How long can defrosted baby food stay in fridge
Storing Baby Food | Happy Baby Organics
AndieM.Ed., RD, LDN, CLC, RYT-200
Read time: 6 minutes
How to store homemade baby food and store-bought pureed foods
How to thaw and re-heat pureed baby food
How to help prevent bacterial contamination of baby foods
Whether you buy baby food at the market or make it from scratch, it’s important to know how to store, prepare, and reheat your baby’s food correctly and safely.
Store-bought baby food usually comes in a glass jar, plastic container, or pouch and usually does not require refrigeration or freezing before opening. These foods are manufactured to be shelf-stable, like any other pantry item (think beans, soups, or condiments). They can typically stay fresh on the shelf for 1 to 2 years, but always check expiration dates carefully.1
Baby food storage guidelinesPureed store-bought baby vegetables and fruits can stay in the refrigerator for up to 48 to 72 hours and in the freezer for 6 to 8 months.
Pureed store-bought meat, poultry, or fish can be refrigerated for 24 hours after cooking and frozen for 1 to 2 months.
Homemade baby foods will keep for 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator and for 1 to 2 months in the freezer.2
Be sure to refrigerate freshly cooked baby food within two hours as bacteria will start to grow at room temperature after those two hours are up. Note that your refrigerator should be kept at, or below, 40 degrees F. Any warmer and illness-causing bacteria can thrive and quickly multiply.3
Want some tips on feeding your little one or on making baby food? The Happy Baby Experts are infant feeding specialists and here to help (for free!) with questions about starting solids and picky eating, as well as formula and breastfeeding. Chat now!
Can I feed baby directly from the jar or pouch?If you feed your little one directly from the jar or pouch, all leftovers must be thrown out after the meal.
Saliva from baby’s mouth gets back into the jar or pouch via the spoon, this introduces bacteria that can quickly multiply and contaminate the food.
If you know baby won’t finish it all, spoon a serving in a separate bowl and feed from that. Then you can refrigerate the jar or pouch of remaining food for an upcoming meal!4
Read more: How Can I Make my own Pureed Baby Food?
How to warm refrigerated or shelf-stable foods and thaw frozen foods:Microwave: Warm up store-bought food directly in its glass jar or transfer the food – including previously frozen purees – into a separate glass bowl (never heat up pureed food in a plastic container or pouch). Reduce the microwave to 50% power (or use the defrost feature) and then warm the puree in 15 second increments.4 Check and stir the food thoroughly each time to ensure even heating and to eliminate any heat pockets that may burn your baby’s mouth.
Stovetop: Warm your baby’s store-bought food or thaw frozen baby food on the stovetop by placing the food in a small saucepan and warming on low heat until the puree is the same consistency and no longer frozen.
To preserve the nutrients, heat only as much as is necessary.Submersion Method: Thaw frozen baby food by placing the pureed cubes in a plastic bag and then inside a bowl filled with hot or warm water. This method allows for even warming but does take a little longer – figure about 10-20 minutes for the food to thaw fully. 5 Many parents also use the submersion method to thaw frozen breastmilk.
Refrigerator: Thaw frozen baby food simply by transferring it to the refrigerator.5 This process will take 4-12 hours so plan ahead (transferring the food the night before it’s needed to allow thawing overnight is a good rule of thumb). Homemade frozen baby food that’s been thawed can safely stay in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Be sure to keep thawed baby food in a sealed container to avoid contamination.
DO NOT let baby food thaw for long periods of time on the counter at room temperature. This will allow bacteria to grow.
5
Sanitize or thoroughly clean standard ice cube trays before spooning the puree directly into each cubed section. You could also cover a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper and spoon small ‘mounds’ of puree onto the sheet to freeze.
Cover the tray with plastic wrap and place into the freezer.
Once the cubes or ‘mounds’ are solidly frozen, pop them out and store them in plastic freezer bags.
Label the bags with the type of baby food as well as the date. This allows you to use it before it expires. (Remember: store-bought fruits and veggies can be frozen for 6 to 8 months, while meats, poultry, and all home-made baby food can be frozen for 1 to 2 months).
When your baby is ready to eat, grab an individual portion of the cubes you want to use and thaw!
Ice cube trays are not only convenient, they are also incredibly helpful in portioning out homemade baby food.
The cubes are roughly one ounce each, so you can easily measure the amount of food your baby is eating and thaw small portions at a time to reduce waste.
