ingredients will give you flexibility in recipes for your whole family. And of course, it’s better to try new foods every once in a while to keep your little one excited.

As your baby grows, the food that he/she will eat is going to vary in sizes and textures. What your little one can’t eat at six months might be something he/she can be ready for at ten or twelve months. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, something as simple as giving different foods can help your child’s development. The various tastes and textures allow your child to develop his/her motor skills and chewing skills. Plus, who wouldn’t be excited to see their child’s first look of appreciation (or disgust) with a new food?