Can you defrost baby food in microwave
Homemade Baby Food Storage | Cooking Light
By Text: Carolyn Land Williams, M.Ed., R.D. October 25, 2010
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One of the keys to making the process less time-consuming is to prepare baby’s foods in bulk. As you learn what foods baby prefers, try doubling or tripling the recipes to store in the freezer. From Cooking Light First Foods by Carolyn Land Williams, M.Ed., R.D.
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Storing Baby Food in the Refrigerator
We recommend storing your prepared pureed baby foods in single servings to help ensure food safety and simplify mealtime for you.
Storing in the Refrigerator
Shelf life: Up to two days
Best storage method: Portion food into clean, empty glass baby food jars with lids or individual serving containers with lids.
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Storing in Freezer: Option 1
Shelf life: Up to three months
Storage method: Freeze baby food in ice-cube trays; once frozen, store in an airtight container, and label the container with the date and name of the food.
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Storing in Freezer: Option 2
Shelf life: Up to three months
Storage method: You can also freeze baby food as "splats" on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet; once frozen, store in an airtight container, and label the container with the date and name of the food. Or store large portions in small freezer-safe bags; once thawed, portion the food into servings, and refrigerate.
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How to Thaw Frozen Baby Food Safely
Make sure you follow one of the methods below to ensure that baby’s food is kept safe when defrosting and reheating. You should serve the food to baby within 48 hours after it is defrosted. Discard any servings that are not used within that time.
- Defrost in the refrigerator: Place frozen puree cubes or “splats” into baby’s serving dish, cover, and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- Water bath: Place sealed frozen bags of purees in a warm water bath; replace the water as needed. Once defrosted, portion the food into individual bowls, cover, and refrigerate until serving.
- Defrost the food in the microwave: Place frozen puree cubes or “splats” into a microwave-safe dish, and cook using the DEFROST setting on the microwave. Stir and rotate the food often. Make sure the food is completely cool before serving.
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By Text: Carolyn Land Williams, M.Ed., R.D.
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What's The Best Way To Thaw Homemade Baby Food? Science Explains
Life
by Mishal Ali Zafar
So, you've decided to take the time out to make your baby fresh, homemade baby food. Feeding your baby fresh fruits, veggies, grains, and protein without any added preservatives and chemicals is healthier for your baby, and can make you feel good about meal time. But because it can be tedious to purée food everyday, you may want to make a lot and freeze it to use when you need it. But you may have concerns about how to safely thaw your food, so that it doesn’t spoil or overcook. What’s the best way to thaw homemade baby food?
Food safety, especially when it comes to babies, is really important, because when foods are not stored or thawed properly, bacteria can grow. Food safety expert and microbiologist, Irrem Jamal M.Sc, tells Romper that how you thaw your homemade baby food depends on how you freeze it. “There are different methods of safe thawing that include a stovetop, microwave, or submersion in hot water," explains Jamal.
She suggests that when you are freezing your homemade baby food, you do it in small portions. If your portions are too big, Jamal says it will take longer to thaw them, and if you have any leftover, it’s not a good practice to refreeze it. For food safety purposes, Jamal suggests using thawed fruits and veggies within two days (when stored in a refrigerator), and thawed meats and poultry within one day (stored in a refrigerator), and discarding any eaten portions right away.
Jamal says that one really great way to freeze and thaw your baby food is to fill ice cube trays with the purée and freeze them. Once frozen, you can store the cubes in resealable bags or in storage containers. This way, suggests Jamal, you will have easy-to-thaw portion sizes that you can safely defrost as needed. To thaw the frozen cubes, Jamal suggests placing them in the refrigerator overnight, but if you’re in a hurry, she says you can warm them over the stovetop, or put them in the microwave on a defrost setting in a microwave safe dish.
According to Momtastic’s Wholesome Baby Food, another easy and safe way to freeze and defrost your homemade baby food is to store portions in a freezer safe bag, and then when needed, you can submerge the bag in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes. The website further mentioned that it isn’t necessary for baby food to be really warm, because most babies have no problem enjoying room temperature food.
