How to Store Homemade Baby Food

It’s never smart to let good food go to waste, but this is especially true with homemade baby food. If you’re going to take the time to make your own, you want it to last. To do that, you have to know how to store the leftovers. Here are three methods, along with how to do each one most effectively and how long the food will last.

No big surprise here. To refrigerate your homemade baby food, simply put the puree into a storage container and put it in the fridge. Unless otherwise stated, most purees can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. When needed, reheat to room temperature, stir, and serve.

If you want to save the puree for more than 3 days, freezing is a great option. To freeze, divide puree evenly into an ice cube tray. Once frozen, pop the cubes out of the tray and transfer them to a heavy-duty zipper-lock bag. To serve, defrost in the refrigerator overnight or microwave 1 cube for 30 to 45 seconds and stir to recombine.

We’ve found that some ingredients don’t freeze well and emerge from the freezer with a gritty texture. For that reason, we don’t recommend freezing avocado and homemade baby cereals made with rice, millet, rolled oats, or steel-cut oats.

If you are out and about and your little one gets hungry, they can enjoy their favorite puree no matter where you are. Using reusable baby pouches make this possible. With small spouts and twist-off caps, these pouches are convenient for babies and young kids to eat on the go, and they’re far less bulky than storage containers.

Looking for more information on cooking with kids? Check out these articles:

• Safety Tips for Kids in the Kitchen
• A Comprehensive List of the Best Cooking Items for Kids
• 5 Healthy Dinner Ideas That Kids Can Prepare Themselves
• 5 After-School Snacks That Kids Can Prepare Themselves