How long can you keep opened baby food

Storing Baby Food (Store Bought and Homemade)- Healthy Little Foodies

All Posts, by Date » Learn » Starting Solids » Storing Baby Food

Posted: Oct 11, 2020Updated: Oct 11, 2020

Safely Storing Baby Food is so important, regardless if you are making your own or using store-bought. Learn how to safely store, refrigerate, freeze and reheat your baby’s food in this handy guide.

Why Care is Needed When Storing Baby Food.

Babies digestive and immune systems are immature and they do not have the same immunity as older children and adults. For this reason, it is imperative that you pay close attention to food safety and hygiene when preparing and storing baby food.

Foodborne illnesses are quite common, estimated to affect 4. 1 million Australians each year (1). The symptoms are unpleasant and for some groups with low immunity, such as children under 5, they can be quite serious. (1)

However, good food safety and hygiene practices will help prevent this from happening.

Storing Store-Bought Baby Food

The majority of store-bought baby food is shelf-stable until opening. If you buy from the ambient section you can store the baby food, at room temperature, until the expiration date. Do not use after this date.

When opening, it is important to check that the product is properly sealed and the packaging is not damaged. In pouches make sure the plastic cap seal is not broken and if opening jars listen for a popping sound, which means it has been sealed properly and is safe to eat. If this is not the case then do not use.

Once open, the baby food is no longer shelf-stable and will need to be refrigerated for storing. Replace the lid and store in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 days. (products with meats and poultry up to one day and fruit/vegetables two days). Any food leftover after this time should be thrown away.

If you wish to store leftovers then do not feed your baby straight out of the jar or allow them to suck from the pouch. Instead, transfer a small amount of the baby food to a separate bowl/container (or squeeze from the pouch onto spoon).

“Double Dipping” from the spoon-to mouth- to container can introduce bacteria from your baby’s saliva which can grow and may cause food poisoning. Throw away any leftover food from a bowl/container you have been using to feed your baby.

Storing Homemade Baby Food

As a baby only eats tiny amounts, especially in the early stages of their feeding journey, it saves time to make up larger quantities of baby food and store for future meals.

Cooling Food

After cooking it is important to cool the food as quickly as possible. Simply putting your hot food in the fridge may not be enough to cool it down quickly enough. Instead try one of the following

Place it in an airtight container and hold it under a cold running tap. Stir it from time to time so it cools consistently all the way through
Dividing into smaller portions
Transfer to a larger or pre-chilled container and spreading the food out.

Never allow the food to sit out too long, it should be chilled and refrigerated within 1-2 hours, depending on the room temperature.

Refrigerating

Leftover baby food can be refrigerated and used within 1- 2 days. (products with meats /poultry/ rice up to one day and fruit/vegetables two days)

If there is any food left in your baby’s bowl after a meal, throw it away. Food that has been in contact with saliva contains bacteria that will multiply if left.

Freezing

You should never re-freeze baby food that has already been frozen and for that reason, it is best to divide the cooled food into smaller containers for freezing. A flexible ice-cube tray works great for this

Fill each ice-cube section almost to the top with the baby food.
Cover (with a lid or some wrap) and freeze until frozen.
Clearly label and date a freezer bag/container.
Once the ice cubes are fully frozen, quickly pop them all out and place into the labelled bag/container
Return to the freezer.

Properly frozen, the food can be stored in the freezer for two months.

Thawing and Re-heating Baby Food

The best way to defrost purees it to refrigerate overnight and use within 24 hours. Never defrost on the countertop.
You can also reheat from frozen.
Reheat baby food until piping hot to kill off bacteria. Allow to cool and always test the temperature of the food before giving your baby.
You can reheat on the stovetop or microwave. Make sure to continually stir the food to ensure it is properly heated and to get rid of hot spots.
Only re-heat once. Leftover baby food, that has been reheated should be discarded.

Summary of Important Safety Tips

Always check expiry dates on packaged baby food and make sure packaging is not damaged/tampered.
Never feed a baby straight from a jar/pouch. Instead, transfer a small amount to a separate container.
If there is any food left in your baby’s bowl after a meal, throw it away.
Cool freshly cooked baby food as quickly as possible.
Freeze purees, as soon as there are cool, in small portions.
Never re-freeze meals that have already been frozen.
Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator and use within 24 hours.
When reheating food, make sure it is piping hot throughout and let it cool before giving your baby.
Do not re-heat food more than once.