While using a refrigerator, microwave, stove top, or water bath to thaw are perfectly safe ways to thaw baby foods, Jamal explains that there is one method that you should not use. “You should avoid thawing foods at room temperature,” warns Jamal, “because room temperature foods can become breeding grounds for bacteria.” She says you should also not allow frozen baby foods to sit in standing water all day, again due to the risk of growing germs and bacteria.
Just to be on the safe side, Food Safety recommended labeling and dating your homemade baby foods, so that you can keep track of how long it’s been frozen. They also noted that homemade baby foods can be safely stored for up to a month in the freezer.
So depending on how you store it, in cubes, bags, or container, you can easily thaw your baby food on your stove, in your fridge, or in your microwave. As long as you follow all the food safety precautions, and avoid thawing at room temperature, you can safely feed your baby all that homemade goodness you worked so hard to make.
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Defrosting and serving baby food. Your baby from birth to two years old
Defrosting and serving baby food. Your baby from birth to two yearsWikiReading
Your baby from birth to two years old
Sears Marta
Contents
Defrosting and serving baby food
Frozen meals should not be thawed at room temperature for long periods of time. When it's time to use frozen baby food, try these tips:
• For slow defrosting, place one serving or a day's supply in the refrigerator and leave for three to four hours.
• For quick defrosting, use an electric defrost or place a frozen cube or open jar in a heat-resistant small container and place in a small saucepan. Fill the pot with water just short of the rim of the food container. Defrost and reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to heat evenly.
• Before giving baby food to a baby, be sure to mix it thoroughly and taste to make sure there are no areas too hot for the baby. Touch the product with your upper lip each time you load another spoon. Even the smallest amount of food that is too hot can teach a child not to trust what lies in the spoon approaching him. You can better check the temperature with your finger.
• Because microwave heating can create hot spots in food that can burn your child's mouth, we do not recommend this method. If you choose a microwave, be very careful to stir and always try a little yourself to see if the food is evenly heated before feeding your baby.
• To avoid wasting food, feed your baby with a spoon of the portion you think he can handle. If he wants more, use a clean spoon to place the topping on his plate. You can store the rest of the dish in the refrigerator for two days, but only if saliva does not get into it.
Some babies don't eat "baby food" at all, and all this information on how to make it can be skipped if your baby tolerates a fairly firm texture, refuses solid foods for a long time, can't stand being spoon-fed, or transitions immediately to hand feeding. Some mothers really go into making baby food; others simply cook for the whole family and mash a portion for the child with a fork.
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Is it possible to heat the puree in the microwave. How to quickly heat up a bottle of formula in the microwave
Proper nutrition is an important factor for the normal and full development of babies. Modern technologies have made people's lives much easier, and a young mother no longer spends a lot of time heating food or defrosting food, as a microwave oven does this in minutes. At the same time, everything related to the health of the child worries her in the first place, therefore, many women during this period are worried about the question of whether it is possible to heat the mixture for feeding the baby in the microwave.
The answer to the question of whether it is possible to heat infant formula in the microwave is directly contained in the manufacturer's instructions that are attached to baby products. Both the bottle itself and the packaging of baby food contain a direct indication that the mixture in the bottle cannot be heated in the microwave.
Manufacturers of baby formula for babies in the recommendations for the preparation of infant formula say that it is not recommended to prepare a large amount of formula. If there is leftover food for babies, do not use it at the next feeding. In connection with this warning, it is necessary to prepare food in such an amount that is sufficient for a single feeding.
The main concerns regarding the harmfulness of heating food in the microwave are related to the fact that when heated, vitamins and nutrients are destroyed.
There are no unequivocal studies on the dangers of microwaves. The principle of operation of the furnace is based on the usual transfer of heat from the source to the products. In this regard, it is possible to heat water in the usual way with its help. To do this, follow the safety rules and use dishes that are suitable for heating in the microwave.
