Jarred meat baby food


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 guidelines: 2
  • Pureed 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.

Be sure to refrigerate freshly cooked baby food within 2 hours as bacteria will start to grow at room temperature after those 2 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.3Want 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!4For more information, read: Making your own 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

How to freeze baby food

Freeze purees in ice cube trays or on a cookie sheet

  • 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 1 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.

Do not freeze food in glass containers

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-term

For 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 reheated

You 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 Milk

You can also use formula too 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 dietitians 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, and Saturday and Sunday, from 8am–2pm ET. 

Chat Now!
Read more about the experts that help write our content!

For more on this topic check out the following articles
Choosing Store Bought Baby Food
Food Safety for Babies and Toddlers
Preparing infant formula
Avoid Giving Your Baby Too Much Sugar And Salt

The Best Store-Bought Baby Food, Jarred, Pouches, Organic & More

We aren’t here to debate whether or not homemade or store-bought baby food is best;  both have their pros and cons.  I ended up using both for my infants.  I liked the creativity of making food at home, but also appreciated the convenience of not always needing to.  The best baby foods are those that will provide the nourishment that your baby needs (source).  As discussed in our Best Baby Foods article, most manufacturers provide “stages” for their baby food products.  

Stage 1 foods tend to come in smaller volumes, and are soft purees, whereas Stage 3 foods often have chunky textures.  Although labels will specify a recommended age for each stage, it is important to know that staging should be based on an infant’s developmental readiness.  For example, some foods are labeled “6 months, stage 2” which is inappropriate for infants who have been solely breastfed until that age.  

Initially, it is best to offer single foods that are finely pureed.  This allows the infant to learn proper swallowing technique and prevents choking or aspiration.  By introducing only one new food every three to five days, if an allergic reaction develops, you will easily know the cause (source).  Here’s a closer look at some of the top baby food choices.

Please note: some infant foods are more commonly available in tubs or pouches instead of jars.  This has made shipping, manufacturing, and sometimes, even feeding, easier. 

Best Jarred Baby Food Overall:

  Plum Organics Stage 2 Food

Best Budget-Friendly Jarred Food:

  Gerber Organics Baby Food



Page Contents

Best Baby Food Jars, Tubs, or PouchesPlum Organics Baby FoodHappy Baby Organic Baby FoodSprout Organic Baby FoodMama Bear Organic Baby FoodGerber Organics Jarred Baby FoodEarth's Best Organic Baby FoodsComparing Commercial Baby Food OptionsFAQs - Store Bought Baby FoodShould I make baby food or buy it?What should I look for when buying baby food?Do the stages matter?

Best Baby Food Jars, Tubs, or Pouches

 Plum Organics Baby Food has single food options, and blends with added seasonings such as cinnamon or mint.   Gerber Baby Food offers just the basic foods (i. e. bananas taste like bananas).  

Plum Organics Baby Food


Quality

Plum Organics Baby Food, like most brands, offers three food stages.  I particularly like the addition of mild seasonings which expand your little one’s palate.

Stage 1 foods are basic, single food purees, yet some of these are seasoned.  For example, there is butternut squash with cinnamon, or sweet peas with mint.

For stage 2 options, a wider variety of flavors is available.  Plum Organics creates some food blends based on color such as the White Blend (cauliflower, apples, and leeks), and Red Blend (apples, beets, and red bell peppers).  These pack a lot of flavor and a nutritional punch.  You’ll also find Second Blends that include grains such as coconut rice, quinoa, and amaranth.

Stage three meals offer an even greater variety of spices and proteins.  For example, one such meal is quinoa with leeks, chicken, and tarragon.

Note:  some of the grain meals may require preparation (i. e. addition of hot water to cook the grains).

Happy Baby Organic Baby Food


Price$$$$

Quality

A name like Happy Baby just sounds like it would provide what’s best for your little one. Happy Baby Organic Baby Food comes in three stages of foods to give your little one as he or she grows.

Stage 1 includes oatmeal, brown rice, and multi-grain cereals that are fortified with iron, important for brain development (source).  They also contain probiotics to promote a healthy digestive tract.  In addition to cereals, there are traditional fruit puree pouches.

Stage 2 options are fruit and vegetable blends that further test your infant’s tastebuds.  Happy Baby has several product lines, giving parents many choices.  For example, the Clearly Crafted meals provide many unique flavors.  As an added bonus, the label provides information about where the ingredients are sourced.

