In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

NutriBullet Baby Review

Despite being easy to use and clean with minimal parts, we do not recommend this blender due to a black residue we observed
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nutribullet baby baby food maker review
Credit: NutriBullet
Price:  $70 List
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Manufacturer:   NutriBullet
By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 1, 2021
55
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 10
  • Puree Quality - 35% 1.0
  • Ease of Use - 30% 7.6
  • Health/Safety - 20% 8.2
  • Ease of Cleaning - 15% 8.0

The Skinny

This is a product we cannot recommend despite some compelling features. The NutriBullet Baby consistently created smooth purees in our tests without the hassle of multiple parts. With a blender system, you can forget about the cleanup or descaling an all-in-one product. Besides two blender sizes, additional accessories include storage cups and a freezer tray, making baby food production more manageable. Unfortunately, while testing, we noticed an unknown black substance under the extractor blade. This black substance concerns us and leaves us wondering if it might be able to get into the baby food. While NutriBullet told us that "the black residue is not mixing with the pureed food" one Amazon user review disputes that, and says they observed it getting into the food (with a photo). We're just left uncomfortable with what we observed, and as a result, we would not in good faith recommend that a friend buy this product, nor will we use it ourselves to prepare baby food.
REASONS TO BUY
Reasonable price
Easy to use
Simple to clean
REASONS TO AVOID
No cooking feature
Black substance under extractor blade
Misleading cleaning information

Compare to Similar Products

 
nutribullet baby baby food maker review
This Product
NutriBullet Baby
Awards  Top Pick Award Best Value Award Top Pick Award  
Price $70 List
$55.00 at Amazon
$90 List
$89.99 at Amazon
$50 List
$49.99 at Amazon
$12.00 List
$11.99 at Amazon
$20.00 List
$17.98 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
55
86
77
57
55
Star Rating
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Pros Reasonable price, easy to use, simple to cleanGlass, easier cleaning, above-average performance, and user-friendlyQuality puree, easy to clean, inexpensiveMinimal, small in size, compact, lid included, easy to clean, inexpensive, portablePortable, fairly easy to clean, low-cost, free from BPA and PVC
Cons No cooking feature, black substance under extractor blade, misleading cleaning informationLoud on highest setting, trapped food chunks under bladeDoes not cookBelow-average puree quality, small amounts, requires effort, lid may pop-off, stainingDoes not grind all foods, blade is dull, liquid can leak, and grinds small quantities of food
Bottom Line Despite being easy to use and clean with minimal parts, we do not recommend this blender due to a black residue we observedA blender that performs decently and features a Boroclass pitcher that is durable and healthier for babiesSimple, inexpensive, and versatile, this unit makes baby food in a snapA travel-friendly, manual food maker that mashes, but does not puree like machinesA no-frills baby food maker that is good for those seeking portability at a low-cost
Rating Categories NutriBullet Baby Oster Pro 1200 Blender Sage Spoonfuls Pure... OXO Tot Food Masher Green Sprouts Fresh...
Puree Quality (35%)
1
8.0
7.4
2.9
3.8
Ease of Use (30%)
7.6
8.0
7.7
5.9
5.6
Health/Safety (20%)
8.2
9.9
8.7
7.6
7.3
Ease of Cleaning (15%)
8.0
9.5
7.3
9.0
6.8
Specs NutriBullet Baby Oster Pro 1200 Blender Sage Spoonfuls Pure... OXO Tot Food Masher Green Sprouts Fresh...
Capacity 2 oz Single-Serving Storage Cups, 12 oz Short Cup, 32 oz/4 cups Batchbowl 6 cups Not Listed for Food Processor, N/A for Immersion Blender Not Listed 1 Cup
Footprint Small Large Small Small Small
Steam No No No No No
Settings Puree Blend, Puree Blend, Puree Blend, Mash Blend, Puree
Special Features None None None None
Included Accessories (1) Easy-pop batch tray with lid, (6) Date-dial storage cups with tip-proof tray, (1) Short cup with lid (1) 6 cup Pitcher, 24 oz. Smoothie Cup with Lid HomeMade Essentials Package Available with (1) Recipe Book, (6) Glass 4oz Storage Jars, (60) Labels, (1) Immersion Blender with Food Processor Attachment and Pocket Guide (1) Lid None
Available Accessories None None Sage Baby Eco Steamer, Sage Spoonfuls - Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Happy Babies; Sage Spoonfuls Pocket Guide, Assorted Storage Jars, Pouches, Snackie and Munchie Bag Sets None None