Microwave baby food
Children's food is often not reheated in the microwave, not only due to a direct ban on the manufacturer. In older children, with the introduction of complementary foods, the diet becomes more varied, and the menu contains cereals, fruit and vegetable purees. It is possible to heat up such products, but it is not recommended for a number of reasons.
The main ones are:
- the microwave does not always heat the food evenly, which can lead to spoilage of the dish;
- it is not possible to achieve a boiling state with the help of technology;
- needs to constantly check how hot the food is;
- bottle may explode;
- food may burn the throat due to uneven heating.
Feeding a small child requires special control over the cooking technique, which involves boiling without salt, followed by bringing the product to the desired consistency.
The desired effect is often not achieved in a microwave oven. At the same time, with the correct implementation of the warm-up rules, it is possible to use the technique for warming up food, with the exception of infant formula or packages, the instructions for which directly state that the use of the technique is prohibited.
How to properly heat food
Use only special dishes for heating. Containers made of metal or with decorative shiny patterns are not used. It is not recommended to heat food in small glass jars, as the material heats up quickly and the food remains cold.
Microwave heating involves the use of medium modes and short process times. In most cases, the duration of the procedure does not exceed 10-15 seconds. After that, food is not immediately given to the child, it is carefully checked and, if necessary, mixed to obtain the same comfortable temperature.
What paediatricians and gastroenterologists say
Most experts will recommend using a conventional gas or electric stove to prepare baby food. You can use the microwave to heat food, except for infant formula.
The main misconceptions associated with household appliances stem from a lack of understanding of how they work.
The main ones are related to the following points:
- microwave changes the molecular structure, and due to this, the product is heated - for this effect to occur, ionizing radiation must be present, which is not present in the oven;
- technique destroys vitamins - the decrease in the usefulness of products occurs due to heating and does not depend on the method;
- carcinogens are released during the process - such elements appear only during frying, the effect of cooking in the oven is similar to a conventional double boiler.
In the microwave, food is heated by the action of waves to a depth of only 3 cm, a further effect is provided by heating from already heated layers. This feature explains why the middle of the liquid bottle often remains cold when milk is heated. To eliminate this problem, a longer warm-up at minimum power is recommended.
Which bottles are better
Only certain types of cookware are suitable for use in the microwave. Experts advise against heating in containers that contain bisphenol, since when heated, the substance is released into food and, if ingested, has a harmful effect. Such bottles and containers are marked with the code "7" or the symbol "PC". In case of doubts about the quality of dishes and the possibility of heating in the oven, it is better to use ordinary or glass dishes for these purposes.
Can baby food be cooked in the microwave? Do microwaved foods retain vitamins? How to warm up expressed milk for a baby? Is it possible to heat juices, mashed potatoes and cereals for a baby in the microwave? Such questions concern many young mothers who care about the health and well-being of their children.
Microwave and breast milk
The answer to the question about heating breast milk in a microwave oven is unambiguous. And that answer is "NO". Moreover, any manipulations using a microwave with expressed milk are strictly prohibited. Microwaves affect the living components of mother's milk, for example, immunoglobulins. As a result, they either die or their structure changes. Thus, warmed milk comes out of the oven, but no longer breast milk! And gradual heating in warm water does not cause such changes, as a result, the baby gets his favorite food unharmed. It is more correct to heat the mixture and milk in a water bath.
Good or bad?
Microwave oven heats food with electromagnetic energy. A lot of research has been done on the identification of harmful substances in dishes that are prepared with its help. Some of the scientists are sure that food from the microwave is no less healthy than when cooked and heated in the usual ways. And information about the remains of microwave radiation in food is pure myth. Since the processing time of products in the microwave is several times less, in contrast to traditional cooking methods, therefore, all useful substances are destroyed much less. Another undoubted advantage of microwave dishes is the absence of the need to add additional fats, which release carcinogens during heat treatment. The very same method of cooking is akin to steam. Be that as it may, no one is ready to talk about the benefits or harms of microwaves today.
