In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill Review

A no-frills baby food maker that is good for those seeking portability at a low-cost
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Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $20 List
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Manufacturer:   Green Sprouts
By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Research Analyst  ⋅  May 17, 2020
55
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Puree Quality - 35% 3.8
  • Ease of Use - 30% 5.6
  • Health/Safety - 20% 7.3
  • Ease of Cleaning - 15% 6.8

Our Verdict

While the Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill lacks features found in other baby food makers in our review, like an all-in-one machine or those with a motor base, it may be an option for families who value portability, ease of cleaning, and a low price. Keep in mind, this product will not provide puree perfection, cannot grind everything you throw at it, and requires some muscle at times. But, if puree consistency isn't your top priority, and you seek a handy tool to blend food quickly, or while traveling, this product may be a good fit, especially for those on a budget.
REASONS TO BUY
Portable
Fairly easy to clean
Low-cost
Free from BPA and PVC
REASONS TO AVOID
Does not grind all foods
Blade is dull
Liquid can leak
And grinds small quantities of food

Our Analysis and Test Results

Established in 1982, Green Sprouts is a mother-daughter owned and operated company based in Asheville, North Carolina. Committed to researching, developing, and manufacturing a line of healthy and natural baby products, Green Sprouts strives to provide products for the well-being and development of babies and children, along with resources for parenting naturally.

Performance Comparison


green sprouts fresh baby food mill
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Puree Quality


The Green Sprouts scored low in this metric as it does not create puree perfection. However, it is a mill, not a machine, so we do not expect it to produce high-quality purees that result from motor power. The blade under the strainer plate is not sharp and feels dull to the touch, which may be why some foods require more effort to mill. The manufacturer claims this mill separates seeds and skins, and although this somewhat holds, it is not perfect as some skin bits and pieces pass through the strainer plate and into the baby's food.

Milling partially frozen peaches resulted in a reasonably smooth...
Milling partially frozen peaches resulted in a reasonably smooth puree with some texture and minimal small pieces.
pasta
pasta
The banana puree was reasonably smooth in consistency, yet minimal...
The banana puree was reasonably smooth in consistency, yet minimal small pieces made it through the strainer plate.

Softer foods, like bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, broccoli, blueberries, and peaches, have moderately smooth results, yet, we observed several small pieces that survived the milling process. Peas, chickens, and pasta also had a similar outcome. However, food clogs under the strainer plate and does not yield much, plus grinding felt laborious. Unfortunately, the food mill failed to mill steamed kale and raw carrots, likely due to the blade's dullness.

The Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill yielded a small quantity of...
The Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill yielded a small quantity of peas due to peas building up underneath the strainer plate.
sweet potato
sweet potato
The Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill struggled to puree steamed...
The Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill struggled to puree steamed kale.

The Green Sprouts Mill is both lightweight and small in size, plus it features a built-in 8-ounce serving bowl, making it an excellent portable option for families who travel.

Ease of Use


The Green Sprouts Mill had a slightly below-average score in this metric. As a manual product, batteries or electricity are not needed, which has its perks for portability reasons, yet lacks the strength motors provide. Therefore, some food will require some muscle and effort to mill.

green sprouts fresh baby food mill - broccoli (cooked)
broccoli (cooked)
Credit: Abriah Wofford

While grinding during testing, we noticed that if you mistakenly forget and turn the handle counter-clockwise, the strainer plate pops out, resulting in a mess. Also, users report, and we can affirm from testing that when you hold the grinder bowl and apply downward pressure, liquid escapes the bottom cylinder's silicone sealing ring and pools on the countertop below. This problem was more likely to occur when an increasing amount of liquid is present.

green sprouts fresh baby food mill - the green sprouts fresh baby food mill is hand-operated, and...
The Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill is hand-operated, and depending on the food item, it may require some muscle and effort to grind.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

If you want to make a surplus of baby food to freeze and store, this is not the product for you. The NutriBullet Blender would be a better choice, plus it creates one of the best purees among the competition.

Health and Safety


The Green Sprouts Mill has a slightly above average score in this metric. It uses non-toxic materials, including food-safe polypropylene and stainless steel. It is also BPA and PVC free. It does have a steam tank, and the blade is not sharp. There are no major nooks or crannies that will hide and breed yuck, but we suggest examining the handle parts and sealing ring for food debris and mold.

green sprouts fresh baby food mill - green sprouts fresh baby food mill.
Green Sprouts Fresh Baby Food Mill.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning


The Green Sprouts Mill has an above-average score in this metric as it is relatively easy to clean. It is dishwasher safe, but we strongly recommend handwashing the plastic to reduce the chance of chemicals leaching and to extend the product's longevity.

green sprouts fresh baby food mill
Credit: Abriah Wofford

We experienced fibrous foods requiring more effort to remove from the strainer plate as strands or pulp catch.

Manufacturer Video



Molly Bradac