In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Oster Pro 1200 Blender Review

A blender that performs decently and features a Boroclass pitcher that is durable and healthier for babies
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oster pro 1200 blender baby food maker review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $90 List
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Manufacturer:   Oster
By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 2, 2021
86
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 10
  • Puree Quality - 35% 8.0
  • Ease of Use - 30% 8.0
  • Health/Safety - 20% 9.9
  • Ease of Cleaning - 15% 9.5

The Skinny

Among the food makers, the Oster Pro 1200 ranks near the top of the list. It is an affordable blender that performs well when creating baby food. We consider its Boroclass pitcher as one of its strongest qualities, as it is durable, healthier for babies, and will not scratch, unlike plastic. With parts that dismantle and are top-rack dishwasher safe, cleaning the Oster Pro is a breeze. This blender is loud when blending on its highest setting, and the blades can trap food remnants creating chunks in the final puree. However, for an average-priced blender that is not high-end, we think this option is worth considering, especially for those who prefer to limit their baby's exposure to plastic.
REASONS TO BUY
Glass
Easier cleaning
Above-average performance
And user-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud on highest setting
Trapped food chunks under blade

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award Top Pick Award  
Price $90 List
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$12.00 List
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$20.00 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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86
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Star Rating
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Pros Glass, easier cleaning, above-average performance, and user-friendlyEasy to use, excellent purees, large batches, easy to cleanQuality 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 Loud on highest setting, trapped food chunks under bladeNo cooking feature, not portable, takes up spaceDoes 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 A blender that performs decently and features a Boroclass pitcher that is durable and healthier for babiesA top-notch blender that consistently creates smooth purees and offers enough capacity to produce large batches of baby food but takes up kitchen counter real estateSimple, 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 Oster Pro 1200 Blender NutriBullet Blender Sage Spoonfuls Pure... OXO Tot Food Masher Green Sprouts Fresh...
Puree Quality (35%)
8.0
9.3
7.4
2.9
3.8
Ease of Use (30%)
8.0
8.2
7.7
5.9
5.6
Health/Safety (20%)
9.9
8.4
8.7
7.6
7.3
Ease of Cleaning (15%)
9.5
8.0
7.3
9.0
6.8
Specs Oster Pro 1200 Blender NutriBullet Blender Sage Spoonfuls Pure... OXO Tot Food Masher Green Sprouts Fresh...
Capacity 6 cups 8 cups Not Listed for Food Processor, N/A for Immersion Blender Not Listed 1 Cup
Footprint Large Large Small Small Small
Steam No No No No No
Settings Blend, Puree Blend, Puree Blend, Puree Blend, Mash Blend, Puree
Special Features None None None None
Included Accessories (1) 6 cup Pitcher, 24 oz. Smoothie Cup with Lid Tamper, Recipe Booklet 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 Yes 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

Founded in 1924, the Oster brand was named after John Oster Sr., and since, Oster has grown into a well-recognized brand. In 1980, Oster was acquired by Sunbeam and the merging led to a name change, Sunbeam-Oster Co., Inc. Today, the company manufactures a wide variety of household appliances and tools.

Performance Comparison


oster pro 1200 blender baby food maker review - the oster pro 1200 blender includes a boroclass pitcher and a...
The Oster Pro 1200 Blender includes a Boroclass pitcher and a plastic to-go smoothie cup with a lid.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Puree Quality


We appreciate, and think you will too, a machine with the necessary power and performance to create baby food suitable for beginner eaters. Therefore, we challenged each contender to a blend competition for this metric, assessing how well it manages various ingredients. We tested not only soft foods but also those that are raw, rough, and frozen.


The Oster Pro's 1200 Watt motor (one of the most powerful among the competition) delivers enough power to blend a wide range of different ingredients. Most foods we tested with this blender created an acceptable puree result; however, food remnants can become trapped under the blade, which isn't ideal as it can lead to larger chunks in the final puree.

Uncooked apple.
Uncooked apple.
Blueberries.
Blueberries.

Unlike some extra-large contenders, the Oster Pro's size isn't oversized but somewhat of a Goldilocks - not too big or small, but just the right size while still offering versatility to blend larger batches. As a reminder, if you're aiming to create larger quantities, be mindful not to go beyond the pitcher's capacity, as this can strain the motor and create disappointing results.

oster pro 1200 blender baby food maker review - the blender's control panel includes multiple settings, including...
The blender's control panel includes multiple settings, including some pre-programmed ones for common blender uses.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


It is essential to select a convenient product to use because you'll be more likely to make baby food and enjoy the process. For this metric, we evaluated how easy a product is to assemble, how many features it offers, and its potential capacity. The Oster Pro scores high in this metric and shares a leading position with other blenders in our review.


The Oster Pro 1200 includes one 6-cup capacity pitcher and one 24 oz to-go smoothie cup. The control panel is user-friendly and easy to navigate. It features pre-programmed settings for the most common blender creations, including Green/Frozen Smoothies, Food Chop/Salsa, and Milkshakes. It also has 4-speed settings with a pulse, low, medium, and high. The manufacturer claims that the blade creates a forward and reverse action when the programmed settings are used. While using these settings, the unit will shut off after running through the cycle. When working with hot foods, remove the filler cap to vent steam. When placing the jar on the base, there's no twist or rotation locking.

The Oster Pro does not offer suction cup feet or cord storage, like the come of the competition, and it is loud when blending on the highest settings. But, if you can overlook these factors, we think you may be happy with its design.

oster pro 1200 blender baby food maker review - for blenders, one safety concern is handling and cleaning the blade...
For blenders, one safety concern is handling and cleaning the blade, which is sharp. When handwashing, we highly suggest using a bottle brush.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Health and Safety


To assess the health and safety, we focused on safety mechanisms, material, and if any areas on the machine raise concerns, like mold growth or potential steam burns. Among the competition, the Oster Pro has one of the highest scores.


The most obvious concern with blenders is the blade, which is sharp. We suggest exercising caution when removing and cleaning the blade and using a bottle brush if handwashing.

Blenders do not cook food like all-in-one machines; therefore, you can worry less about potential steam injuries, which increased its ranking. Plus, the blender's Boroglss pitcher bumped up its score as we consider this a health bonus. Given a choice between plastic and glass, we opt for glass, primarily due to the potential of plastic leaching chemicals. The properties of glass hold multiple benefits, including resistance to thermal shock, less likely to scratch, stain, or retain odors.

oster pro 1200 blender baby food maker review - we consider the oster pro 1200 blender one of the easiest products...
We consider the Oster Pro 1200 Blender one of the easiest products to clean because the blender's parts dismantle and are dishwasher-safe. But, since the smoothie cup is plastic, we recommend handwashing this item.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning


Making homemade baby food involves kitchen dishes and utensils, so whatever baby food maker you select, make sure it is easy to clean. We value a product that is swift to clean versus one that is time-consuming and inconvenient. To score this metric, we evaluated whether a product is dishwasher safe and if there's any ongoing maintenance.


Among the competition, the Oster Pro scored high in this metric. Unlike other blenders in our review, this blender's parts (pitcher, bottom jar base cap, gasket, and blade) can come apart, making the cleaning process more thorough and easy to manage. Plus, these parts are top-rack dishwasher safe.

After use, rinse the pitcher to loosen stuck ingredients. It can be helpful to add a small dash of soap with water to the pitcher and run the machine for 20-30 seconds on low to help break up food residue, then follow with a clean water rinse. For ongoing maintenance and the best blending experience, occasionally check parts for wear and tear.

Manufacturer Video



Molly Bradac
 

Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.

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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