Pediatricians do not recommend microwaving baby food in any way, simply because oven manufacturers do not indicate in the instructions how to use their products in this way. And the debate about the safety of microwaves has not yet subsided in scientific circles.
Gastroenterologists are definitely against heating breast milk in this way, since electromagnetic waves can change its structure (L-proline amino acids turn into nephro- and neurotoxic d-isomers, and they are poisonous for babies, interfere with kidney function, dangerous for the nervous system. Also, artificial mixtures should not be heated, since they have a structure similar to mother's milk, which is destroyed by electromagnetic radiation. Doctors recommend processing food intended for a child in the traditional way.In this case, a water bath is best.
Microwaves act on the water that is in the food, as a result, the water molecules begin to rotate at a tremendous speed. This is why food in the microwave cooks and heats up so quickly. However, this breaks down and changes the molecular structure of the food. Of course, each mother will have to decide for herself how to process food for her child, but the main thing is to correctly assess the benefits and risks.
It is convenient to heat baby food in the microwave - it saves a lot of time. Just a couple of minutes, and the job is done: milk, porridge or mashed potatoes are warm. But mothers are worried: does food become harmful if it is heated in a microwave oven? There are so many conflicting rumors about the influence of microwaves - what is true and what is fiction?
Microwave ovens have settled in almost every kitchen, saving time for their owners, facilitating kitchen chores. The operation of a microwave oven is based on the action of electromagnetic waves. Microwaves are harmful to humans, so there is debate about the usefulness of food prepared with their help. Many scientists claim that food from a microwave oven is completely safe, stories about the remnants of radiation in it are a myth. The power is too low to somehow affect the body.
Users ask if vitamins are preserved in the microwave. Yes, and there are more of them than in food prepared in the usual way. The reason is the short duration of the process. Dishes are prepared many times faster, less useful substances are destroyed. Another positive point is that you do not need to add oils and fats, so the food turns out to be dietary, almost like in a double boiler.
About breast milk
Breastfeeding mothers ask if breast milk can be heated in the microwave. Definitely - no! Expressed milk must not be heated with microwaves. They act on immunoglobulins and other living components, kill them or at least change their structure. You will get from the cell not priceless food, but a little useful liquid, comparable to cow's milk.
Heating of mother's milk in the microwave chamber is strictly prohibited - it is heated only in warm water, in a water bath.
Is it possible to heat artificial mixtures
If you need to warm artificial food, it is better to use the old proven method - hot water. But you can still take advantage of the microwave oven: heat water in it, in which you put milk or baby puree.
If you need to warm up a bottle of formula in a café, ask for a large cup of hot water. Put the bottle in it and heat the mixture.
What pediatricians and gastroenterologists say
Pediatricians do not advise parents to heat formula or heat milk in the microwave. In general, you should not cook food for kids in it - in any form, doctors insist. Disputes about the dangers of microwaves are ongoing, which means that it is not worth risking the health of a child. Manufacturers do not mention in the instructions for microwave ovens the possibility of using them for baby food.
Gastroenterologists are categorical in terms of breast milk: heating it with microwaves means radically changing the structure. Amino acids of L-proline are transformed into toxic d-isomers. These connections:
- disrupt kidney function;
- harm the nervous system.
Which bottles are better
Mom's formula is poured into bottles made of glass or plastic. It is recommended to use glass - they are safer. As it turned out, the plastic container contains bisphenol-A. When the plastic heats up, the phenol molecules are released and enter the contents. Animal studies have shown that after regularly eating food from heated plastic, health deteriorated. The impact on people has not been studied, but there is a risk - it is better to refuse plastic containers.
Polycarbonate dishes should not be boiled, microwaved or even washed in a dishwasher.
Take care of your baby, try to use the microwave oven only in extreme cases.
In today's society, every fourth family uses household appliances, because they help us save a lot of time. For example, a microwave oven is an indispensable tool for young mothers. After all, it is so convenient to heat baby puree, formula or breast milk in the microwave in just a few seconds and feed the baby.
