If I make homemade baby food how long can I store it in the refrigerator?

Question

I want to make homemade baby food for my baby, he is eating us out of house and home and I think I can save money making it for him. I want to make a mixture of fruits and cereal, and veggies and cereal and store it in the fridge. Does anyone have any idea how long it can be stored in the fridge or if I can store it in the freezer?

Answer 1

I make home-made food, and I keep it in the fride for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. It's easier on you if you make up a pot full of food and then put baby-meal sized amounts into little containers or ziplock bags, and store them in the freezer. Take out tomorrow's and defrost it in the fridge overnight. Have several meals cooked this way so you can change what he or she eats each day. Another great thing is to have "easy" foods on hand, like bananas - just mash one and hey-presto! Another great food is Avocado ( I think they're called Alligator Pears in America), they are such perfect foods and ready-wrapped in their natural skins. Have some jars for emergencies, and some dried baby rice and baby porridge. Dairy products are also useful if your bub is old enough, and many of them last a good while in the frigde (eg yoghurt, cottage cheese, etc). I also would chop up a couple of Dates into little slices for my son, to keep him occupied while I quickly cooked apple or sweet potato! Grated cheese works the same way, they just pick it up so carefully and it takes them ages to finish! This is how I manage to eat my tea before I have to feed my son, no more cold meals ;-)
Have fun!

Answer 2

It's not that hard to make homemade baby food. Especially when your baby starts to be able to eat chopped foods instead of pureed. It can be stored in the fridge for 2 - 3 days, or in the freezer for 3-4 months. You can freeze food in an ice cube tray and then put the frozen cubes into a ziploc bag or container (with lid) for storage.

When you take some out for your baby, it needs to be reheated until hot, and then cooled sufficiently so it's edible. You should not reheat it twice and you shouldn't save food that has your baby's saliva in it (because bacteria can breed). Babies R Us sells a little hand grinder that is 10 bucks.

We personally try to keep our little guy eating the same thing we are, just cut or mashed so he can handle it. We have some stuff in the freezer that is used on nights that we are eating something we don't want him to have (like something with peanut oil).

Happy baby food making!

Answer 3

I would freeze babannas in pieces in a large baggie, pieces that would make a meal, the same with apples peel and cut them in pieces and freeze them on a cookie sheet then put them in a large baggie. Then take out what you need for a day or two. The longer it sits the more nutrients you loose and the fresh stuff turns brown fast unless you use citric acid and that's just lemon juice but that may upset babys tummy. Just take it out and grind it up. They sell really small grinding , processors, about 17.00 at most. There is one even cheaper, it's a little taller and it is great. Had mine for 2 yrs. makes great slushies. The fruit when frozen like this will seperate easily. Then put it in the blender and it may be a little icy but, let it get to room temp. That way you know it is fresh. I do this for smoothies in the summer with protien mix added and I use strawberries, frozen too. Kids love this, just make sure about the strawberries. some kids are allergic. you can add a little hot water to the fruit to make it a little thinner. You can put plain yogurt in it too that is good and doesn't add extra sugar. Good luck. It is cheaper and healthier. We got a
Jack Lalane juicer off the internet and we love it too.

Answer 4

It can be stored in the fridge for 48 hours. Yes, you can make batches and store it in the freezer. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Check out this website: www.wholesomebabyfood.com It has some great info about making and storing your own baby food.

Answer 5

I pasted a link to help you with this question. But based off experience, I would just say be mindful of keeping it for days. The same principles apply in many way to this as it does to baby milk and store bought baby food; it is suggested that you don't refrigerate open jars or containers past 2 days tops!

Answer 6

What everyone else said is bang on. The only thing I'd like to add is when making a batch pour it into ice cube trays until frozen, then pop them out into Ziplock freezer bags. The kind that you can write on is perfect for labelling what you've made. I usually take 2 or 3 cubes out at mealtime and heat them up in the microwave. Easy-peasy!

Jenn

Answer 7

i did this when my kids were small. it is best to fix just what they will eat at mealtime. i would cut off from the meat just what i wanted to give the baby (made without any seasoning) and we would eat the rest. you can do it with fruits and vegetables. look for baby food grinders at the store. this way your child gets used to normal food and you aren't spending an arm and a leg. good luck and have fun!

Answer 8

baby needs healthy food, its good idea to make fresh food but be sure NoT make to much....its good enough to store in the fridge for 2 days.

Answer 9

I read on a home made baby food site, that it was 3 months.

Answer 10

Take Ice trays and fill them with the food you make. Freeze then then only take out what you need.