Sources

NSW Government Food Authority, Food Poisoning, Viewed 10th October 2020, <https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/food-poisoning>

You May Also Like…

Finger Foods for Babies
Why Babies Can’t Have Honey
Salt for Babies – How Much is Too Much?

Meet Amy

Amy Whiteford runs the blog Healthy Little Foodies. She is a mum to two, has a BSc (Hons) Food Science, PGDE Primary Education and a Certificate in Childhood Nutrition. She uses her experience and knowledge to create healthy and delicious recipes for kids. Explore the site for creative ideas, tips, and inspiration! Read more

How to raise a Healthy Little Foodie

Receive family friendly recipes, delivered weekly to your inbox, for FREE! And receive this FREE ebook - "How to Raise a Healthy Little Foodie"

Reader Interactions

How Long Does Baby Food Last After Opening It? How To Reduce Waste

I love buying baby food more than just about anything. The bright colors, the velvety purées, and the seemingly endless choices can keep me happily browsing the shelves until my shopping partner needs a diaper change. But no matter how meticulously I plan my grocery trips, I inevitably end up with extras that my baby doesn’t eat right away. It begs the question: How long does baby food last after being opened? Is it something you can save for later and feed to them the next day, or should you just toss it?

How long your baby food will last depends on a few things. For instance, are you saving veggies or meat-based products? Is it store-bought or homemade food? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you can store opened (store-bought) fruit and vegetable baby food in the refrigerator for two days, but you should toss store-bought meat and egg products after one. Homemade baby foods can last one to two days when properly refrigerated. It’s important to check the packaging on every product, though, as the specific guidelines may vary depending on ingredients and packaging. Here’s the nitty gritty on the safety of baby food leftovers, as explained by pediatricians and baby nutrition experts.

How long does store-bought baby food last?

Guido Mieth/Moment/Getty Images

“Unopened, most baby food should have 12 to 24 months of shelf life,” says Jason Jacobs, vice president of quality and technical services at Beech-Nut Baby Nutrition Company. Generally speaking, you can refrigerate opened store-bought fruit and vegetable baby food for two days, and opened store-bought meat and egg products for one day, per the FDA.

Keep in mind that storage recommendations differ depending on the packaging you choose. Those handy pouches? You should refrigerate baby food pouches within an hour of opening and toss them after 24 hours, no matter what they contain, according to Sarah Smith-Simpson, principal scientist of sensory and consumer insights at Nestlé Gerber.

Opened baby food should never be stored in the refrigerator if your baby has had any direct contact with it. The best way to save food is to spoon it onto a plate or bowl and let your baby take it from there. “If your baby’s saliva has touched it, then it should be thrown out right away,” advises Dr. Preeti Parikh, M.D., board-certified pediatrician and executive medical director at GoodRx. “The saliva from the baby's mouth can introduce harmful bacteria into the baby’s food,” she adds.

Remember, you can always check this stuff with your pediatrician — they're invested in the health of your baby, and foodborne illness presents serious risks. Many baby food manufacturers like Gerber offer 24-hour helplines, so if in doubt, give them a call.

You should also be sure you don't leave opened baby food out longer than two hours at room temperature, advises Jacobs. And if you're taking a picnic this summer, toss opened baby food after one hour if temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

How long does homemade baby food last?

“If homemade baby food is cooked and canned [or] sealed properly, it can last as long as 12 months in a glass jar [before opening],” Jacobs tells Romper. You can also store homemade baby foods in the freezer for three months. Once it’s been opened, the FDA advises using homemade baby food within one to two days.

The same rules apply to homemade baby food in that you should never save leftovers from your baby’s plate or bowl. Food that has come into contact with her mouth, spoon, or hands might harbor harmful bacteria that can flourish even in the fridge or freezer. “Leftovers should not be put back into the original container or stored separately in the fridge,” board-certified pediatrician Dr. Pierrette Poinsett, M.D., tells Romper. Leftovers should be thrown out.” Rule of thumb: If your baby has eaten directly from the bowl or jar, pitch the leftovers.

Can you freeze opened baby food?

Shutterstock

If there has been no saliva introduced to the food, Parikh says you can freeze opened baby food. “Freezing temps allow less likelihood of bacteria growing, so you can store it for a longer time,” she says. “The most important criteria is that no saliva has been introduced to the food.”

