How to Store Homemade Baby Food
Homemade baby foods can be stored in the refrigerator with a tight-fitting lid. Freeze foods that you know you won’t use within 1-2 days. It’s best to freeze in single-serve portions so that you can warm up only what you need. To do so, consider the ice cube tray or cookie sheet method.
Ice Cube Tray Method
Spoon pureed food into BPA-free plastic ice cube trays. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze; once frozen solid, transfer to freezer-safe containers or plastic bags. Label and date.
Cookie Sheet Method
Drop 1-2 tablespoons of pureed food onto a clean cookie sheet, leaving spaces so the food doesn’t touch each other. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze; once frozen solid, transfer to freezer-safe containers or plastic bags. Label and date.
How Long Should I Keep Homemade Baby Food?
| Homemade Baby Food | Refrigerator | Freezer* |
| Cooked fruits and vegetables | 2 days | 1 month |
| Cooked grains | 2 days | 1 month |
| Cooked beans | 2 days | 1 month |
| Cooked meat, poultry & fish | 1 day | 1 month |
| Cooked eggs | 1 day | 1 month |
* Freezer time is for quality purposes only. Properly stored, it will remain best quality for 1 month, but will remain safe beyond that time.
How to Reheat Homemade Baby Food
As with warming bottles of breastmilk or formula, it is important to heat solid foods carefully to avoid burns to your baby’s mouth and throat. ALWAYS test the temperature using a clean spoon before feeding the food to your baby.
Thaw homemade baby food by using one of the safe thawing methods found in “Practicing Food Safety.” Reheat food by way of stovetop or microwave method. Never reheat food in a slow cooker.
Stove Method
Place food in a small saucepan and warm over low heat, stirring often. Thoroughly heat to an internal temperature of 165°F as read by a food thermometer.
Microwave Method
Place food in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave 2 tablespoons (4 ounces) on high power for 15 seconds. Stir and take temperature with a food thermometer, ensuring an internal temperature of 165°F. If needed, microwave for another 15-second interval; stir and take temperature.
After reheating to proper temperature, allow food to sit to cool; always stir, and then test the temperature before feeding it to your baby. To speed up the cooling process, stir in a small ice cube, cold water, or cold breastmilk or formula.