Glass baby food jars (or any glass container) are not meant to be frozen. Frozen glass can burst or cause tiny fractures in the glass leaving behind microscopic shards that you may never see.Freeze baby food in safe “ok to freeze” plastic containers instead.
Consider a deep freezer if you want to store purees long-termFor best results, frozen foods should remain at a constant sub-zero temperature. A deep freezer is better equipped to handle this temperature control as opposed to your regular freezer, which may fluctuate with you opening and closing the door often.
Throw away leftover food that’s already been reheatedYou cannot reheat (or re-freeze) baby food more than once, so once you’ve thawed a frozen puree, toss any leftovers.
This rule also applies to breastmilk. So if you’re using breastmilk to thin out your homemade baby food purees, add the milk while it’s fresh!
Read more: Safe Storage of Pumped Breastmilk
You can also use formula to thin a puree. Do not freeze formula in its original can or bottle, but once mixed into a puree it’s ok to freeze. Freezing formula causes a separation of the fats from the liquid, which may negatively impact the texture and quality.6
Let’s Chat!We know parenting often means sleepless nights, stressful days, and countless questions and confusion, and we want to support you in your feeding journey and beyond.
Our Happy Baby Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitian nutritionists certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too, which means they’ve been there and seen that. They’re here to help on our free, live chat platform Monday through Friday, from 8am–6pm ET. Chat Now!
Read more about the experts that help write our content!
For more on this topic check out the following articles
How do I Choose Store Bought Baby Food?
Food Safety for Babies and Toddlers
Everything You Need to Know About How to Prepare and Store Infant Formula
Avoid Giving Your Child Too Much Sugar And Salt
Tips for Making, Storing, and Thawing Baby Food At Home – Square Baby
Katie Thomson MS, RD | Cofounder
How long can you freeze homemade baby food?
- You can store baby food in the freezer for up to six months.
- I recommend storing in an airtight container with minimal air or headspace.
- For optimal taste, quality and nutrient retention, consume frozen baby food within 1-3 months.
How should you defrost/heat homemade baby food?
- The best way to thaw baby food is to put tomorrow’s food in the fridge and let it thaw overnight.
- You can also use the microwave on the “defrost setting” if your baby food is in a microwave-safe dish.
- Remember, food that has been thawed should never be frozen again.
- Once thawed, keep refrigerated and consume within 2 days.
What's the best way to prep homemade baby food?
Food safety is of utmost importance. Before getting started:
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Scrub all working surfaces & equipment with antibacterial soap and hot water
Food Preparation Tips:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables should be scrubbed, peeled (as appropriate), and removed of any seeds that could pose a choking hazard.
- Meats and Proteins: remove bones, skin, connective tissue, and gristle.
Cooking Tips:
- If boiling, use a small, covered saucepan with a small amount of water until tender. The less water used, the more nutrients retained in the food.
- Puree food using a blender, food processor, baby food grinder, spoon or fork.
- Add a liquid such as breastmilk, infant formula, bone broth, yogurt, or water to achieve a desired consistency.
How should you store homemade baby food?
There are a couple options for freezing baby food:
- ICE CUBE TRAYS: scoop pureed baby food into clean ice cube trays, cover them with plastic, and stack them in the freezer. Ice cube trays are ideal for creating individual, 1-ounce servings so less food goes to waste. And you can mix & match 1-oz cubes for variety.
- Put frozen cubes in freezer bags. This frees up the trays to make your next batch.
As long as the cubes remain thoroughly frozen, they won’t stick together in the bag. - 2-4 OZ CONTAINERS: There are several options in stores or online. Look for containers with a resealable lid. Microwave, dishwasher, and freezer-safe is most preferred.
Once thawed, how long does homemade baby food last?
- Once thawed, keep refrigerated and consume within 2 days.
- Always throw away any leftovers in which the baby’s spoon has dipped. Bacteria is introduced when you put a licked spoon back into a container.
- If your baby is not going to eat a full container, portion out what you think he or she will eat into a separate container and then serve. The extra thawed food can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two days from the date it was thawed.
Square Baby's Story & Mission
100% Daily Nutrition. 0% Effort in the Kitchen.
I’m Katie Thomson -- a mom of 2 boys and a Registered Dietitian with a Masters in Nutrition. I’ve spent 15 years in the food industry leading health and wellness initiatives and consulting for brands like Starbucks, Red Robin, and Naturebox.