But what happens to baby food when exposed to microwaves? How does microwave food affect a child's body? These and many other questions regarding the harm and benefits of a microwave oven are of concern to many mothers. Some argue that microwaves do no harm to food, others believe that they destroy vitamins and deprive food of useful properties.
We decided to write this article after we received a letter from our regular reader who writes...
“Hello, website editors! My name is Irina. Four months ago, I became a mother. I feed my baby with breast milk, but from 6 months, I plan to introduce complementary foods in the form of mashed potatoes into the child's diet. And I had a question: is it possible to heat baby puree in the microwave or, like our grandmothers, heat everything in a water bath? It is important for me to understand whether baby food loses its beneficial properties when heated in the microwave, and whether waves affect food in a negative way?”
So is it still possible to heat baby puree in the microwave? We offer together to understand this difficult issue and, perhaps, dispel some myths. In any case, you and only you, dear mothers, decide whether to listen to our recommendations or not.
Myth #1 Microwaves emit radioactive waves.
This is an erroneous statement. Because the waves belong to the group of non-ionizing, and there can be no radioactive impact. They in no way affect either food or the human body as a whole.
Myth #2 Exposure to microwaves changes the molecular structure of foods and they become carcinogenic.
Fortunately, this is not true either. To make a product carcinogenic is subject only to X-ray or ionizing waves. Carcinogenic substances are also released when foods are fried in hot oil. What doesn't happen when you reheat baby puree.
Myth #3 Magnetic radiation from microwaves
In fact, we are exposed to magnetic radiation every day: televisions, computers, mobile phones, radios, etc. Microwaves are no exception. Yes, its waves are more powerful, but, due to the "smart" device of the furnace and screened grids, the radiation remains inside.
Neither the walls of the cabinet, nor the doors, nor the food placed inside are capable of accumulating electromagnetic radiation of microwaves. And as soon as the oven stops working, the microwaves disappear. Waves can harm health only with a direct impact on some part of the body.
Scientists' opinions about the dangers and benefits of microwaves
For 25 years, scientists have been studying the effects of waves on the human body. As a result of experiments, it was proved that food cooked or heated in the microwave does not lose its beneficial properties at all. And in some cases, on the contrary, it is more useful and less high-calorie, since it does not require the addition of oil when cooking, unlike food cooked in a pan.
In addition, products retain 2-3 times more vitamins, as they are not subjected to prolonged heat treatment, and the cooking method is more like steam.
WHO has disproved the theory that microwaves are harmful to health. However, some baby food manufacturers advise against heating baby puree, formula, and milk in the microwave. Arguing that the microwave oven does not heat the food evenly. As a result, areas with high temperature are formed, which can burn the child. But you must admit that unevenly heated mashed potatoes can simply be mixed, and a child can get burned on food heated in any other way, if you do not pay enough attention to this. So this argument is probably weak.
Can breastmilk be heated in the microwave?
But breast milk is not so simple. Mother's milk has unique vitamins and microelements that cannot be replaced by even the best mixture. And young mothers should know that in areas with high temperatures, the destruction of useful components, such as immunoglobulins, occurs. What makes breast milk less healthy. Therefore, mother's milk, unlike baby puree, will be better heated in a water bath.
With incredible difficulty, I opened my eyes and tried to see what time it was, the luminous numbers on the electronic clock seemed blurry, and it took me time to focus my vision and see them - it's time to feed Artyomka. I slowly got up and went to the kitchen to heat up the infant formula. Then I remember everything, like in a fog, I took out the mixture, poured it into a baby bottle, added water and put it in the microwave, at that moment, without even thinking about whether it was possible to heat the baby formula in the microwave.
But I still had to look into this issue, a little later, when my mother scolded me for my indiscretion, firmly convinced that the use of a microwave oven to heat baby food is harmful and categorically unacceptable. So I wondered how it really is, is it possible to heat baby formula, breast milk, mashed potatoes and other baby food in the microwave?
