How to Make Baby Food in Your Blender

Blenders are often used to make healthy smoothies, tasty shakes, and cool beverages. While you may use your blender on a regular basis, have you ever thought about using it to make food for your baby? With this handy kitchen appliance you can quickly and easily make homemade baby food that is healthy and tasty. Sure, you can buy baby food at the store, but you don’t always know what ingredients are being used or how nutritious the food really is. Instead of playing the guessing game when it comes to baby food quality, why not consider making it yourself? It’s fast, easy, and can be a healthier option than most of the baby foods available for purchase.

Making baby food in a blender can provide you and your baby with numerous benefits. One of the top benefits of choosing this route is being able to choose all the ingredients used in the food. You’ll know exactly what your baby is eating when you make the food yourself. Since you are choosing the ingredients, you can avoid things like added salt and processed sugars. Baby allergies are common today, but you can avoid this problem by avoiding ingredients that may lead to an allergic reaction. When you choose this route, you’ll even save money, which is another huge benefit for new parents.

Depending on the specific type of baby food you plan to make, the steps for making it in a blender can vary just a bit. However, the basic steps are usually quite similar. Here is a look at some easy steps to follow for making most baby foods.

Step 1# – Choose a Quality Blender

If you’re planning to make your own baby food, the first thing you need to do is choose a quality blender, if you don’t already have one. A common place to start your search is reading quality blender reviews online. The blender you choose will depend upon the amount of baby food you plan on making. If you plan on only making baby food from time to time and in small amounts, a small hand blender may be a great choice that is reasonably priced. However, if you plan on making baby food on a regular basis and in larger amounts, a full size kitchen blender will be the better choice. The larger blender will allow you to make larger amounts of food so you can store some for later use.

Step #2 – Purchase Quality Produce

The next step to take if you want to make baby food in your blender is to purchase quality produce. Look for fruits and vegetables that are fresh and use them quickly. Of course, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables can also be used if you are not able to buy it fresh. Some great fruits to try include pears, blueberries, apricots, peaches, bananas, apples, and plums. For produce, peas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, squash, and avocados all make great choices. Of course, you are not limited to these options. For ideas, take a look down the baby food isle.

Step #3 – Prepare Foods

Before you actually blend the food, it has to be prepared. Start out by washing fresh fruits and vegetables to eliminate any pesticides or germs that may be on the fruits. Buying organic is always best, but now always an option for some. Certain foods may need to be peeled or seeded. Some foods, such as soft fruits, may not need to be cooked. However, many vegetables and harder fruits may need to be cooked in some way before you blend them. Steaming, boiling, and baking are all methods of cooking that can work.

Step #4 – Blend Thoroughly

After the food is prepared, you are ready to actually blend the baby food. Place the food in the blender and put the lid on. Then start processing on the lowest setting, increasing the speed as you go until the food is well blended. For foods that do not have a lot of liquid in them, you may need to add water to get the consistency you are wanting. Always make sure the food is thoroughly blended to avoid chunks of food that may cause choking.

Step #5 – Storing the Food

While you’ll probably serve some of the baby food right away, any leftovers will need to be appropriately stored. You can store leftovers in several ways. If you plan to use the food within a couple days, simply store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator. If you don’t plan to use it right away, the food can be frozen. The easiest way to do this is to freeze in ice cube trays. Then, frozen cubes of food can be stored in freezer bags, labeled with the contents. Keep in mind that you should not store food that your baby has tried to eat already. Saliva can get into the food and make it more prone to bacteria growth. For this reason, only dish up the amount you think your baby will actually eat.

More Helpful Tips

As you are making baby food in your blender, make sure you avoid using additives when possible. Babies don’t need added sugar, salt, or any type of preservatives. The foods can be blended on their own and will have plenty of flavor. However, simple seasonings and herbs can be used to add extra flavor.

Another thing to remember is to only introduce a single food at a time when babies are just starting to eat solid foods. This is important because it can help you identify any food allergies if they occur. Learning which foods your baby can easily tolerate makes it easier to blend foods together at a later time, such as a nice blend of multiple fruits. You may even want to begin blending entire dinners up for your baby, such as stews and soups.