My badass cofounder, Kendall Glynn, is a mom of 3 and Certified Genetic Counselor with a Masters in Biophysics and Molecular Genetics. She spent her career in perinatal services and family planning. She was part of the leadership team at CPMC in San Francisco, launched San Francisco Perinatal Associates (SFPA), the first private, full-service perinatal center in SF. Since leaving SFPA, she has been actively involved in philanthropy for both Children’s Hospital Oakland and George Mark Children’s House raising millions for these two worthy causes.
We created Square Baby® to solve for every pain point we had when feeding our kiddos. We were disappointed with the options on the market — often unbalanced, misleadingly marketed, and a sea of uninspiring, shelf-stable, muted flavors.
We didn't want the next generation of babies growing up on so. much. applesauce. PSA: did you know many baby food pouches have the same grams of sugar as a bowl of LUCKY CHARMS? Mind. Blown.
Babies deserve better.
Our handmade meals are made with whole, organic foods — gently cooked, pureed in small batches, quickly frozen, and delivered right to your doorstep. Just like homemade, but better!
With my Dietitian hat on, I created the Square Meal System™ — where every Square Meal is perfectly BALANCED with organic veggies, fruits, whole or sprouted grains, and various protein sources. We even add healthy fats, herbs and spices for optimal nutrition and palate development. Balance is in the numbers! Our meals have HALF THE SUGAR as most pouches!
Our foolproof, interchangeable system means that ANY 2-3 Square Meals per day offers 100% Daily Nutrition! Our meal plans are customizable -- vegan? dairy-free? vegetarian? meat-eaters? looking for extra iron or omega-3's?
We got you!
And most importantly, we are the ONLY fresh baby food company offering an allergen introduction menu for several of the top allergens including milk, egg, wheat, soy, sesame, fish, tree nuts, and peanuts!
That’s right!
As a science-based company, we are following the research and offering options like Peanut Pumpkin Pie, Coconut Shrimp Fried Rice, Almond Butter & Banana, and Salmon Mash.
Because research has shown that introducing babies to allergenic foods early and often may help prevent food allergies from developing by up to 80%!
Follow us on Instagram @squarebabyfood or reach out with any questions to [email protected] -- we're so happy to help!
Whether you prefer to make your own baby food, or need a little help -- we're here to support and cheer you on.
xo, Katie & Kendall
This blog post is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be used as personal, health, nutritional, or medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician before making any decisions about your child's health or readiness for various foods.
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Almond Butter & Banana
Apple Curry Chicken
Apple Rosemary Lentils
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Baby Blues
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Greenie Baby
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Lil Mango
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Mango Rice Pudding
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Minty Green
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Peachy Oatmeal
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Peanut Pumpkin Pie
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Salmon Mash
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Spinach Dahl
Turkey Tacos
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Almond Butter & Banana
Apple Curry Chicken
Apple Rosemary Lentils
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Avocado Greens
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Baby Blues
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Beet Berry
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Coconut Shrimp Fried Rice
Greenie Baby
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Harvest Feast
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Lil Carrot
Lil Mango
Lil Peach
Lil Pear
Lil Sweet Pea
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Lil Sweet Potato
Mango Coconut Chicken
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Mango Rice Pudding
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Minty Green
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Peachy Oatmeal
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Peanut Pumpkin Pie
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Salmon Mash
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Spinach Dahl
Turkey Tacos
Veggie Scramble
How much and where to store baby food in jars?
Some manufacturers write detailed storage guidelines for sealed and unopened baby food right on the label.
These rules must be observed, even if they differ from the rules for storing similar products from other manufacturers. If there is no detailed instruction, use the following recommendations.
Once again, we remind you that even unopened packaging must be stored in a dark, cool place. At temperatures above +25°C, products may deteriorate even in their original packaging. nine0003
Porridges for dilution:
- The main enemy of dry mixes and porridges is moisture. Therefore, always make sure that the spoon for the porridge set is absolutely dry, and the bag itself is tightly closed after use;
- Try to let out as much excess air as possible before closing, so that moisture from it is not absorbed into the product;
- Keep the opened bag of porridge in a dry place at room temperature. There is no need to store cereals in the refrigerator, they quickly become damp and spoil there; nine0012
- Ready diluted porridge can be stored for no more than an hour or two.
An opened package can be stored for 2-3 weeks (see manufacturer's instructions). But if after a few days you notice that the powder has become damp, lumps are noticeable in it - throw it away. Even if the product looks normal, but was opened more than three weeks ago, it is dangerous to feed it to a child. You can use leftovers in adult homemade cakes.