Our Analysis and Test Results

The NutriBullet Baby is a subdivision of Homeland Housewares, LLC. The company produces several Bullet versions under different names with slightly different takes on the original Magic Bullet. The company's primary goal is to make your life easier with everyday products for your home of good quality and value.

Performance Comparison


nutribullet baby baby food maker review - the nutribullet baby is easy and quick to use and produces top-notch...
The NutriBullet Baby is easy and quick to use and produces top-notch purees.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Puree Quality


We tested various foods ranging from soft to rough to evaluate performance and puree quality, including raw items. Although the NutriBullet Baby consistently produces smooth purees, it has a significant drawback that hurts its ranking.


The NutriBullet Baby pureed all the foods we tried with relative ease. While this blender had difficulty with kale, this ingredient was challenging for most of the competition. But, overall, the machine's purees consistency was predictable, and most foods were smooth enough for a baby's first foods.

nutribullet baby baby food maker review - the nutribullet baby comes with one blade.
The NutriBullet Baby comes with one blade.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Since this machine will only blend and puree, you will need to pre-cook most foods before blending, but we think stovetop steaming is often easier to manage with fewer parts to clean than an all-in-one baby food maker.

Blueberries.
Blueberries.
Partially frozen peaches.
Partially frozen peaches.

If the food is thick or lacks enough liquid, you will need to remove the cup or bowl and shake it to finish the puree. The motor can run for 60 seconds without a pause.

Peas.
Peas.
Sweet potato.
Sweet potato.

During testing, while following the user manual directions, we noticed black residue. We don't know the source or makeup of the black substance, and we are concerned that there is potential for it to end up in the baby's food. Other users have observed the same issue and, in some cases, more severely than ourselves. To get more information about this mystery substance, we contacted NutriBullet for comment (see quote below).

"At NutriBullet, we take product performance seriously, using a dedicated team of professionals to ensure the safety and functionality of all products within the NutriBullet family. Our product team can confirm the black residue is not mixing with the pureed food within an undamaged blender. The NutriBullet Baby Blender was tested and evaluated extensively both internally and by independent labs such as UL before being released to consumers. All food contact surfaces are constructed of FDA-approved materials, and the product is safe to use for pureeing baby food. Should consumers need further assistance with their NutriBullet products, please contact our Customer Service team, which is available to answer any questions."

nutribullet baby baby food maker review - photograph of the black residue underneath the extractor blade...
Photograph of the black residue underneath the extractor blade. Although it is not substantial, we believe it should not be occurring.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Amazon User Reviews Observe a Similar Black Residue Issue


There are user reviews on Amazon of the NutriBullet Baby that cite a similar black residue issue, and some include photos that illustrate a more severe issue than we saw ourselves.

Currently, the Top Review on Amazon for this product as of July 1, 2021 is very negative verified review, 1-star rating, posted by Joshua in Nov 2020, and includes photos of the issue and also includes this statement:
Safety is important, especially when it comes to our babies and what they put into their body. The black part pictured began to deteriorate and rub against the fitting that spins. This created a black rubber powder that just gets everywhere.

The next verified Top Review on Amazon for this product at this time, is also very negative, 1-star rating, titled "Rubber Gear of nutri bullet baby melts", and also includes photos:
Rubber Gear of nutri bullet baby melts and mixes with baby food . We have been feeding our baby for the past 10 days without realizing that rubber was melting and getting into the food until today where we saw sweet potato turning black in color .
We definitely do not recommend this as we have been feeding baby with harmful chemicals .

It is worth noting that the above user review says that they observed the material "getting into the food" and seeing "sweet potato turning black in color". This contradicts that statement NutriBullet sent us that stated, "Our product team can confirm the black residue is not missing with the pureed food within an undamaged blender."