Finally, stage 3 meals offer proteins and more texture.  You’ll find nutritious ingredients such as salmon, quinoa, and amaranth that are ideal for maturing digestive systems and palates.

Sprout Organic Baby Food


Price$$$$

Quality

Sprout Organic Baby Food has a wide variety of blends for infants who have graduated from single foods.   The company no longer sells its previous Stage 1 sweet potato, mango, prune, or peaches pouches.  However, Sprout is a great choice for babies who are ready for more complex flavors.

Stage 2 blends include combinations of fruits and vegetables with a protein or grain.  For example, there is apple with blueberries, and a pear, spinach, kiwi, pea blend.  Grain blends are also available in this product group, including those with fruits, veggies, beans, and spices like cinnamon.  There are also some baby yogurts and yogurt blends for added calcium and protein.

Stage 3 options are chunkier purees.  Many have wholesome grains or plant-based proteins such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans.  Others are blended with poultry or meats.  For example, babies can enjoy the market vegetables with pear and turkey pouch, or the harvest vegetables with apricots and chicken.   

Mama Bear Organic Baby Food


Price$$$

Quality

Popularity

The Mama Bear Organic Baby Food is not only affordable, but also provides tons of options for healthy babies food on-the-go.  These products come in single food tubs or pouches of blended flavors.  If the whole container is not consumed, the remainder must be refrigerated (true for any baby food).  Mama Bear’s offerings provide lots of nutrients to keep your baby healthy. 

The organic vegetables are packaged with 12 servings per box, and three tubs of each food type.  They are made in America without GMOs or artificial ingredients.  Instead, you just get a perfect stage 2 food for babies 6 to 8 months old.  The tubs and pouches are also BPA-free.

Options include butternut squash, carrots, mixed veggies, and sweet potato.  You may also choose ones that are blended with fruit once your baby has tried all of the single vegetables.  Mama Bear is the perfect portable baby food because it has a lid for storage, and a small size that is easy to pack into a diaper bag.  

Unfortunately, the containers are not very sturdy which allows the price to remain low.   I suggest packing them in a separate compartment of your bag to avoid messes. 

Gerber Organics Jarred Baby Food


Price$$

Quality

The Gerber line is one that has been trusted by parents for decades.  I have already stated my preference for organic baby foods and Gerber Organics Jarred Baby Food is a great choice when you are on a budget.

The Stage 1 Gerber line has single foods such as banana, apple, butternut squash, carrots and peas.  These jars or tubs are great for infants who are just beginning to eat pureed foods.  These flavors make it easy for your little one to develop their palate, and discover what they enjoy.

Doctors often recommend cereal as one of the first baby foods.  Due to concerns about arsenic contamination of rice, oat and wheat cereals are preferred.  Once it is clear that cereal alone is well tolerated, it can be combined with with fruit or vegetable purees from the Stage 1 line.  Gerber fruits and vegetables are very true to the actual flavor (as they should be).   I even liked the jarred peaches!

The Gerber Stage 2 grains come pre-blended with fruits and vegetables.  A wider variety of fruits and veggies are also available, including açai berry, spinach, or zucchini.  Most of these options are packaged in pouches.

Stage 3 Gerber Organics increase the food types by adding cheese or yogurt to some of the blends.  Kale, figs, or spices may be added to help expand your baby’s palate.  This product line is thicker and chunkier, so it is important to wait until your baby is able to chew before serving them.

Earth’s Best Organic Baby Foods


Price$$$

Quality

Earth’s Best Organic Baby Foods is a well-trusted brand for organic baby products, and their food line does not disappoint.  It provides options for the few years of life, including organic meals for toddlers.

Stage 1 offers whole grain cereals and single food jars.  In addition to rice and oatmeal, there is multi-grain variety.  The jarred baby foods include basic flavors such as sweet potatoes, peas, pears, and bananas.

Stage 2 options have chunkier textures and food blends.  Some even include turkey or chicken.  Earth’s Best is a good choice for parents of picky eaters who aren’t excited about trying new foods.

Finally, stage 3 has several ready-to-go meal options that are great for introducing your little one to cheese or pasta.  For example, you will find chicken and star pasta, or spaghetti with cheese.

Comparing Commercial Baby Food Options

The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.

Happy Baby Organic Baby Food$$$$9.6
Sprout Organic Baby Food$$$$9.4
Earth's Best Organic Baby Foods$$$9.6
Mama Bear Organic Baby Food$$$13.8 8.6

FAQs – Store Bought Baby Food

Should I make baby food or buy it?

