Pureed food - best methods

[LadyT]

I've been trying to puree things like apple and carrot, but my processor doesn't do a good job, so dd gags on it as it isn't smooth enough. What do people think about potato ricers, or the mini processors available at Jojo? What's the best way?

[skirmish]

have only just started weaning, so can't really help, but have you tried mixing it with milk to make it a bit runnier?

i know the hand -held mouli thingys are quite hard work!

i'm sure someone will be along in a minute to tell you how fab BLW is anyway!

[Nikki76]

I used a hand held blender - mines a braun one - excellent at making it really smooth as DS is a very gaggy baby with food!

[Seona1973]

I use a cheap hand blender and it does the job well. Have you cooked the foods until they are very soft? (carrots in particular take ages if you dont cut them up really tiny)

[LadyT]

I've been usuing a braun handheld one as well. I tried adding rice& milk to apple today, but it still didn't work. Perhaps I am not cooking long enough. My other thought was that the volume is too small. It all splats on the edge of the mixer bowl, and the blade doesn't touch it!

[nickytwotimes]

try adding a little of the water you cooked your veg in before pureeing. makes it much easier

[Nikki76]

I think apple could be quite tough....have you tried really cooking it until its very soft - like you would do for apple sauce but obv not with cooking apples!

[Seona1973]

mine came with a tall narrow beaker to blitz foods in and I move the blender up and down and shove lumps back in when they try to escape. You may find it better to cook in bulk and freeze the extras - it will definitely be easier to blend it then.

[Nikki76]

PS My braun splatters as well - I just make sure I wear what I call my mummy top! Used for feeding, making food and anything DS can mess up without me stressing!!!

DH can tell what I've done with my day by looking at the top! How sexy am I!!!

[Seona1973]

I wouldnt add baby rice to the foods before blending - you only need to add rice if the end product is too watery or you can add puree to prepared baby rice if you want to serve it that way i.e. prepare and blend the fruit/veg first and then either add rice to thicken it or add it to prepared baby rice.

[LadyT]

Hmm, I think I might have to try more volume and use the beaker. I'm still trying different flavours, which is why I'm only doing 1 apple, or 1 carrot. I'll have to get the ice cube tray out!!
Thanks

[LittleMissLate]

I'm just using a braun hand blender which gets a nice smooth puree (dd didn't go for the hand mashed banana ) you do need a reasonable volume though - I tend to do at least 4 apples or equivalent at a time and freeze the extra in ice cube trays. With banana I do a whole banana which is really the minimum quantity and just put any extra in a pot for the next meal (does go a bit brown but still tastes okay).

[Wilkie]

LadyT - sounds like the amount you are doing. I do 4 Gala apples, cook them for 10 mins with 6 teaspoons of water then blend. I leave the blender on for about 4 minutes solid though, then scrape round and give another quick blast. Freeze into ice cube trays then transfer to freezer bags.

I use a steamer for veg and put it on for 40 minutes so the food is really soft.

My LO is only 18 weeks old so everything is very smooth.

HTH

[Gemmitygem]

lady t, get a Beaba Babycook, it has literally saved my life.

You put the veg, fruit or whatever in, it steams it and then you puree it in the water from the cooking so you save all the vits. it's a steamer and blender in one. it is the BEST thing we got in terms of baby stuff so far... really really can't recommend it enough! very easy and keeps the vits in (I don't have shares in them by the way!