Ease of Use


We consider how intuitive a product is to use and whether you will need to review the user manual for this metric. Among the competition, the NutriBullet Baby ranks high.


The machine is easy to assemble and straightforward to use, requiring only a few parts to create baby food. It also has one setting, so do not fret over choosing the wrong setting or cook time.

nutribullet baby baby food maker review - the blade is interchangeable with either container, batchbowl or...
The blade is interchangeable with either container, batchbowl or short cup.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The product includes one blade and two different-sized containers for pureeing (a 32 oz. batch bowl and a 12 oz. short cup). The blade is interchangeable with either container. So, add food to the container of your choice, twist on the blade, and blend away. Keep in mind that each container's maximum fill line is less than the marketed capacity amount, roughly about half.

The blender includes six date-dial storage cups with a tip-proof...
The blender includes six date-dial storage cups with a tip-proof tray and an easy-pop batch tray with a lid.
The included accessories make the process of storing baby food easy...
The included accessories make the process of storing baby food easy.

The NutriBullet Baby comes with an easy-pop batch tray with a lid, six date-dial storage cups with tip-proof tray, short cup with a stay-fresh resealable lid. The user manual also includes some recipes. However, keep in mind that the date-dial storage cups are not freezable.

Health and Safety


The NutriBullet Baby earns a higher score in health and safety.


We did not experience any residual non-food taste in the food, and the container is BPA-free plastic. However, given the potential of leaching chemicals, we prefer to use glass over plastic, especially when it comes to baby's food, but there are not many glass options on the market. We suggest making food and feeding it immediately to your baby as we believe this is better than letting food sit in plastic for an extended period. You can also purchase glass storage containers for any leftovers.

Most of the NutriBullet Baby's parts are exposed and open, making it easy to check for cleanliness. Plus, it has no steam tank, so there are no concerns for steam-related burns, descaling, or hidden areas for mold, rust, or other potentially harmful things to grow.

nutribullet baby baby food maker review - most of the nutribullet baby's parts are manageable and easy to wash...
Most of the NutriBullet Baby's parts are manageable and easy to wash by hand.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning


The NutriBullet Baby earns a high score in this metric as you can easily take it apart; the parts are manageable to clean by hand, and with no steam tank, you can avoid descaling, mineral deposits, or inaccessible areas for mold to grow.


While testing, we observed a marketing and user manual discrepancy. The NutriBullet's website states, "All components are dishwasher-safe for quick and easy cleanup." However, the user manual states, "Do not put the Nutribullet Baby blades and other plastic parts in the dishwasher. Hand-wash with warm, soapy water."

A photo of NutriBullet's website, which mentions that the blender's...
A photo of NutriBullet's website, which mentions that the blender's components are diswasher-safe.
We noticed a difference between online marketing and the user manual...
We noticed a difference between online marketing and the user manual regarding if the product is dishwasher-safe.

We believe parents should be able to trust company marketing, and if a user manual differs from that marketing, we believe this diminishes trust. We requested a statement from NutriBullet regarding this cleaning inconsistency, and they did not comment. Therefore, to err on the side of caution and prolong product usability, we recommend you hand wash the components of the Nutribullet, despite marketing claims.

nutribullet baby baby food maker review - the motor base doesn't require much cleaning, but liquids can leak...
The motor base doesn't require much cleaning, but liquids can leak into the base and activator buttons.
Credit: Abriah Wofford


The manufacturer mentions that the motor base doesn't require much cleaning, but liquids can leak into the base and activator buttons, and we suggest using a damp rag to wipe down the inside and outside. For stubborn clean-up, fill the container halfway with soapy water, and blend for 10-20 seconds. This process will help loosen dry, stuck-on ingredients.

Manufacturer Video




Should You Buy the NutriBullet Baby?


In our opinion, no.

While there is much to love about the NutriBullet Baby, the black residue issue we observed, which is also cited in some Amazon User reviews, is just a deal-breaker in our opinion. We just aren't comfortable with that black residue issue, and given there are so many compelling competing products to choose from that have no similar issue, we would not recommend a friend buy the NutriBullet Baby.

Molly Bradac
 

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BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.

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