The decision to make baby food or buy it from the store is a matter of preference.

There are several benefits to making your own baby food.  It costs less and avoids the use of preservatives.  It is also more eco-friendly because there is less processing, and the packaging can be re-used.

However, preparing baby food isn’t an option for every parent, and store-bought products are an easy way to provide a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods.  There is also the risk of bacterial contamination when homemade food is not prepared in a safe way.  It is often helpful to use sterilized baby food-making equipment, as a preventative measure.  In addition, homemade baby food has a limited shelf-life due to the lack of preservatives.  It should, therefore, be stored in the freezer until ready to thaw and use.  When making your own baby food, it can also difficult to get to the right texture.  This may result in choking or gagging among infants who have difficulty with thicker, chunkier textures.  And then, there is the question of naturally-occurring nitrites and nitrates. Levels are highest in certain dark green leafy vegetables and beets.  Amounts of these contaminants tend to be lower in store bought baby foods (source).  However, the verdict is still out on whether or not nitrites and nitrates are harmful or beneficial (source).

The best option is to choose what works for you and your baby.   It is ok to make baby food when it is convenient, but buy commercial ones at other times;  it is entirely up to you.  If you are still undecided, here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of jarred baby food vs. homemade baby food.

What should I look for when buying baby food?

When choosing baby food jars, tubs, or pouches, flavor or texture is most important.  Looking at the stages, the earlier ones usually have a smooth texture and simple flavors.  Later stages are intended for more advanced palates, and babies who have begun to chew.

As a parent, it is very important for me to know what is going into my little one’s body.  As a personal preference, I prefer baby foods made with organic fruits and vegetables.  It gives me peace of mind to know that there are no pesticides or contaminants in my baby’s food.

As with all foods, look for superfoods or those that offer a lot of nutrition.  Never buy baby food that is high in salt or sugar (source).

Do the stages matter?

Baby food manufacturers use staging to reflect the amount of food processing, and type of ingredients.  Stage 1 foods are typically single food options that are finely pureed.  They are designed for infants who are just beginning to eat ‘first foods,” between ages four to six months old.  Infant cereals are included in this category.  Stage 2 foods are for infants who have completed the single food options, and can now tolerate blends.  Those who are exclusively breastmilk or formula fed for the first six months, however, will not be ready for stage 2 foods until around 8 months old.  Proteins are often included such as legumes, fish, poultry, and meats.  Although absent from most store-bought baby foods, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommend introducing nuts between ages four to six months.  

Otherwise, stages are intended to describe the textures of the baby food.  Stage 1 is generally a thick liquid, while stages 2 and 3 are better for more experienced eaters.  Some stage 2 products have a thicker pureed consistency, and stage 3 foods are usually chunky.  Think of this last stage as the equivalent of giving your baby mashed table foods.  

 

composition, types, benefits and harms

Meat is a necessary part of the diet during the transition of a child to independent nutrition, it is a source of all types of amino acids necessary for the body of a small person. Industrially produced are various meat and mixed purees, packaged in jars of 80-100 g of the product.

Application

The National Infant Nutrition Optimization Program recommends introducing mashed meats at the sixth month for formula fed babies and at the eighth month for those who are fully breastfed. Before this, it is desirable that the child has already gained experience in eating fruit and vegetable purees, as well as baby cereals.

Meat should be introduced into complementary foods, gradually increasing the portion from 20 g at the beginning of complementary foods to 50-70 g by the beginning of the second year of a child's life.

There are three stages of introduction of complementary foods:

  • 6-7 months. Homogenized products with a particle size of 0.3 mm.
  • 7-8 months Puree products. The particle size is 1.5 mm.
  • 9-12 months Coarse products. Particle size up to 3 mm. May contain spices.

Advantages and disadvantages of canned meat puree

Meat puree for complementary foods can be prepared by parents themselves. However, this solution has both advantages and significant disadvantages:

Advantages:

  • control over the cooking process;
  • Guaranteed free of dyes and preservatives;
  • the child receiving a freshly prepared meal;
  • the ability to choose a combination of meat and side dishes individually, based on the needs and taste preferences of the baby.

Disadvantages:

  • shelf life of the finished product is short - no more than 1 day. in the refrigerator, as a result of which you should not take it with you if you need a long trip;
  • if you have to buy meat, you can buy a product obtained with the help of growth stimulants, or simply of poor quality.

