Storing Baby Food

Storing baby food safely is key in preventing food poisoning and also good way to ensure that food keeps it's quality before and after it is cooked.

The quality of the raw food will determine the quality of the food once it is cooked. To make healthy, nutritious homemade baby food, you want to make sure that you buy very fresh produce. Food quality deteriorates with time, the longer that raw broccoli is kept in the refrigerator before cooking for example, the lower it's quality will be when cooked. Raw food must be cooked, frozen and stored or eaten very soon after it is purchased in order to retain as much of the nutrients as possible.

Storing Baby Food - Kitchen Hygiene

  • Keep your refrigerator clean. You can go through it and clean up right before you go grocery shopping.
  • Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and cooking utensils.
  • Wipe kitchen counter tops with soapy water before and after use.
  • Wash all cooking utensils in the dishwasher if you can.
  • Pots and cooking utensil must be sparkling clean before and after use.
  • You can sterilize ice cube trays by standing them in very hot water for about 10 - 15 minutes.
  • Sterilize all reusable baby food pots before use.
  • Store raw meat, poultry and fish on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator to avoid cross contamination.
  • Do not store baby food in the door of the refrigerator as the temperature there is not cool enough.
  • Use different chopping boards for raw meat, fruits and vegetables.
  • Any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be discarded.
  • Wash chopping boards, wooden or plastic in a dishwasher for a good hot temperature wash.

Storing And Thawing Homemade Baby Food

Storing baby food should be done correctly to avoid food poisoning. Foods to be frozen or stored in the refrigerator should be put in good quality BPA -free baby food storage containers ( with good lids) or freezer bags. Individual freezer bags or baby food pots must be labeled before storing to make it easy for you to remember what the food is ("is this pea puree or green beans puree?") and when you actually made it. Once frozen, the baby food can keep in the freezer for up 1 month and up to 8 weeks in a deep freezer.

The temperature in the refrigerator should be at 40°F and below. The temperature in a freezer should be kept at 0°F and below for safe baby food storage. You may want to monitor the refrigerator and freezer temperature every now and then by using an appliance thermometer.

Thawing Baby Food Using The Microwave Oven

Food can be quickly and safely thawed in the microwave until hot. Be sure to mix the food thoroughly to eliminate any hot spots. Allow to cool for not more than 10 - 15 minutes and taste to make sure it's the right temperature before serving.

To thaw baby food, you can choose between thawing it in a microwave oven (cook immediately after thawing), in the refrigerator or by heating the food up in a sauce pan until piping hot. Cool the food down to luke warm before serving. When you microwave homemade baby food, be sure to mix it well to get rid of any hot spots. Thawed fish, meat and poultry can be kept in the refrigerator for not more than 24 hours and fruit and vegetables can keep in the refrigerator for up to a little over 48 hours.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               







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