Can breast milk be heated in the microwave?
It's time to admit to yourself that all the stories about the dangers of microwave ovens are a myth, and food heated in it does not harm our health. However, some products, for various reasons, are still not recommended for heating in the microwave.
One such product that is not recommended to be heated in the microwave is breast milk.
The fact is that when heated in a microwave oven, part of the immunoglobulins and vitamins, the content of which is unmatched in breast milk, is destroyed. And from this, of course, mother's milk becomes less useful.
Can infant formula be heated in the microwave?
But in this question you need to pay attention to what exactly you want to do.
If you need to heat water in the microwave and dilute infant formula in it, you can safely do it.
But it is not worth warming up the pre-prepared mixture.
And the point here is not at all in the microwave, it's just that almost all baby food manufacturers write on packages with the mixture that you need to use it immediately after preparation. Manufacturers do not recommend leaving the milk mixture for later, even if in the refrigerator, and then reheating it.
Can baby puree be heated in the microwave?
All the myths that the microwave oven emits radioactive waves, changes the molecular structure of the products and makes them carcinogenic - complete nonsense. There is not a single confirmation of these myths, and on the contrary, all the studies conducted over the past quarter century indicate the opposite.
Therefore, I would like to assure all mothers who are worried about the health of their children - you can heat baby puree in the microwave.
The only thing I would like to remind you is that before you start feeding the baby puree heated in the microwave, it must be mixed and tasted, as the product may heat up unevenly and the baby will burn.
Can milk be heated in the microwave?
You can heat cow's milk in the microwave.
If you decide to heat cow's milk in the microwave, you can be calm, it will not bring any harm to your health. But the benefits, most likely, too. And the point here is not at all in the microwave, but in the fact that before getting to the store counter, the milk is already processed and pasteurized in the factory. And of course, it is already difficult to talk about its naturalness and usefulness after that.
It's different when it comes to breast milk that you have expressed and now decide to warm it up. Of course, this is not worth doing. About why, we already wrote in this article, a little higher.
Is it possible to heat kefir in the microwave?
If we consider the question of whether it is possible to heat kefir in the microwave, in terms of preserving the benefits of the product, and we are convinced that this is the most important aspect in preparing food for a child.
Then the answer will be negative, heating kefir in the microwave is undesirable.
Since most beneficial microorganisms, including lacto and bifidobacteria, die when heated. And even such a small temperature as 38-40 degrees becomes critical for their survival. But in a microwave oven, the product heats up unevenly, and in some places the temperature reaches much higher marks.
If the preservation of the beneficial properties of kefir is not in the first place for you, then you can heat it in the microwave. At the same time, of course, it will lose some of its useful microorganisms, but still it will not become completely useless. But remember that with rapid heating, kefir can curdle. Therefore, when heating kefir in a microwave oven, you should not do it longer than 10-15 seconds. If this is not enough, you can take it out of the microwave, mix it well and put it on for another 10-15 seconds.
Can cottage cheese be heated in the microwave?
Almost all fermented milk products contain beneficial bacteria - probiotics. It is they that increase the activity of immune cells, produce antibodies against pathogenic bacteria and inhibit the growth of harmful microbes, thereby creating a balance in the intestinal microflora.
Unfortunately, when heated, probiotics die, so it is undesirable for a child to heat cottage cheese in the microwave.
Heating cottage cheese in a microwave oven significantly reduces the beneficial properties of the product. In addition, this is not particularly necessary, because few children like cottage cheese in a warm form. It will be enough just to get the cottage cheese out of the refrigerator and let it stand for 30-40 minutes at room temperature.
Can yogurt be heated in the microwave?
However, like kefir, cottage cheese, and any other fermented milk products. We already wrote about this a little higher - it's all about beneficial bacteria that die when exposed to high temperatures.
If you do decide to use the microwave to warm up the yogurt, remember to remove the foil-lined cap from the packaging.