However, Smith-Simpson does not recommend freezing store-bought baby food. “First, many containers and pouches that are traditionally used for baby foods don’t hold up if frozen,” she tells Romper. “Second, once frozen, baby food can separate and change textures.” If you are going to freeze baby food, do so by putting it in small freezer bags or ice cube trays. Do not use glass containers, Poinsett tells Romper, as “the glass can shatter, and tiny glass chips can get into the food.”

If you can't remember how long that tub of baby food has been sitting in the fridge — I know my memory is shot — err on the side of caution and throw it out. Otherwise, follow the package directions carefully or look to FDA guidance to let you know how long you can keep it around.

Experts:

Jason Jacobs, vice president of quality and technical services at Beech-Nut Nutrition Company

Sarah Smith-Simpson, principal scientist of sensory and consumer insights at Nestlé Gerber

Dr. Preeti Parikh, M.D., board-certified pediatrician and executive medical director at GoodRx

Dr. Pierrette Poinsett, M.D., board-certified pediatrician and medical consultant for Mom Loves Best

Additional reporting by Mackenzie Sylvester.

This article was originally published on June 29, 2017

How and how much to store baby puree for babies

Other products

Contents

How to properly store baby puree
How to store open baby puree

In order for your baby to actively grow and develop, you need to take care of a comprehensive diet. The counters of today's stores are full of multi-colored jars of fruit and vegetable purees intended for children under one year old.

The assortment includes products of both domestic and foreign manufacturers. However, it is not always possible to find complete information on its storage on the product packaging, both after purchase and after opening. Therefore, in today's material we will talk about how to properly and how much to store mashed potatoes for children.

How to properly store baby puree

Storage temperature for baby puree

The standard storage temperature for a closed jar is 0-15°C.

Modern manufacturers of baby food take care of young mothers, making their work much easier. Today, even in a small shop you can find special food for babies. And it is convenient to store such food.

Fruit and vegetable purees are sold in jars, inside which a special vacuum environment is maintained, as a result, the food does not spoil, and harmful microorganisms do not start in the puree. Closed jars of baby puree can be stored even at room temperature. However, it is not desirable for the jars to be exposed to sunlight. From this mashed potatoes will deteriorate earlier than the expiration date declared by the manufacturer.

Puree is sometimes available in Tetra Pak. As a rule, such food is cheaper, but soft packaging is in no way inferior to glass counterparts. In addition, it does not let in sunlight, which has a positive effect on the taste and beneficial properties of the grated product. The only disadvantage of such packaging is the relative fragility. A box of puree is easy to wrinkle, which is why it is deformed.

And with strong compression or impact, its integrity may be violated.

After buying baby food, read the information provided by the manufacturer. This is usually the shelf life of the jar when closed, as well as the range of recommended temperatures within which the quality of the product will be good throughout the shelf life.

Separately, I would like to say about mashed potatoes prepared at home. You need to store such a dish only in the refrigerator and no longer than 1-2 days.

If you want to extend the shelf life of your baby food, just freeze the puree. To do this, lay out the prepared chilled product in containers and freeze using the "emergency freeze" mode. When you need a serving, simply remove the container from the freezer and thaw the puree in a baby food warmer or water bath.

How to store opened baby puree

Baby puree can only be stored for a limited time after opening. Most manufacturers recommend consuming the puree immediately or storing it in the refrigerator for no longer than 24 hours. Thus, a serving of puree can be divided into 2 times. Give the child half the serving after opening and feed the puree the next day. At the same time, it is impossible to warm up the puree in a jar.

Put the right amount of food in another container and then heat it up. Otherwise, the shelf life of puree will be reduced to several hours. The optimum storage temperature for an open can is 0-4 degrees. At a higher temperature, puree should be stored for no longer than 6 hours.

How to store baby puree correctly and for how long

When a baby grows up, in addition to breast milk, he is given various vegetable, fruit or meat purees. The proper development of the child's body will depend on the quality of complementary foods. Therefore, you should buy only fresh products from time-tested manufacturers. Where and how to store baby food puree, you can read on the jars. But it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the general rules for storing food for babies in order to prevent poisoning, indigestion and other negative consequences of eating low-quality or expired products.

How to choose

When buying baby puree for future use, you must strictly follow the storage rules specified by the manufacturer. But if after opening the jar there are doubts about the quality of the product, you should not give it to a child. Better to play it safe and go for fresh mashed potatoes than put the child at risk of poisoning.

