Although many baby food processors can indeed be expensive, they can also be a handy gadget to have at home to help you prepare baby puree or steam finger foods for baby-led weaning. QOOC baby food makers are all-in-one kitchen tools that steam and blend food for your baby, but are they worth your money? Can you use these food makers to prepare several batches or just a single serving of baby food? Do you really need to buy a baby food maker, or can regular steamers and grinders also work well? How do you use a QOOC baby food maker if you decide to get it? You can find more answers about these multi-purpose baby food blenders and steamers below.
Common Features: QOOC Baby Food Makers
Capabilities: These 4-in-one baby food makers can steam, blend, reheat, and defrost.
Sterilizer: You can also use the reheat function to sterilize baby bottles.
Food grinder: Choose the blender setting and hold or pulse until you get the right consistency. You can also add water, if necessary.
Operation: Easy one-handed operation that can be ideal for a multi-tasking busy mom.
Material: 100% Tritan plastic material
Safety: BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free
Controls: One-handed control
Motor: Quiet motor
These baby food makers are made of 100% Tritan plastic material free from BPA (bisphenol-A), phthalate, and lead. Heavy metals like lead or arsenic can cause damage to your baby’s brain and nervous system. They might also lead to learning and behavior problems, slowed growth and development, and hearing and speech problems. (1) BPA and phthalates are toxic chemicals used in plastic manufacturing. They can interfere with your baby’s normal growth and brain development. These toxic chemicals might cause behavior problems, asthma, obesity, diabetes, increased risk of allergies, and male reproductive organs development problems. (2) However, studies published in the Environmental Health Journal show that BPA-free Tritan plastics and similar alternatives can still release chemicals that cause similar effects as BPA. (3)(4)
Can These Baby Food Processors Blend Frozen Fruits & Veggies?
Yes, you don’t need to thaw frozen fruits and veggies before putting them in QOOC all-in-one baby food steamers and blenders. You can also use them directly to prepare baby purees.
Can They Cook Raw Food?
Yes. QOOC baby food makers can cook raw foods like meat, eggs, poultry, fruits, and vegetables like other baby products. Chop the food you’re planning to cook and put them in the steam basket. Put enough water in the water reservoir before selecting the steam setting.
Is The QOOC Dishwasher Safe?
Yes, QOOC baby food makers are dishwasher safe. However, this only applies to non-electronic parts.
Main Differences
QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker
$99.99 It’s a small baby food maker ideal for cooking fresh food every mealtime.
QOOC 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker Pro
$159.99 It offers more setting options and a timer (not available with QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker). It has a touch control button for blending.
Learn more about each QOOC baby food maker below.
QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker
Price
$99.99
What Makes It Special?
It’s a small baby food maker ideal for cooking fresh food every mealtime.
Key Features
Material: Tritan plastic
Capabilities: Steam, blend, reheat, and defrost
Cup Capacity: ½ to 1 cup
Portability: Not portable; you can’t use this with batteries.
Timer: None
Other Specifications & Special Features
Dimensions (in inches): 10.3 x 9.3 x 7.8
Warranty: One-year limited warranty
Product Recall
None
Cons
Although this baby food maker is made of 100% BPA-free, phthalate-free Tritan plastic material, it might still release chemicals that cause similar effects as BPA. (3)(4) You’ll need to hold the control button when blending.
What Customers Say
Positive Reviews Negative Reviews
QOOC 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker Pro
Price
$159.99
What Makes It Special?
It doesn’t have a removable water tank, but the lid opens, and its water reservoir can be fully accessed for cleaning. It offers more setting options and a timer (not available with QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker). It has a touch control button for blending.
Key Features
Material: Tritan plastic
Capabilities: Steam, blend, reheat, and defrost
Cup Capacity: 1½ cup
Portability: Not portable
Timer: Yes, with suggested settings depending on the type of food you’re cooking
Safety Features
Two safety locks: This product doesn’t work unless all the parts and accessories are installed correctly.
Auto shut-off: If the water reservoir runs out of water, this product automatically shuts off.
Other Specifications & Special Features
Dimensions: 11.02 x 10.31 x 8.9 inches
Warranty: One-year limited warranty
Product Recall
None
Cons
This baby food maker is made of 100% BPA-free, phthalate-free Tritan plastic material. However, it might still release chemicals that cause similar effects as BPA. (3)(4)
What Customers Say
Positive Reviews Negative Reviews
Summary & Recommendations
Both baby food makers are small, can cook baby food from raw ingredients, are ideal for cooking fresh food every mealtime, and have many similarities. Here are our recommendations on which one to pick: Budget-Friendly Option
You can choose the QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker ($99.99) if you prefer a budget-friendly option.