Naturally, the choice of a ready-made canned product cannot be called an ideal solution. This option also has a set of both advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

  • raw materials and manufacturing techniques are subject to state control;
  • finished product can be stored for a long time;
  • convenient packing and packing;
  • the degree of grinding is selected in accordance with the needs of the child, and not “by eye”;
  • vitamins and mineral complexes are added to the product.

Disadvantages:

  • the need to trust the control of cooking to someone from outside;
  • high price compared to self-made puree.

Recommendations for choosing canned meat puree

It should be remembered that canned baby foods should be a finely ground homogeneous mass with a pronounced taste and smell characteristic of this type of product.

The presence of foreign taste is unacceptable, except when the composition includes carrots or liver. Then a slight natural bitterness is acceptable. During storage, flaking of fat and liquid, a light-colored precipitate may appear.

Meat and meat-and-vegetable purees are included in the line of their products by many manufacturers of baby food.

Popular brands of canned meat for children

  • Agusha. Russia - Parents' rating: four with a minus. The presence of starch in the composition and the thick consistency are questionable. The tin can is difficult to open.
  • Tyoma. Russia - Parental rating: four with a minus. It contains chicken fat, cereals, milk powder, and therefore less actual meat. Salt is also present in the composition and it is better to give such purees to children older than 10 months. The packaging is similar to "Agusha", with the same complaints.
  • Grandma's basket. Russia - Parental rating: five. The manufacturer uses rice flour instead of starch. A wide range of products including deli meats such as venison. Convenient packaging in glass jars. Recommended for children over 8 months old.
  • FrutoNyanya, Russia - Parent rating: four. Tight consistency due to the presence of a large amount of cornstarch.
  • Heinz, Italy - Parent rating: five. Instead of starch, cornmeal is used. The manufacturer declares the absence of milk and salt. Delicious meats are present among the products. However, this manufacturer, at a comparable, or even higher price, contains 20 g less mashed potatoes in a jar.

Warning

Children with allergies should avoid industrial canned meat for children.

Energy value of the product (ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates):

Proteins: 13g (∼ 52 kcal)

Fats: 3g. ( ∼ 27 kcal)

Carbohydrates: 5g. ( ∼ 20 kcal)

Energy ratio (b|g|y): 34% | eighteen% | 13%

In 1 can 100 g.

Canned food for baby food

Category: Baby food products

Canned food for baby food is produced from selected raw materials of certain varieties under strict sanitary-hygienic, chemical-technological and microbiological control. Special requirements are placed on technological equipment. It must be made of non-corrosive materials.

Canned baby food has a high nutritional value and provides year-round balanced nutrition for children of all age groups. Some types of canned food are rich in proteins. All of them contain a large amount of carbohydrates and a small amount of fiber. Many canned foods are a good source of vitamin C and β-carotene. In addition, canned baby food contains a sufficient amount of iron, phosphorus and calcium salts. The range of canned foods for baby and diet food entering the consumer market is quite wide and includes more than 200 items.

Canned vegetables, fruits, fruits and vegetables are prepared for children's nutrition, which must have excellent taste, the required calorie content, contain vitamins and ash elements (in particular, iron and phosphorus). In addition to the main raw materials of fresh fruits, berries, vegetables, cereals, meat, a complex of vitamins is introduced into their composition (C, B 1, B 2 , B 6 , PP, E). The most favorable ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in food for children is 1:1:2. For children aged 2 to 5 months, fruit or vegetable juices or finely ground puree with a dispersion of 20-50 and not more than 100 microns are recommended. The fiber content in the product should not exceed 0.6%. Food particles for children from 8 months to 1 year can be larger - up to 2 mm, and older than 1 year - from 2 to 10 mm.

Canned food for baby food, although produced according to the usual technology, but at the same time more carefully control the quality of raw materials, strictly comply with technological standards, maintaining a high sanitary level of production. They are produced at specialized enterprises or in workshops that meet special requirements for technology and equipment.

Puree-like preserves for children

These preserves are produced in the following assortment:

- natural vegetable purees from green peas, carrots or pumpkin, as well as pureed tomatoes; vegetable natural purees with the addition of other components;

- various types of puree soups - vegetable, tomato, meat and vegetable, chicken with vegetables, liver with rice or potatoes. The raw materials for these canned food are cauliflower, pumpkin, green peas, zucchini, tomatoes. A set of vegetables and composition are set for each type of canned food separately. The same group of canned food includes mashed potatoes from spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, green peas, green beans, to which one of the following components is added: rice, semolina, milk;

- fruit and berry purees from apples, apricots, black currants, blueberries, fresh plums, prunes with sugar;

- from a mixture of fruit and vegetable puree or juices.

