Which baby food processor would you keep? (PIP)

[sent]

Because DD has wound up with 2 and luckily the smart gift givers had the foresight to give us gift receipts, much much appreciated.  

Beaba Babycook Pro2x.  One side steams and one side processes I believe.

Sage Spoonfuls.  No steaming here but how hard can it be to steam stuff?



I am leaning toward the Sage Spoonfuls because it came with a cookbook and little jars.  Little jars! 

[ladygrey]

Honestly, if you have gift receipts, I would return both of them and just use a regular food processor or immersion blender (if you already have one at home). The time I spent actually making purees was pretty short (1-2 months) before we just moved on to finger foods, so a baby food maker felt unnecessary. Maybe there's something else you could exchange them for?

[starlily]

Return both and get a food processor and some storage jars.

[oceanstbride]

That Babycook can actually make 2 different foods at the same time or double the amount of one food. I have the Babycook with just one bowl and you steam it, dump some water out, then put it back on and puree. We also received ours as a gift and while I don't think it's a must have at all, I really liked it. I used it a lot for maybe 3 months and use it still occasionally to make applesauce for DS (13 months).

The biggest pro of the Babycook is that it steams and purees all in one container so less to clean up. I agree with ladygrey that you can definitely easily make purees with an immersion blended which is basically what the Sage Spoonfuls looks like.

[Brie]

I'd return the more expensive one so you get more store credit. Homemade baby food was a total bust for us. C hated it.

[IrishBelle]

I'd return both and either use a food processor or immersion blender if I had one. If not, I'd use the money from the returns to buy either one. Ice cube trays work really well for making servings of purees. You could also pick up some small storage jars at the $ store that you could use for other things later.

[AmyRI]

I wouldn't keep either. They make enough food for only a couple of meals. It's much easier to steam stuff in a big pot and puree in a normal size food processor and freeze large batches instead of making a little every day.

[sent]

Ok so I should clarify.

I plan to make DD's baby food.

I have a very nice Kitchen Aid food processor and blender from my wedding, but they seem so big for the tiny amount she will eat. I figured I'd get something smaller for DD since it will be washed all the time.

I don't have an immersion blender.

DD is a long way from being able to sit up so we are going to be in purees for a while. Just started banana today but I mashed that with a spoon and fingers.

[Deleted]

I would still return them both. Replace with an immersion blender, which actually has a use past the 3 months you'll make baby food. I know it seems like you'll do baby food for "a while", but would you buy any other appliance knowing it will be 100% useless to you in less than 6 months?

[purplecow0206]

Jul 25, 2014 11:54:49 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I would still return them both. Replace with an immersion blender, which actually has a use past the 3 months you'll make baby food. I know it seems like you'll do baby food for "a while", but would you buy any other appliance knowing it will be 100% useless to you in less than 6 months?

100% this. I have an immersion blender and it's what I reach for before my food processor OR blender. I make homemade applesauce in the crock pot every year, and use the immersion blender to process it a little further, so I could see if I just spent a bit more time getting it blended finer, it would be great for baby food.

[cricketwife]

You sound like you like and want the sage spoonfuls. It was a gift, so keep it and enjoy! BTW they do also sell just the little jars separately if you only want those.

[thebreakfastclub]

Immersion blender + steamer insert.

[sent]

Jul 25, 2014 12:08:24 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

You sound like you like and want the sage spoonfuls. It was a gift, so keep it and enjoy! BTW they do also sell just the little jars separately if you only want those.

LOL I am going to keep one for sure.  I was set on the Sage Spoonfuls and then the Beaba showed up today.  

I mean I've bought plenty of baby stuff that has only had a limited shelf life.  RNP, I'm looking at you.  Jungle Gym play mat thingy, you're a close second.  

[sometimesrunner]

Jul 25, 2014 11:52:14 GMT -5 sent said:

Ok so I should clarify.

I plan to make DD's baby food.

I have a very nice Kitchen Aid food processor and blender from my wedding, but they seem so big for the tiny amount she will eat. I figured I'd get something smaller for DD since it will be washed all the time.

I don't have an immersion blender.

DD is a long way from being able to sit up so we are going to be in purees for a while. Just started banana today but I mashed that with a spoon and fingers.

It was easier for me to make a big batch on the weekends than to make several small batches.

ETA: I saved some stats on my phone. 5 large apples = 15 cubes, which is not that many. (www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Perfect-Cube-Trays-Stratus/dp/B000QIU7X6) Towards the end M would easily go through 4 cubes/meal. (2 veg, 2 fruit) One apple would not even have lasted a day.

[curbsideprophet]

If I had receipts I would return both and just do BLW or use existing kitchen supplies. I was given a Beaba Cook and initially thought I was going to use it. As it got closer to the time for solids I realized I was not going to use it. I gave it to a coworker. I probably could have tried to sell it, but did not want to bother.

[londoncalling]

The time you spend prepping and cleaning up isn't that much more to make a big batch and freeze. For me one batch of sweet potatoes or apples would have filled the majority of your jars in the second set.

I'm in the return both and either use what you have or buy an immersion blender and either some single storage jars or some silicone trays to freeze in camp.

[marclovesme]

We were given a Beaba, and I was so close to returning it, but I kept it and loved it. It's so easy because it steams and blends in one container instead of dirtying multiple utensils and containers.

Beaba makes silicon trays for freezing: www.amazon.com/Beaba-913145-Multiportions-Green/dp/B0027UYT4O We still use these to freeze everything from pesto, small portions of soup for DD, leftover buttermilk, yogurt, etc.

