The easiest way to make homemade baby food is to steam and blend it in one machine, then batch-cook and freeze in portions. Pop in fruit, vegetables or meat, press one button, and in minutes you have smooth, nutritious puree with no preservatives and no fuss. Make a big batch once or twice a week, freeze it in small portions, and you’ll always have a healthy meal ready to go. Here’s exactly how to do it, mum to mum.

Why homemade is easier than you think

Lots of parents assume making baby food means hours at the stove. It really doesn’t. With the right approach, homemade food takes less active effort than a supermarket run — and you control exactly what goes in. The Australian Raising Children Network recommends starting solids at around six months with iron-rich foods, and offering a variety of textures and flavours. Homemade purees make that simple and affordable.

The one-machine method (the genuinely easiest way)

A combined steamer-blender is the shortcut every busy parent wants. Instead of steaming in a pot, transferring to a blender, and washing up twice, you do it all in one jug:

1. Chop your fruit, veg or meat into rough cubes.
2. Add to the machine and press steam.
3. When it’s soft, blend in the same jug to your baby’s preferred texture.
4. Cool, portion and serve or freeze.

That’s it — one button, one jug, one wash-up. Our Baby Food Maker steams and blends automatically so you can walk away and come back to a finished meal. To see how it stacks up against doing it on the stovetop, read baby food maker vs steaming on the stove, and if you’re choosing a machine, our guide to the best baby food maker in Australia for 2026 walks you through it.

Batch cook and freeze — the real time-saver

The secret to easy homemade food isn’t cooking daily — it’s cooking once and freezing. Make a big batch of two or three purees, then freeze in small portions. Reusable pouches or ice-cube-style trays are perfect: freeze, pop out a portion, thaw and serve. Our reusable food pouches let you fill, freeze and serve straight from the pouch — ideal for meals at home and on the go.

A quick routine: cook on a Sunday, freeze a fortnight’s worth, and simply defrost the night before. You’ll spend about half an hour a week and always have wholesome food ready.

Easy first foods to start with

Gentle, single-ingredient purees are the simplest place to begin: pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, pear, apple and avocado all steam and blend beautifully. Once your baby is used to those, combine flavours and add iron-rich options like well-cooked meat, lentils or iron-fortified cereal. For the full picture on timing and readiness, see our complete guide to when to start solids in Australia.

Safe storage in a nutshell

Cool cooked food quickly, refrigerate what you’ll use within a day or two, and freeze the rest. Thaw in the fridge or gently warm, stir well, test the temperature, and never re-freeze food that’s been thawed. Always throw out anything your baby has been eating directly from, as saliva breaks the food down.

Make homemade food genuinely easy

One machine to steam and blend, plus reusable pouches to portion and freeze, is all most parents need. Cherub Baby’s award-winning Baby Food Maker does the work for you — press auto and walk away.

Shop the Baby Food Maker now →

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest way to make homemade baby food?

Steam and blend in a single machine, then batch-cook and freeze in portions. It removes the extra pot, the transfer and half the washing up, and gives you ready meals all week.

Do I need a special baby food maker?

No, but a combined steamer-blender makes it far quicker and easier. You can use a pot and a stick blender, but a one-jug machine saves time and mess.

What are the best first foods to make?

Single-ingredient purees like pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, pear, apple and avocado. Add iron-rich foods such as well-cooked meat or lentils as your baby progresses.

How long does homemade baby food last?

Around one to two days in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer. Cool it quickly, store in small portions and label with the date.

Can I freeze homemade baby food in pouches?

Yes. Reusable pouches are ideal — fill, freeze, then thaw and serve. They’re perfect for portioning and feeding on the go.

Is homemade cheaper than shop-bought pouches?

Usually, yes. Batch-cooking seasonal produce costs far less per serve than single-use pouches, and you control exactly what goes in.