Can you reheat baby food pouches

How To Heat Up Baby Food

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So you’re ready to introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet, you’ve researched homemade baby food recipes, and you’ve stocked up on ice cube trays and Stasher bags for storage. Now, we’re walking you through how to heat baby food safely to ensure your little one’s continued thriving. (Not sure if it’s time to start integrating baby food? We’ve got a post for that!) Figuring out how to prepare baby food to align with your baby’s nutritional needs is one thing, but learning how to store and reheat it correctly is truly just as important for your baby’s health.

There are a handful of key considerations when it comes to heating or reheating baby food: namely, making sure that reheated food is piping hot to destroy harmful bacteria that could jeopardize your baby’s health, and making sure that any food cools sufficiently before serving. But in this article, you’ll also learn about the benefits of cooking in bulk, how to freeze and reheat baby food, and how to do all of this while reducing consumption of single-use packaging, like those plastic baby food pouches that inevitably end up in our landfills and oceans.

So to learn more about all things baby food – and to help create a better planet for your little one to enjoy – read on.

How Best to Heat Up Baby Food

There are two primary ways of heating up or reheating baby food: on the stovetop or in the microwave. For either method, the goal is to practice good food safety and reheat baby food super thoroughly (think: piping hot!) as to destroy bacteria that could make your baby sick.

For the stovetop method, heat up baby food directly in a hot pan or in a double boiler, stirring constantly until the food is steaming. Alternatively, you can also use a sous vide method by submerging a Stasher 1-Cup Bowl filled with the refrigerated or frozen baby food into a pot of boiling water until the food heats through.

To save time, you can use the microwave method instead. Using a microwave-safe container like a Stasher 1-Cup Bowl, heat the frozen or refrigerated baby food on high for 15-second increments. Make sure the container is covered or somehow sealed as to keep the steam in and heat the food more thoroughly.

For both methods, stir the hot baby food well to ensure that any hot spots are absorbed into the rest of the food. Then, allow to cool sufficiently before feeding it to your little one – you can test the temperature yourself to make sure! But don’t allow the baby food to sit out for an extended period of time, as this encourages bacteria growth.

Reheating Baby Food from Frozen

When reheating baby food from frozen, make sure that the food is fully thawed – and, you guessed it, piping hot. It might seem easier to heat just to room temperature and serve immediately rather than waiting for super hot food to cool. But for the sake of your baby’s health and wellbeing, follow food safety best practices and heat food thoroughly until it’s steaming and then let it cool sufficiently. Better (food) safe than sorry! ;-)

To save time, consider doling out baby food into individual portions by using an ice cube tray and then putting the tray into the freezer – baby food is safe to freeze for 3 months. Once frozen, pop the cubes out into a Stasher 8-Cup Bowl. Now, you’ll have single portions ready and waiting in the freezer! And because baby food can only be reheated once, this method reduces food waste, too.

Can You Refreeze Baby Food?

While baby food has a pretty long shelf life when it’s stored in freezer-friendly containers like Stasher bags or Stasher bowls, it can only be reheated from frozen once. That means that if you’ve heated up frozen baby food and then have leftovers, those leftovers shouldn’t be refrozen – either promptly discard them or pop them in the fridge to use within two days. The process of freezing, thawing, heating, and then refreezing food creates a more hospitable environment for harmful bacteria to grow, which can make your little one sick. This is why following proper food safety techniques is important! And this is also why we’re big fans of freezing baby food in single portions – less food to potentially waste.

How to Prepare Store Bought Baby Foods

Unlike homemade baby food, store-bought baby food can be served at room temperature if you’ve just opened a new jar. But if you’re serving up leftovers from the refrigerator or freezer, be sure to heat the baby food super thoroughly (and then let it cool thoroughly, too!) just as you would with homemade food.

And just like with homemade baby food, store-bought baby food stays fresh in the fridge once opened for two days, so discard leftovers that have been sitting in the fridge for longer than this. Likewise, if you’re opening a jar of baby food and don’t hear that satisfying pop of the lid opening – or the click of a plastic squeeze top being unscrewed – that means the jar probably wasn’t properly sealed and could be playing host to harmful bacteria. Although we’re big believers in conservation and minimizing waste, food safety and the wellbeing of your little one is important too. So if you’re not sure if food is still safe to serve, play it safe and toss it.

