Chef Mom… Meet Your New BFF

When I was pregnant I was obsessed with researching must-have baby gear.  It’s incredibly easy to get caught up with so many different products claiming to make your life easier.  I stumbled upon the Beaba Babycook, an all-in-one kitchen appliance that claimed to make homemade baby food preparation a snap.  While I knew in my heart it should go on my ‘nice-to-have’ list, I simply couldn’t resist.  The Beaba Babycook really does it all – it steams, purees, reheats and defrosts – and it even looks good enough to take up valuable real estate on your counter.

Steam

The steamer function on the Babycook is extremely high powered.  It steams carrots in about half the time it takes with my Black & Decker steamer/rice cooker.  I use that as a bar because that’s a food favorite that tends to take the longest to prepare.  The big perk to this device is that all the healthy juices collect in the bottom of the container and can be added back into the puree so you don’t lose any of the nutritional goodness.  That means all the extra money you spent on buying organic food doesn’t go to waste.

The steam function also works really well for fish, poultry and meats.  Something I didn’t think too much about when making the purchase.  It’s a healthy way to prepare this type of food while maintaining nutritional value.  They only take a couple of minutes to steam and they puree so fine that your little one won’t even know they are in their favorite concoctions.

The other perk, that is what truly makes the Beaba Babycook an all-in-one appliance, is that the steamer function also defrosts frozen cubes, and reheats leftovers to ready-to-eat temperatures.  It’s faster than using the stove and safer than using a microwave, which makes it a great addition to your kitchen gadgets.

Puree

The puree function was what instantly won me over.  When my daughter first started to eat solids she was very picky with texture.  The Babycook pureed her favorites so silky smooth she simply couldn’t get enough.  As she got older, and graduated to texture, all I had to do was puree for a shorter time.

The Answer To Every Moms Burning Question

How easy is it to clean?  This was another very pleasant surprise.  All of the pieces come apart and go back together easily making it really simple to clean.  It’s also dishwasher safe.  One tip I have is to buy a small spatula to use during your food preparation.  It’s amazing how much of a good thing can be wasted – a spatula will help you get every last drop.

Time Saving Tip

The best advice for a busy mom that wants to make everything from scratch…make in bulk and freeze.  This is a great way to save time during the week when things can get a little hectic.  Make sure to have some extra ice cube trays on hand, and if you’re doing a big batch it’s probably not a bad idea to use a bigger steamer – this will save you some time.  When I did batch cooking I used my regular steamer and used the Babycook to puree – it was worth it to get such a perfect consistency.

A Must-Have or Nice-To-Have?

A food processor or blender and a steamer can easily do the job of the Babycook.  That said it would still remain on my must-have list.  I used it nearly everyday for 6 months and still, with my daughter at 16 months old, I am using it multiple times a week to steam, defrost and reheat.  I love that I can leave it on my counter and I don’t have to take things in and out of cupboards – especially now that they are childproofed.

Some Winning Combinations

My daughter loved avocado and banana, carrot and apple, and peach with banana and just a touch of ginger.  What won over your baby’s palette?  Share with other moms in the comment section.

In Vancouver you can find the Beaba Babycook Lusso Baby.

VancouverMom.ca conributor Jo-Anne Stayner is a freelance writer and public relations consultant based in Vancouver. She is a new, gear-obsessed, mom that is constantly on the look-out for cool things that actually help make life a little easier.