Offers More Features
You can choose QOOC 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker Pro ($159.99) if you prefer more features.
It has more setting options, a timer, and a touch control button for blending not available with QOOC 4-in-1 Mini Baby Food Maker.
How Do I Use The QOOC Baby Food Maker?
Here are the steps to making baby puree using these food makers: You can also put the puree in food containers for storage or later use.
How Do You Descale A Baby Food Maker?
The exact descaling instructions might differ among different baby food makers, but here are the general steps to doing it:
What To Feed Your Baby
Purees Vs. Finger Foods
Sometimes it isn’t easy to decide what to feed your baby, whether you should start with pureed food or go straight to finger foods while doing baby-led weaning. If you’re unsure, it’s best to check the pros and cons of baby-led weaning vs. purées to help you pick the first foods to give your little one.
Commercial Vs. Homemade Baby Foods
Many busy moms love the convenience of buying commercial baby foods, with as many as 81% of babies under one year of age receiving these as complementary foods. (5) However, HBBF (Healthy Babies Bright Futures) tests show that as many as 95% of commercial baby foods contain high heavy metal content (lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic). (6) Regular consumption of foods containing heavy metals can lead to cancer and development issues in babies. Studies also show that it could cause behavioral problems like ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) or lower IQ. (6) It might be time-consuming, but preparing homemade baby foods appears to be the healthier choice for our babies, mama.
Preparing Homemade Baby Foods
Are Baby Food Blenders Worth It?
Yes. The best baby food makers can be expensive, but they eventually pay for themselves if you regularly use them for baby food preparation. Homemade baby food can be cheaper to make, even if you have to initially pay extra for the tools to make them at first. For time-strapped, busy moms, using just one gadget for baby food preparation can be a deal-breaker. There’s no need to deal with (and clean up!) several kitchen appliances in order to prepare one batch of baby food.
What Appliance Is The Best For Making Baby Food?
A baby food processor with the capacity to steam and blend food from raw ingredients can be the best for making baby food. You wouldn’t need many appliances for cooking and blending because you use the same gadget to do several processes. Some baby food makers have powerful functions and can even do the steaming and blending in just one touch of a button. However, we’re not saying that you should go out and buy one, especially if you don’t have plans to prepare your baby’s food regularly. Baby food makers are best suited for moms who regularly prepare homemade baby food, whether you want to do it every meal or in batches. If you don’t have, you can still use the following kitchen appliances:
Oven Steam cooker Blender Food grinder or mill Food processor Baby bullet Immersion blender Pot and steamer basket
The downside to using these kitchen gadgets is that you’ll need to transfer the cooked baby food to the blender or food processor. If using an immersion blender, for example, you might need to put the cooked food into a stainless steel or glass mixing bowl.
Baby Food Storage Tips
You can prepare your baby’s food in batches, then store them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use them. Here are some tips you can follow:
Choose baby-safe containers for storing your baby’s food. While ice cube trays might be alright if you don’t have other options, it’s best to use silicone trays. You can opt to pop the frozen baby food into freezer bags. Don’t forget to label the contents and the date you prepared them. You can keep frozen baby foods for up to three months. Be sure to check for any signs of spoilage before thawing and giving to your baby.
Baby Food Storage Containers
Baby Bliss Eco-Friendly Silicone Baby Food Freezer Storage Tray OXO Tot Baby Blocks Storage Containers OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Tray Kiddo Feedo Baby Food Storage Container & Freezer Tray QOOC Baby Food Freezer Storage Container Mumu & Bubi Solids Starter Kit Sage Spoonfuls Glass Snack Pack
Other Baby Food Maker Brands
Multi-Function Food Makers
BÉABA Babycook Duo 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker Babymoov Duo Meal Station Food Maker Homia Dansa 8 in 1 Smart Baby Food Processor Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker (Glass) QOOC Mini Baby Food Maker Pro EVLA’s Baby Food Maker
Budget-Friendly Baby Food Processors
NutriBullet Baby OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill
Baby Food Pouch Makers
Squooshi Filling Station Baby Food Pouch Maker Infantino Squeeze Station
REFERENCES (1) https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/leadpoisoning/index.html (2) https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs//210-090E_BPAandPhthalates.pdf (3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4063249/ (4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4298073/ (5) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20869494/ (6) https://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf
