Freezing Baby Food - The Ultimate Guide

Best Baby Food Storage Containers For The Freezer

While it is possible to use normal plastic or tupperware containers for freezing baby food, they are generally too big. You want to be able to freeze small amounts, so that you can defrost single portions as you need. You can always defrost more if needed, but remember you want to control the ‘waste’ food.

In addition, special baby food containers are made of baby safe materials like glass, silicone or BPA-free plastics. They are designed for small portions and come with lids, or can be special food pouches that you can freeze, thaw and heat baby food in the same container.

So which are the best?

Ice Cube Trays

Ice cube trays are a simple way to freeze baby food. But you may be wondering ‘how to store frozen baby food cubes’? Simply fill a tray with your homemade baby puree, cover and freeze. If your ice cube tray doesn’t have a lid you can use plastic wrap. You can use any ice cube tray, but if you are concerned about plastic, then silicone ice cube trays are best.

The ice cube trays portion your baby food into manageable amounts which you can leave in your tray, or you can pop them out and store them in freezer proof bags. Make sure you label these bags with the date and the type of baby puree. However, please note that if you are using traditional ziplock bags, they are not designed for re-use and they are not dishwasher safe!

Glass Baby Jars

If you prefer to use glass for freezing your homemade baby food then make sure the glass is freezer safe. Not all glass baby food storage jars are safe for the freezer. The advantages are they do come in different (small) sizes with a lid, they are reusable and they are easy to label.

Never freeze commercial baby food jars as they are not freezer safe and are liable to crack.

Food Pouches

Food pouches have become the ‘go-to’ method of storing, freezing, warming and serving homemade baby food. They create less work and less mess for parents. Parents do not need to decant, to defrost and warm, the baby food in a different bowl or container. They are easy to fill and they are easy to store as they can be flat-packed and don’t take up too much space. However not all food pouches are reusable.

The Cherub Baby brand of food pouches are reusable and are very easy to clean and even sterilise! If you are looking for an eco-friendly option that is easy to label and easy to store then look no further. In addition, Cherub Baby now offer a new and innovative way to neatly store your food pouches in your fridge or freezer with our new (patent pending) Food Pouch & Breast Milk Bag Organiser.

How Long Can Homemade Baby Food Last In The Freezer?

It’s not only about how to store frozen baby food but also how long? As a general rule you can freeze your homemade baby purees for 3-6 months. However, if you want to have the best quality, and keep the majority of the nutrients, it is best to use the baby food within the first 3 months. Always make sure you keep frozen baby food at the back of the freezer, and not in the door where it may be subject to temperature fluctuations.

The following table is an easy reference for you:

Can You Freeze Homemade Baby Food That Has Been Made From Frozen Ingredients?

We all should know that you should never refreeze foods that have already been defrosted. But what about freezing homemade baby food that has been made with previously defrosted ingredients?

The rule is that you should never re-freeze ingredients that have already been cooked once. So if you have defrosted something that is raw and then cooked that ingredient, then you can freeze it again. For example, if you have defrosted a bag of peas to cook and make a homemade pea puree, then you can freeze that puree. The same goes for meat and fish. Raw defrosted meat or fish can be cooked, then made into a baby puree and then portioned and frozen.

Final Tips About How To Store Frozen Baby Food

For best results, store frozen baby food in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Always store homemade baby food in the back of your freezer.
To avoid freezer burn, try to remove as much air as possible from the storage bags.
Label your bags or containers with the food content and the date.
Use older frozen food first – remember the ‘first in, first out’ rule.
To thaw baby food, the best way is to thaw overnight in the fridge.

References:

Storing Homemade Baby Food – Healthy Kids

How to Freeze Baby Food – BuonaPapa.net

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