Choose cereals for your baby
Industrial purees
An unopened can can be stored at room temperature in a dark place. An opened jar of fruit and vegetable puree will live in the refrigerator for no more than a day, and only if you follow simple rules.
Select baby puree
Do not bottle feed your baby. Put the desired portion with a clean spoon into a separate container, close the jar with the rest and put it in the refrigerator. Reheat reserved food if needed. You don't need to heat the whole jar.
If you fed your baby directly from a jar, the shelf life of such puree is only a few hours even in the refrigerator, since the baby's saliva and bacteria got into the food on the spoon.
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Important!
The shelf life of meat puree after opening is only 24 hours, subject to the same rules. If you bought puree in a metal package, be sure to transfer it to a clean, dry jar and close the lid. It is undesirable to store opened puree in its original packaging and it is recommended to use it immediately. Closed - store in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Homemade cereals
Same rules as for diluted cereals. In the process of cooking, the porridge is ground with a blender and rubbed through a sieve. At this time, microorganisms get into the porridge from the air, so you can’t store such porridge for a long time. nine0003
Home-made puree
It is possible to increase the shelf life if the finished puree is poured into small sterilized containers, covered with cling film and immediately placed in the freezer. At -18°C, this puree can be stored for up to three months.
Important!
The finished product is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 6 hours, as bacteria have probably got into it during cooking.
Do not freeze starchy puree (with potatoes, peas), as starch is destroyed during freezing. nine0003
Homemade fermented milk products
Made only from sterilized milk in a thermostat with sterility can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Mixed with fruits or juices, as well as additionally rubbed or otherwise in contact with air, they cannot be stored, they must be eaten immediately after preparation.
If the conditions for storing food for the baby are observed, his health will not be affected.
Storing, freezing and thawing breast milk
Expressed breast milk is the best food for your baby when you are not around. How to store and use breast milk correctly?
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If you go to work, go to the gym, or simply ask your partner to feed your baby and you want to get some sleep yourself, you can express your breast milk so that the baby can eat even when you are not around.
Most of the beneficial properties are retained in expressed breast milk, so if you are forced to skip breastfeeding, it will be a better replacement than any formula. But an important guarantee of the safety of expressed milk for your baby is hygiene. Read the article to learn how to properly store breast milk. nine0003
What is the best way to store breast milk?
Any type of breast milk is better for the baby than formula. But freshly expressed breast milk is better than chilled, and chilled breast milk is better than frozen. The fact is that freshly expressed milk fights bacteria better, it contains more antioxidants, vitamins and fats than chilled or frozen milk 4 .
How long expressed breast milk lasts
Once your breast milk is properly collected in a clean container, you can store it at room temperature, in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on how soon you plan to use it. Follow the guidelines below:
Recommendations for the storage of expressed breast milk (for healthy term infants) 2, 3
| Storage area | Room temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer | Pre-frozen |
| Safe shelf life | Up to four hours Up to six hours for milk expressed under extra clean conditions* | Up to three days Up to five days for milk expressed under extra clean conditions* | Up to six months Up to nine months for milk expressed under extra clean conditions* | Up to two hours at room temperature Up to 24 hours refrigerated Do not freeze again! |
* The term "very clean environment" implies strict adherence to the instructions given in the article on cleaning and sterilizing the Medela 9 breast pump0170 .
These instructions for storing and thawing breast milk are guidelines only. For more information, contact a lactation consultant or healthcare professional.
If the baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NIU) or intensive care unit, stricter cleaning and storage guidelines may apply in accordance with the hospital's internal policies.
Before placing expressed milk in the refrigerator or freezer, be sure to mark the bottles or bags with the amount of milk and the date of expression. This will make it easier to manage your pumped milk supply. nine0003
Recommendations for feeding expressed breast milk
During storage, breast milk usually separates into layers and the fat (cream) it contains rises to the top. Shake the bottle lightly to mix the layers before giving it to your baby. Strong stirring and shaking can destroy some of the nutritional and protective components of breast milk 5 .
When a baby is fed expressed breast milk from a cup or bottle, bacteria from the mouth naturally enters the milk.
Therefore, it is best to throw out all the unfinished milk one to two hours after the first feeding. In order to waste as little expressed milk as possible, it is best to store it in small portions and use just enough for one feeding 2 .