[spanikopita]

Neither. It's a waste of money. Ditto PP, get a nice food processor.

[sent]

Jul 25, 2014 13:30:23 GMT -5 marclovesme said:

We were given a Beaba, and I was so close to returning it, but I kept it and loved it. It's so easy because it steams and blends in one container instead of dirtying multiple utensils and containers.

Beaba makes silicon trays for freezing: www.amazon.com/Beaba-913145-Multiportions-Green/dp/B0027UYT4O We still use these to freeze everything from pesto, small portions of soup for DD, leftover buttermilk, yogurt, etc.

Now you have me reading the Amazon reviews for this thing.  

Still totally lost.

Still totally keeping at least one.  I used our Kitchen Aid 12 cup food processor a lot back in the day and it had a million parts to clean.  I used my mini food processor a lot more because of that but I would like to get a new one for DD.  Not MMM, I know.  

[sometimesrunner]

Jul 25, 2014 13:39:50 GMT -5 sent said:

Jul 25, 2014 13:30:23 GMT -5 marclovesme said:

We were given a Beaba, and I was so close to returning it, but I kept it and loved it. It's so easy because it steams and blends in one container instead of dirtying multiple utensils and containers.

Beaba makes silicon trays for freezing: www.amazon.com/Beaba-913145-Multiportions-Green/dp/B0027UYT4O We still use these to freeze everything from pesto, small portions of soup for DD, leftover buttermilk, yogurt, etc.

Now you have me reading the Amazon reviews for this thing.  

Still totally lost.

Still totally keeping at least one.  I used our Kitchen Aid 12 cup food processor a lot back in the day and it had a million parts to clean.  I used my mini food processor a lot more because of that but I would like to get a new one for DD.  Not MMM, I know.  

I think food processors are a PITA, too. We have a vitamix that I adore.

[undecidedowl]

I'm lazy so I would return both and do BLW.

If I was going to make baby food though, I would return both and buy an immersion blender. Then, I would use a combo of that and the food processor to make huge batches of purees that I would freeze in ice cube trays and store in zip-locs. That way I wouldn't have to be steaming, blending, washing constantly for small quantities.

[lilac05]

I'd return both. The thing about the other "limited use" items that you have purchased for baby is that you don't already have something that can do EXACTLY the same thing sitting at your house!

I made all of DS1's food and about 75% of DS2's food. Depending on what I was making (how much), I used my cuisinart food processor, blender, or mini food processor. I got an immersion blender after DS2 was born & that was perfect bc it can do any size batch.

I made a big batch of stuff at once. Saves time and dishes! Make 4-5 sweet potatoes, purée, freeze in ice cube trays (2/$1) and then dump into a gallon ziplock bag. Repeat with peas, carrots, mixed veggies, etc. I took about 20 minutes once or twice a week & that was it. I would have HATED making small batches of food all the time.

[redheadbaker]

Team Return Both. Even a large food processor can still make small batches. Or invest in an immersion blender. Mine is invaluable to me.

[huskymom]

Jul 25, 2014 19:00:04 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Team Return Both. Even a large food processor can still make small batches. Or invest in an immersion blender. Mine is invaluable to me.

I had a baby food blender and it sucked. The easiest way was to use my mini food processor - a cheapie b&d.

[stever]

Another vote for a regular food processor. I don't even see the point of the baby ones.

[shellbear09]

The beaba seems nice but I just used my ninja. I liked making big batches and freezing in silicone trays. I used a microwave steamer.

[amaristella]

Jul 25, 2014 11:54:49 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I would still return them both. Replace with an immersion blender, which actually has a use past the 3 months you'll make baby food. I know it seems like you'll do baby food for "a while", but would you buy any other appliance knowing it will be 100% useless to you in less than 6 months?

Another vote for this. Really. An immersion blender is a good thing to have. Maybe also a set of silicone ice cube trays if you want the food frozen into nice little baby size meals. Most people I know rarely make their own baby food. They either do BLW most of the time with only the occasional puree or it's too much work to keep up with all the time.

[House4Me]

None, a hand blender/immersion blender works awesome and can then be used for soup purees, etc. I love my Cuisinart hand blender! I also love these cube trays, pricey but they work awesome and have been worth every penny for home made baby food!



Baby Trays




Hand Blender

    

[spk926]

Jul 25, 2014 11:52:14 GMT -5 sent said:

Ok so I should clarify.

I plan to make DD's baby food.

I have a very nice Kitchen Aid food processor and blender from my wedding, but they seem so big for the tiny amount she will eat. I figured I'd get something smaller for DD since it will be washed all the time.

I don't have an immersion blender.

DD is a long way from being able to sit up so we are going to be in purees for a while. Just started banana today but I mashed that with a spoon and fingers.

Are you going to be making purees daily or even every other day? Some people do but I would just do big batches on the weekend with my nice big KA food processor and then freeze them in little cubes.

Then I threw it all out the window and did BLW anyway.

[sent]

Jul 26, 2014 7:22:37 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Are you going to be making purees daily or even every other day? Some people do but I would just do big batches on the weekend with my nice big KA food processor and then freeze them in little cubes.

Then I threw it all out the window and did BLW anyway.

Yes, I was planning to make them often rather than making big batches and freezing.

I don't think she can do BLW yet.  She can't sit up on her own and we are definitely a few months away from that.  But she's hungry so I want to start feeding her interesting tastes.  Her pediatrician has also said we need to stick to purees for a while with her because she was born a preemie and is behind.  

She loved her banana this morning.  Ate it happily and then refused her oatmeal.  The only way I got her to eat the oatmeal was to turn the TV on.