When Megan and I sat down to figure out our baby registry, my parents smartly asked if we wanted to add a baby food maker to the list. My first thought was a resounding YES! I love to cook. There’s nothing more satisfying than the joy of preparing a meal for loved ones–especially preparing a meal that is both delicious and nutritious. However, we both responded, Nah, we already have a steamer and we already have have a blender and a food processor — not to mention, a limited amount of cabinet space in our small Brooklyn apartment. It just seemed to us like one of those inventions that didn’t really need to exist.
Thankfully, my sister knew better, and boldly went off-registry to get us the Kalorik Baby Gourmet 5 in 1 Baby Food Maker. It measures, it steams, it grinds, it mashes. In short, this is where the magic happens:
About 99% of the meals I make Niko are made with this compact machine. (We also have a hand mill that was handed down to us by one of Megan’s coworkers, and I have used the stove top steamer on occasion when I’m steaming a particularly large load of fruits and veggies.)
Why I love it:
Convenience — The measuring cup correlates water amount to steaming time, meaning the machine stops steaming when the water runs out, and I can do other things while the food steams without worrying about losing track of time.
Simplicity — There are only two settings to turn the dial: steam and grind.
Safe — the blade does not operate independently like with a blender. And the tank is made of BPA-free plastic.
Durability — This machine, though small, is a real work horse. I produce about a month’s worth of baby food each weekend (big baby = big appetite). I do worry about its longevity, since after only a few months of steady use, the steaming basket is discolored and warped and there are some stress cracks in the food tank, but this machine is still running strong.
Why I don’t like it:
Clean-up — Food gets trapped in the steaming valve, which cannot be cleaned out. The steam obviously kills any bacteria, but it’s still gross to see.
Size — The food maker, honestly, is the right size for a few months only. One full batch is over 2 cups of food. This is fine for Niko now, through month 7, but as we head into month 8, and his appetite’s picking up (and he begins to rely more heavily on solids for nutrients), I anticipate him downing 3 cups of food a day. To keep up with his demand, and to over-produce, I know I’ll be bringing in my stove-top steamer and food processor to supplement the process. Without bringing in the big guns, I’d need to stand over this little machine all day long for 1 month’s worth of food.