How to Store Breast Milk in the Refrigerator
2, 3Follow the guidelines below to safely store expressed milk in the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate breast milk as soon as possible after pumping.
- Store milk in clean breast milk bottles or BPA-free breast milk bags. Its long-term effects on the human body are not well understood and manufacturers are now moving away from the use of this chemical in plastic containers and coatings. nine0012
- After pre-cooling, a small amount of expressed milk can be added to the milk container stored in the refrigerator. Do not add warm breast milk to already chilled milk.
- Store breast milk in the coldest part of the refrigerator, on the back of the shelf above the vegetable drawer.
Do not store milk in the refrigerator door where the temperature is not as constant.
How to store breast milk in the freezer
2, 3The following are recommendations for the safe freezing of breast milk.
- Freeze breast milk as soon as possible after pumping.
- After pre-cooling, expressed milk can be added to a container of already frozen milk. Do not add warm breast milk to already frozen milk.
- To simplify defrosting and reduce waste, store milk in small portions (less than 60 ml). Once thawed, portions can be mixed. nine0011 Make sure the breast milk container is suitable for freezing: some containers (eg glass bottles) may burst at low temperatures. Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags are ideal for storing frozen breast milk: they are ready to use, cold-resistant and easy to label.
- Do not fill bottles or bags more than 3/4 full as milk expands when frozen.
- Store frozen breast milk in the back of the freezer where the temperature is constant.
Do not place it against the walls of freezers with automatic defrosting. nine0012
Feeding frozen breast milk
2, 3Follow these guidelines when thawing breast milk to keep it safe for your baby.
- Breast milk can be thawed in the refrigerator, usually takes about 12 hours. You can place the bottle or bag of frozen milk under running warm water (max. 37 °C). Do not thaw breast milk at room temperature.
- Fully thawed breast milk can be stored for up to two hours at room temperature and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. nine0012
- Do not thaw or reheat frozen breast milk in a microwave oven or in boiling water. This can negatively affect the nutritional and protective properties of breast milk, and due to uneven heating, the baby can burn.
- If, after defrosting, you left breast milk at room temperature, but did not feed it to the baby within two hours, the milk must be discarded.
- Do not refreeze breast milk.
How to warm up expressed breast milk
2, 3Healthy full-term babies can be given breast milk at room temperature or heated to body temperature. Some children care about the temperature of the milk, while others drink milk at any temperature.
- To warm breast milk, place the bottle or bag in a cup, mug or bowl of warm water for a few minutes until the milk is at body temperature (37°C). You can use a bottle warmer. Do not heat milk above 40°C or microwave it to avoid overheating. nine0012
- Slightly shake the milk in the bottle or bag to mix the separated fat (see above). Do not stir or shake the milk too hard.
Why does milk smell strange after storage?
Chilled or thawed breast milk may smell different from fresh
. This is due to the action of lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats into fatty acids, preventing the growth of dangerous bacteria.
Some mothers report that their milk smells rancid or soapy after storage.
But if you followed all the recommendations for safe storage given in this article, such milk is absolutely safe 2 .
Storing breastmilk on the road
If you need to transport your breastmilk from work to home or nursery, use the cool bag with ice packs 2 . For more information on pumping and storing breastmilk on the go, see the article on pumping on the go.
Literature
1 US Food & Drug Administration. Using a breast pump. [Internet]. Silver Spring, MD, USA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [updated 2018 Feb 04; cited 2018 Apr 12] Available from: www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm061944.htm
2 US Food and Drug Administration. Instructions for use of the breast pump. [Internet] Silver Spring, Maryland, USA: Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [updated February 4, 2018; cited April 12, 2018] Article referenced: www.
fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm061944.htm
3 Eglash,A., Simon,L., & The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. ABM clinical protocol #8: human milk storage information for home use for full-term infants, revised 2017. Breastfeed Med 12, (2017). - Eglash A, Simon L and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, AVM Clinical Protocol #8: Home Storage of Milk for Term Infants 2017 Revision. Brestfeed Med (Breastfeeding Medicine) 12 (2917).
4 Human Milk Banking Association of North America. 2011 Best practice for expressing, storing and handling human milk in hospitals, homes, and child care settings. (HMBANA, Fort Worth, 2011).- North American Breast Milk Banks Association. Fort Worth: SABGM; 2011.
5 García-Lara NR et al. Effect of freezing time on macronutrients and energy content of breastmilk.