You can freeze store-bought baby food, but we recommend transferring it to freezer-friendly food containers first – the plastic squeeze pouches and glass jars that store-bought baby food come in were not designed to go in the freezer and can crack. And remember, whether it’s store-bought or homemade, don’t refreeze baby food if it’s already been frozen and thawed previously.

The main best-practices when it comes to heating baby food safely? Heat throughout, let those fruit purees or veggies cool sufficiently, don’t thaw baby food and then refreeze it, and discard leftovers after 2 days. Oh, and that when it comes to all things storing, heating, and serving baby food, the Stasher bowl is your new best friend.

How long does baby food last? Plus, how to prepare and store everything safely

You’ve perfected your little one’s favorite carrot purée recipe and nailed it when it comes to petite portion sizes, but now you’re wondering: How long does baby food last? While, unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to storing baby food — a lot of it depends on the ingredients and how it’s prepared — there are definite guidelines to follow.

In addition to baby food storage, there also are safety precautions to keep in mind when making, serving and reheating your little one’s food. (Who knew baby food could be so complicated?!) From food prep techniques that minimize the risk of foodborne illness to the proper way to refrigerate, freeze and thaw foods, here are answers to all your questions about keeping your baby’s food safe.

Are you supposed to heat up baby food?

When opening a new jar of baby food, there’s no need to heat it up. You can serve it at room temperature. However, when serving leftovers or food that’s been previously prepared and refrigerated, your little one, like you, probably doesn’t want to eat it cold. (Also, heating it up will zap bacteria. More on that in a bit.)

Is it safe to heat baby food in the microwave?

“The best way to warm up food is either in the microwave or stove,” says Natalia Stasenko, a registered dietician, child nutritionist and owner of Feeding Bytes. “If microwaving, transfer the food into a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high for about 15 seconds for every four ounces. Before serving, stir it well to make sure there aren’t any hot pockets and test it yourself. ”

When reheating foods that contain meat or eggs, Stasenko recommends using the stove since the “high fat content may create overheating.”

How do you cook frozen baby food?

According to the Partnership for Food Safety Education, you should choose one of the following three ways to thaw food that’s been previously cooked and frozen:

Once food is defrosted, it should be cooked in the ways recommended above and then cooled to a lukewarm temperature before serving.

What temperature should baby food be?

Bacteria have been killed once the internal temperature reaches 165 F. The best way to ensure refrigerated or frozen food has been sufficiently reheated is to check it with a food thermometer.

Can you save leftover baby food?

Storing baby food once it’s been opened or freshly made depends on both the ingredients, as well as how it’s been prepared. Typically, store-bought food lasts a bit longer than any foods you make from scratch.

Once you open a jar of baby food, place the unused portion in the fridge quickly. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), baby food that has been opened but not refrigerated should be consumed within two hours — possibly less, depending on the food.

“Fruits and vegetables may stay out a bit longer, but meat and poultry should be placed immediately in the fridge to avoid bacterial overgrowth at room temperatures,” says Dr. Sara Siddiqui, a pediatrician and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York.

Is it OK to reheat baby food?

“Never reheat cooked food more than once,” Stasenko says. “Doing so can increase the risk of food poisoning.”

So after heating food up for your baby once, toss whatever goes uneaten, even if you didn’t serve it.

How long does baby food last in the fridge?

“Homemade baby food doesn’t last quite as long as jars and pouches from the store,” Stasenko says.

Here are some storage guidelines to follow for both store-bought and homemade baby food.

For store-bought baby food:

“Generally, once opened, fruits and vegetables will last 48 hours in the fridge after opening,” says Siddiqui. “Meats, poultry and eggs should only be stored up to 24 hours.”

For homemade baby food:

“Homemade baby fruits and vegetables should be used within 24 to 48 hours, storing any unused and uncontaminated portions in the refrigerator,” says Siddiqui. “Meats, poultry and eggs should be stored no longer than 24 hours.”

How long does baby food last in the freezer?

Baby foods can be frozen for up to three months, says Siddiqui, when they are stored in freezer-proof containers or ice cube trays that have been covered with heavy duty plastic wrap.

What are the other basics of baby food safety?

Every parent and caregiver making, handling or serving baby food should be aware of these standard safety rules.

