Puree baby food or leave it chunky? Also if you puree it a blender ok or do I need a food processor?

Yvonne - posted on 02/06/2009

For both my kids, I pureed food when they were ready to start big people food. As they got older, got better at eating, I increased the "chunkiness" as required. While they fed themselves soft fruit (kiwi, banana) or soft cheese or Nutrios or crackers, I'd spoon feed them the pureed meat/veggie combo. I used a small food processor (holds about 1cup), cost less than $20, easy & quick clean up (always a bonus!).

Ellen - posted on 02/06/2009

Ok, I'm low maintenance.  Just mash it with a fork or cut it into tiny pieces with a knife.  Babies' gums are sharp - they can do the job.  Your baby will let you know if he/she likes the food more or less chunky.

Jana - posted on 02/06/2009

I had no problem just using my blender.  I would have loved to have used a food processor for largers batches, but I didn't have anywhere to store it and I didn't want to buy one when I was having success with my blender.  To answer the puree question, I started out making everything really smooth, but quickly made them chunkier.  Plus you can always add a little water to the bowl as your feeding them to make the food thinner if your little one is having problems.  Have fun making your baby food, I loved it!

Joy - posted on 02/06/2009

Food processors and blenders are both a pain to clean so either one you feel comfortable using will work.  I prefer the processor because I feel like I can get the right consistency I'm looking for....they are easier to control the speed and easier to scoop the food from as well.   If your baby is just getting introduced to "real" food, start off runny and as you notice that your baby's chewing motions are getting better, gradually start making it chunkier.  When I say chunky, I don't mean like salsa or anything.  For example, make your own applesauce.  Cut the apples of your choice (I find Granny Smith works best) into slices about half an inch think and lay flat in a single layer in a baking dish.  Add enough water to go about halfway up the apple slices.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.  Bake at 350 for about half an hour or so...until you poke them with a fork and they slide off the fork easily.  Let them cool.  The skins will come off easily with a paring knife.  I tried cooking the apples after peeling them and they don't have as much flavor so that's why I say leave them on.  After you peel them, put them in a food processor or blender and pulse until the desired consistency.  If you need to thin it out, you can add some of the water they cooked in.  If you're just starting the baby on real food, blend until runny.  If you're going up a step, just blend until there are chunks about the size of your baby's thumb nail or smaller.  The older they get, the bigger the chunks can get.  Vegetables are a lot easier because most of them can just be mashed with a fork.  Potatoes have more flavor if you bake them in the oven.  Things like carrotts and broccoli taste best steamed and they also retain more vitamins this way.  Also, the website posted up above by Laura is a great source for baby food recipes.  If you type in home made baby food into your browser, you'll find A TON of great websites.  It's actually kinda fun if you like to cook.  It makes you happy knowing that YOU are in control of what your baby is eating and there are no additives or chemicals or artificial ingredients.  Hope this helps.  Good luck and have fun :)

Amy - posted on 02/06/2009

When I made my daughter her first foods I found the food processor first to get the bigger chunks, then running it throught the blender made it smooth. Cook your peas and beans really well, I found they are the hardest to make smooth.

Laura - posted on 02/06/2009

Hi Crystal,

I tried the blender at first, and just found that it did not work for me. It did not get the consistency I wanted. I ended up getting a food processor, and made large quantities of food and then froze them. A great website I found was www.wholesomebabyfood.com/homemadebabyfoodtools.htm.  I  started out with the food really watery, very pureed and then changed the consistency depending on if he was handling the food. My little guy very seldom gagged, my sister's baby, gagged with any food with a thicker consistency than milk at the same age. So she started her baby a little later. In other words, I think you can do what is best for your baby, if he seems like he/she is doing okay with the thinkness, next time make it a little bit thicker.

Anyway, a lot of it is personal choice, I think.

Laura

Christine - posted on 02/06/2009

If you haven't got a food blender or any other electical product to blend down any of the food for baby, try just using a fork to mash the food down as far as you can. For example if your making potatoes and vegetables with gravey, mash it all down with the fork, add some gravey or a small amount of butter/margarine, it should come to the right consistency.

Lisa - posted on 02/06/2009

I just used a hand blender (the standup model) - the food processor is way too much to clean after! :D

if it's something like avocado or banana, I just squished it with a fork....

Sarah - posted on 02/06/2009

Hello I started making my munchkins baby food about a month ago and you want to puree it. As he gets older you can change the consistency to more chunky. You probably could use a blender or food processor but if you want the best product out there in my opinion in which you will only be using it for your baby's food and nothing else check out Williams Sonomas Beaba Baby Cook. This thing it great I love it so much. All you do is cut up whatever food you want fruit veggies whatever put it in and this machine will steam cook it, puree it, blend multi ingredients, and even defrost foods you have frozen. Way worth the 150 bucks.

Cathy - posted on 02/06/2009

Just speaking from experience, I never pureed my daughters baby food. It has to be an individual mothers choice though, depending on your childs age, if  he has teeth, and how long he been eating baby food. If he has has never had baby food then, yes, puree it. But if he has done fine up to this point with soft foods then try it slightly chunky. Just make sure the chunks are small enough he can't choke. And a blender works fine. I have a friend who used one to puree their childs food for years:)