homemade baby food: storing methods

Cool pureed food as quickly as possible and don't leave it sitting for more than 2 hours since bacteria grows rapidly at room temperature. You may choose to store  your homemade baby food in the refrigerator (you will have to do the task of making food every other day) or in the freezer (a time-saver).


In the refrigerator

• Food should not be kept in the fridge for longer than 48 hours.
• Use BPA-free plastic containers.
• Don't feed your baby directly from the jar/container and use a serving spoon.

In the freezer

• Baby food can be stored for up to 3 months. To maintain it's nutritional value, consume food within 1 month after freezing.
• Freeze food in individual portions to avoid having to thaw the entire container and refreeze the whole batch every meal.
• Use freezer-safe containers. Glass jars that are not manufactured to withstand freezing temperatures can burst or chip once the food starts to freeze and expand.

I use my Sensible Lines milk tray to freeze pureed food. Popping the food out is pretty tricky, but I don't mind the hassle.

Ice cube trays works just as well, just cover it with food-safe wrap, NOT FOIL. Each cube is about 1 ounce, so you get to monitor the amount of food your baby is eating. Probably the cheapest method as you only have to shell out cash for food-safe wrap.

Baking or cookie sheet method is also being used by other parents. Just drop spoonfuls of pureed baby food onto a cookie sheet or baking sheet, cover with food-safe plastic wrap and freeze. This is going to be a problem if  you don't have enough space in the freezer for the trays.










Once frozen, transfer the cubes/chunks into labeled and dated  freezer bags.











OR you can purchase freezer trays/container designed for homemade baby food. I browsed around and read through product reviews, these products below delivered what was promised or didn't make the parents go back to the ice-cube tray method:

OXO baby blocks set

BEABA multiportions storage

Baby Cubes

You may also opt for glass jars (keep in the fridge) if your confident that your baby can consume what you prepared within 48 hours. That's what I've been doing with my youngest, he just turned 10 months (and eager to eat table food). I would prepare 3 jars of pureed veggies that he can easily consume in 2 days, no need to freeze and defrost food.









 

Thawing/Heating methods

• Hot water. Place the cubes in a small bowl, then leave that small bowl submerged into a larger bowl filled with hot water for about 15-20 minutes.
• Fridge. Transfer the cubes in a container in the fridge overnight, as long as your baby consumes to food within 48 hours. 
• Stove. Heat food on a stove top, use the lowest heat setting, stirring often. 
• Microwave. Use microwave-safe bowl and set for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

And a little reminder: NEVER refreeze thawed food.



Based on the endless list of baby food making products and tools available, it's clear that more parents are now choosing homemade baby food over store-brought baby food. Maybe these parents have finally realized that baby food made from fresh fruits and vegetables is healthier than starchy, sugary, store-bought baby food. Or could be the effect of having baby food making products available to aid less confident parents. Whatever the reason may be, I like this growing trend.









DISCLAIMER: Some images used in this blog are not mine unless stated.
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