Guide to storing and serving your homemade baby food

How do I store my homemade baby food?

There are several methods for storing your homemade baby food but it is always most important to make sure you label all food made and to check the date prior to serving. Here are a few of our favorite methods for storing baby food:

• Ice Cube Tray: Freezing baby food in old ice cube trays makes for great baby food storage. Each ice cube will be approximately 1 oz. which is a perfect and easy serving size for most babies. On top of the extra ease, this is most likely the cheapest method as many people already have old or extra ice cube trays in their house already.
• Cookie Sheet Method: For this method you will need a decent amount of freezer space, wax paper, and a cookie sheet. After you make your baby food, you will scoop small serving onto the wax paper, much like you would do when making cookies. You will then freeze the baby food for several hours and then move into a separate container like a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container.
• Refrigerator: This method is not recommended as baby food is only safe in a fridge for up to 48 hours. If you do use this method please remember to never serve food to your baby directly from the container as saliva can contaminate the food.

How do I thaw and serve my homemade baby food?

• Fridge Method:  One way to thaw and serve your frozen baby food is to defrost it in the refrigerator overnight in a covered container.
• Ziploc Method: If you would rather serve your baby food warm you can put your homemade baby food portion into a sealed plastic bag and place it in a warm water bath until the desired temperature is reached.
• Microwave Method: You can also heat up your frozen baby food using a microwave on the defrost setting. Be sure to watch the food closer and to make sure the food is cool before serving.