Food Processor or Blender Recs

[achickwwit]

Can you share the brand/style of the blender or food processor you use to puree your baby's foods? What's good/bad about it? Also, why did you go with a food processor versus a blender, or vice versa? I've never used a f.p. before, and I'm not entirely sure how they differ. I just want the easiest thing for baby foods, since that is what this will be used exclusively for. Thanks!

[vjel]

we have this hand blender from Braun. We got it at Costco for $20 I think.
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00004S9GX.01._AA200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

We have a cuisinart blender/food processor and it was too big for what I needed for making baby food. The hand blender was easier (and cheaper) to use, a little less to clean, and less noisy (the cuisinart freaked my DD out). I was able to use it for pureeing and then as she got older I used it to chop her food into small bits to eat. I think it can pretty much do all the basic things that a food processor and blender can (and I don't really know the difference between the two now that I think about it). HTH!

[achickwwit]

Is your hand blender powerful enough to chop up meat or is it more for veggies, fruits? Do you know the wattage?

[alienhost]

I have the same type of Braun appliace as vjel but mine is a hand mixer w/ the chopper attachment. The chopper attachment is a like a mini foodprocesser. I used it to puree foods a few times but DD didn't eat purees long. I also use it for adult stuff like making pesto or chopping nuts etc. so it is very useful. I think it is called the "multi mix".

Ok the picture isn't working.

[alienhost]

check the Braun website for more info:

http://www.braun.com/na/products/fooddrink/foodpreparation.html

I don't have the handblender but I think that is meant for softer things (soups, smoothies) not necessarily meat, but I could be wrong. I think the chopper attachment might work better for meats since that has a sharper blade.

[alienhost]

ok the handblenders are 200 watts and the multi mix is 280 watts.

[EJH]

We have a Cuisinart food processor and we love it. We make all of DD's food and it has come in so handy. My mom had gotten it for us as a gift and boy does it get a workout now that DD is here.

[vjel]

Is your hand blender powerful enough to chop up meat or is it more for veggies, fruits? Do you know the wattage?


as alienhost said in pp, my handblender is 200 watts. And yes, I've used it for veggies and meat, though not fruit (I'm sure it'll chop that too). It sounds like what I have is similar, if not the same as, alienhost's multimix. I have a blender, chopper and wisk attachment too, but I don't know what the difference between the 2 are. I prob. just have a older, less powerful version (hence why it was at Costco for 20 bucks).

this looks like the newer version of my handblender
http://www.braun.com/na/products/fooddrink/foodpreparation/handblenders/mr400.html

If you click on the "attachments" link to the right, it tells you what all the attachments can do. I think this is a much better alternative to a FP/blender. It's just so much smaller and takes up less space in your cabinets/drawers!

[QPDoll]

I just use a blender (we have a kitchenaid). It has gotten a workout since I have made all my own babyfood for my big-appetite twins. When not in use for babyfood, we made a lot of smoothies and milkshakes.

[tgray99]

I have a Cuisinart Miniprep and it does well for chopping and puree'ing.

[lml41981]

We just use our Cuisinart 11 cup. I make the food, DH cleans the equipment. Perfect arrangement. :D

[BeachBum]

I have a cuisinart 11 cup FP and it rocks. I also have the braun thing mentioned above, but it is too small IMO. I like being able to throw an entire sweet potato or two in the FP and have it done. I don't have to do things in batches.

If you are going to make your own food and don't mind buying supplies I highly recommend getting a food steamer. I got one at a department store for $25 and it has been sooooooo helpful. I can steam the food and not have to stand around supervising while it cooks. Plus, it doesn't zap the nurtrients out like is rumored to happen in the microwave.