Keep things clean

Whether you’re making your own baby food or serving up store-bought goodness, it’s important to be sure everything — and we do mean everything — is clean for baby’s mealtime.

“Parents need to make sure all food prep surfaces, utensils, cutting boards and storage jars are clean and have been washed with hot, soapy water,” says Siddiqui. “Washing hands thoroughly and frequently during food prep and storage will reduce potential contamination, as well.”

The Partnership for Food Safety Education, a nonprofit food safety organization, also stresses the importance of having a designated spot for diaper changing, which — need we even tell you? — should never be the kitchen. And scrubbing up after a diaper change (pee or poo) should always be a nonnegotiable since — brace yourself — “hands contaminated with feces play a significant role in the spread of many bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning.”

If you have an older child who’s able to use utensils or pick up food on their own, make sure they clean their hands, as well. If possible, have them use warm water with soap, which has been proven to be more effective than hand sanitizers.

Beware of cross-contamination

While the words “fewer dishes to clean” are music to any parent’s ear, serving your baby food straight from the jar isn’t recommended.

“In order to decrease contamination from normal germs found in saliva, it is best to remove the food that’s needed and serve in a separate container,” says Siddiqui. “Afterwards, discard any food from baby’s bowl that they haven’t eaten since, again, it’s come in contact with saliva.”

On the front-end, take steps to avoid cross-contamination during food prep.

“When making your own baby food, be sure to always use a separate chopping board and knife for raw meat and poultry,” says Stasenko. “Also, keep raw meat and poultry covered and separate from other products in the fridge.”

Carefully inspect

In addition to taking care to properly prepare, store and reheat food, read labels. When using store-bought baby food, be sure to both check the expiration date and make sure the jar lid “pops” when opening it. If it doesn’t, or if you notice chipped glass or rust under the lid, the FDA advises discarding the food. For baby food pouches, make sure the seal isn’t broken.

Microwave baby food: can or can't be reheated

Microwave baby food is easy to reheat - 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?

Useful or harmful

Microwave ovens have settled in almost every kitchen, save time for their owners, facilitate 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 there is no 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 wonder 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 heat 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

Children's doctors advise parents not 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 the functioning of the kidneys;
harm the nervous system.

Which bottles are best

Mothers pour their baby formula 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 abandon 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.

Is it possible to heat formula in the microwave, breast milk and baby food

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Publication date: 01/10/2021. Article updated: May 9, 2021.

It is believed that cooking or heating in a microwave oven destroys the nutrients contained in food. This is only partly true (proteins, fats and carbohydrates are preserved), but when there is a child in the house, you start to wonder - is it possible to heat baby food in the microwave, and what does it threaten?

Photo: Depositphotos.com. Author: Voyagerix.

Contents

Is it possible or not?
Microwave risks
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Plastic leaching into food
Precautions
Microwave infant formula
Tips for defrosting8 baby food

Is it possible or not?

In any food that is subjected to cooling or heating, changes occur: physical, chemical, structural and nutritional.

Many mothers are intimidated by the prospect of reheating or cooking baby food in the microwave. But there are no studies proving the harm of this method. Provided that parents comply with safety rules.

Microwave risks

Risks associated with microwave cooking or heating baby food:

Microwaves heat food unevenly. Even at the optimal temperature for the child, some pieces may be very hot. In the total mass, "hot pockets" are often formed, which can burn the baby's mouth.
Using cheap plastic when heating or microwaved baby food can be harmful to baby's health.
The radiation emitted when the microwave oven is turned on may be harmful to the child.

Decrease in nutritional value

Cooking meals for children in a microwave oven inevitably reduces their nutritional value and changes the composition at the cellular level:

The content of vitamin B12 decreases. It is important for the formation of red blood cells, preventing anemia and maintaining the health of the child's nervous system.
Reduces the concentration of flavonoids by 97%. These substances are powerful natural antioxidants, have anti-cancer, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
The level of antibodies (immunoglobulins) in breast milk drops, which should protect the baby from infections and contribute to the formation of its own immune defense.
Breaks down enzymes that help your baby digest bacteria from breast milk. Babies need these enzymes to develop a healthy digestive system that can digest food, absorb nutrients from it, and defend itself against pathogens from within.