High-quality fruit or vegetable puree should not contain any additives other than water and, moreover, preservatives.

When making a choice in favor of a particular type of product, first of all, its useful qualities are evaluated. Exotic fruits, for example, will not bring as much benefit to the children's body as an apple or a pumpkin.

The fruits and vegetables best absorbed by a child are those grown in the area where he lives. Therefore, when choosing baby puree, preference is given to products of local manufacturers. More natural and useful for the digestive system of our child will be puree from ordinary carrots, apples, pears, zucchini than from mangoes, bananas and other exotic fruits.

There are three types of baby puree packages:

glass,
metal,
cardboard (Tetra Pak).

It is impossible to say exactly which package is better. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages.

In glass container the product can be stored without fear that this material will somehow change the composition of the baby puree. At the same time, the small volume of the jar (100 ml) allows you to use its contents without residue. And in this case, you no longer have to store baby puree.
In metal containers the shelf life of baby puree will be longer. In addition, it will not break in case of careless handling.
Baby food in carton packs is the most budget option for low-income families. But this does not mean that the contents of the package are worse. Just monitor the safety of the product should be more carefully.

Purchased puree

Pre-sealed baby food containers can be stored even at room temperature. The manufacturer creates a vacuum environment inside each of them, which minimizes the development of harmful microorganisms. But if the storage of baby puree occurs without a refrigerator, the product is placed in a cool place, closed from sunlight. It should be understood that when heated, the contents of the containers will deteriorate faster than the period specified by the manufacturer.

Tetra Pak carton packs are as convenient as glass or metal packs. In it, the product can also be stored for a long time. Unlike a glass jar, cardboard does not let in sunlight and is cheaper.

The disadvantage of cartons is their relative fragility. They are easily deformed and may lose their tightness during transportation.

While still in the store, you need to read the information that is present on the container with baby food. First of all, pay attention to the date of release of the product, and its expiration date.

Homemade puree

At home, prepare baby puree immediately before use. Storage is contraindicated for it, since cooling and subsequent heating deprive the product of useful properties.

How long can homemade puree be kept when there is no other way out? No more than 24 hours in the refrigerator, and within 3 months in the freezer.

To freeze the product, it is laid out in ice molds and sent to the freezer. After solidification, the cubes are transferred to special freezer bags or food containers, after which the date must be indicated on them. Then the product is sent to the freezer for 3 months.

When preparing and freezing baby puree, use only sterile containers and cutlery.

Product can be defrosted on the refrigerator shelf or at room temperature.

Opened baby puree

The answer to the question of how long open baby puree can be stored can be found on the product packaging.

Most manufacturers do not recommend storing baby puree after opening in general . Or it allows it to be in the cold for no longer than 1 day. This will allow you to divide the product into 2 feedings, but you should not heat it directly in the jar. The necessary part of the puree is transferred to another container and heated. If you heat the entire jar, the shelf life of the baby puree that remains in it will be reduced to a few hours.

The temperature at which baby puree should be stored after opening should be between 0°C and +4°C. If you keep it in a warmer place, it will lose quality after 5 - 6 hours. The product cannot be kept on the refrigerator door due to constant temperature changes every time the door is opened.

In closed baby puree can be stored at a maximum temperature of +22°C
A after opening at a maximum of +4°C.

You can read the manufacturer's instructions for how long puree can be stored in the refrigerator, but if the jar is opened, it will not be possible to give the product to the child in a day.

Out of the refrigerator, opened baby food will retain its quality for up to 6 hours at temperatures up to +20°C, and no longer than 4 hours in an even warmer place.

Storage rules

If your baby consumes low-quality products, it can lead to serious consequences, so you need to know how to store baby purees in jars (other packaging).

Closed baby food containers should be kept in dry, dark places. These are various closed cabinets, pantries, etc. There should not be heat sources nearby, otherwise bacteria will begin to actively develop even in closed packaging.
Arrange the jars so that those with the earliest expiration date are closest. Accordingly, they must be used first.
Lids on containers must always be tightly closed.

Do not feed your baby directly from the bottle if you plan to continue to store the contents. When children's saliva enters the container, the development of microorganisms occurs. Then the product becomes unusable.

If you leave an open jar right on the table, after 2 hours, bacteria dangerous to your baby's health will begin to develop in it.

How long can you keep opened baby food

Storing Baby Food (Store Bought and Homemade)- Healthy Little Foodies