As you can see, constantly heating baby food (and especially newborn breast milk) in the microwave is a bad idea. Therefore, the device should be used only in extreme cases, when the mother does not have time to heat up any dish on the stove. And for infant formula and breast milk, it is better to use a special bottle warmer.

Leakable plastic

Do not heat baby food in plastic containers in the microwave. Many of them (as well as plastic wrap) contain carcinogens that easily seep into food.

Reheating breast milk and infant formula in plastic baby bottles is also prohibited. When heated, such containers release toxins that affect nervous and reproductive health. Even in low doses, they can lead to cancer, early puberty, obesity and diabetes in the future.

Precautions

Photo: depositphotos.com. Author: belchonock.

Microwave Safety Precautions for Parents:

Use microwave-safe, heat-resistant glass containers.
Avoid plastic containers. They can release hazardous chemicals into the food. Plastic bags (for freezing and food storage) are also unsuitable for these purposes. They cannot heat food.
Cover food with a glass plate or lid while cooking or reheating. This will help keep the moisture in the food.
Be sure to warm up baby food well. If not all bacteria are killed, it is fraught with food poisoning for the child.
Don't take long breaks from reheating or cooking food in the microwave - it's easy to overheat or even burn food. At the same time, protein denaturation and loss of vitamins occur in them.
After taking out the food, transfer it to another dish. Then mix well so that there are no air pockets left that can burn the baby's mouth while eating.
Always follow the instructions supplied with the appliance to avoid problems.
Do not reheat baby food more than once. The rest must be thrown away. Bacteria that have fallen on a spoon from a child's saliva multiply very quickly in food residues and reach dangerous levels within an hour.
If possible, use a food thermometer or temperature probe to determine whether large pieces of meat or fish are evenly heated (the temperature inside must be at least 70 °C immediately after removal from the oven).
Do not microwave baby meat, fish or meat sticks, or eggs. For these purposes, it is better to use a stove. These foods are high in fat, and since microwaves heat fat faster than other substances, there is a high risk of splattering and overheating.
Always remove the aluminum foil from microwaveable food - never put it inside the appliance
After heating baby food, formula or breast milk, always mix thoroughly and let cool to the ideal serving temperature.
Always cover baby food with a lid before turning on the microwave.

Warming infant formula in the microwave

When the baby is very young, the prospect of heating infant formula or breast milk in the microwave is even more intimidating. In fact, these liquids can be heated in the microwave (but not on a permanent basis):

The main thing is to put a glass bottle there (without plastic or rubber inserts) or a special safe container for the mixture for no more than 10-15 seconds at medium power device operation.
After heating, shake the bottle well and check the mixture temperature on your own wrist.

Ideal temperature for infant formula is 37-38°C.

Even if the mother does not have a bottle warmer, it is better to use alternative warming methods on a regular basis:

Hot tap water. Place the bottle under hot running tap water until it reaches the desired temperature.
On the stove. Heat water in a saucepan, remove it from heat and put a bottle in it.

Breast milk freezer bags: how to choose and how to use.

Tips for defrosting baby food

Starting at 6 months old, parents often introduce complementary foods into their baby's diet and start introducing solid foods to their babies. The practice of freezing food for complementary foods has become widespread due to the fact that it saves time for a young mother and allows you to stock up food for future use.

The microwave oven comes in handy here too – for defrosting baby puree cubes and other complementary foods. But in addition to the safety rules mentioned above, when defrosting, a number of points should be taken into account: The Fast Defrost or Turbo Defrost mode is also suitable (often this is a button with the image of two snowflakes and droplets).

Always use safety glass containers approved for microwave use (with special icon - picture).

If the appliance does not have a rotating stand mechanism, defrost food in several stages - turn off the oven after a short period of time, turn the container by yourself to a certain angle, and turn on the appliance again.

30-40 seconds of microwave operation in the "Defrost" mode is usually enough to defrost baby food cubes from the freezer.

In case of natural defrosting, it is recommended to thoroughly reheat already thawed foods (5-15 seconds) to avoid the rapid growth of pathogens in them.

Allow food to cool to an acceptable temperature before giving to a child.

Defrost Icons in Modern Microwaves

Although there are no reliable studies proving the harm of food from the microwave, it is best to use the appliance as little as possible when working with baby food.