Puree-like canned foods for children are produced on stainless steel mechanized lines. Raw materials used for the production of canned food are crushed into pieces 3-5 mm in size. In the process of processing, measures are taken to protect the semi-finished product from exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Products are packaged in glass or lacquered tin containers. Thus, the preservation of vitamins during the processing of raw materials is ensured and the transfer of heavy metals into canned food is excluded.

The production of canned food for baby food is made from high-quality specially selected varieties, absolutely fresh vegetables and fruits, quickly, in order to avoid contamination of the product with microorganisms. The equipment and pipelines through which the product is pumped are thoroughly cleaned and washed with hot water after completion of work. Before loading, the equipment is washed a second time.

Factors that form the quality of canned food for baby food

Formation of the quality of canned food for baby food is formed at all stages of the technological process.

Pureed preserves include preparation of raw materials, boiling and mashing, homogenization, deaeration, packing, capping and sterilization.

Preparation of raw materials

Fruits and vegetables are sorted, washed, inspected and rinsed in the shower. These operations are carried out in the same way as in the production of other types of canned food, but they are distinguished by the thoroughness of their implementation.

Potatoes are peeled and cut into circles or cubes. Root vegetables and onions are peeled and chopped. For the first dinner dishes, carrots are pre-blanched with steam. When preserved in sour cream sauce, chopped carrots are stewed in melted cow butter, adding sugar syrup.

The squash is de-stalked and skinned and cut. The pumpkin is cleaned of seeds and inner film and cut into pieces. Pedicels and integumentary leaves are removed from cauliflower, and sashes are removed from green peas. The beets are boiled for 25-50 minutes at 120°C, peeled and ground on a top.

Meat carcasses are toileted. Then the meat is rolled, trimmed, cut into pieces weighing 50-100 g and crushed on a top.

The liver is trimmed, soaked for 2 hours in cold running water, cut into pieces of 150-200 g each and the carcasses are blanched.

Chickens are singeed, gutted, washed, wings, legs, heads and necks are separated, and then the butchered chicken carcasses are boiled for 30-60 minutes. After that, the fillet is separated, which is crushed on a top, getting minced meat. Boiled vegetables are added to the minced meat and the mixture is rubbed.

Sugar, salt, flour, rice are passed through a magnet. Rice is cleaned, inspected, washed and boiled. The flour is sifted and dried. Sugar and salt are dissolved in boiling water, the solutions are filtered. The milk is filtered and heated. Butter is melted and filtered. Semolina is sifted and subjected to magnetic separation, the tomato paste is passed through the finisher and diluted with water to a concentration of 12% solids. Prepared raw materials are served for boiling and rubbing.

Boiling and mixing components

To facilitate the rubbing of fruits, vegetables, meat, they are pre-boiled with bubbling steam. When heated, the protopectin of vegetable raw materials turns into pectin, and the fabric softens. Boiling is carried out in hermetically sealed apparatus equipped with a screw-type mixer.

At start-up, a steam curtain is created in the apparatus to expel the air. This ensures the preservation of vitamins of fruits and vegetables during processing, and also protects the product from darkening. After the air is forced out through the hatch located on the cover of the apparatus, the prepared raw materials are loaded, then the hatch is hermetically closed. In order to avoid its deformation, the stirrer is not turned on immediately, but 5-10 minutes after the start of the process, when the raw material fabric has time to soften.

The cooking temperature is set taking into account the density of the fabric of the raw material and acidity. Acid promotes the hydrolysis of protopectin, accelerating the digestion. Fruits, berries, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, sorrel, as well as a mixture of vegetables with liquid components and minced meat with broth are boiled at a temperature of 100 ° C, pumpkin, green peas, cauliflower - at 105 ° C, chopped carrots and a mixture of vegetables - at 110°C, beets, potatoes, a mixture of vegetables with meat - at 120°C.

The duration of the cooking process for different types of raw materials is different and ranges from 5 to 50 minutes. During boiling, the product is diluted with condensate. The amount of condensate depends on the type of raw material and the duration of the scalding process and ranges from 16 to 25% by weight. Dilution is a long periodical process.

Condensation formed during the processing of fruits, vegetables, meat with live steam dilutes the product that has to be boiled. Prolonged heating of the product worsens its quality, therefore, instead of boiling, grinding and heating at a temperature of 90-100°C for vegetables and 70-80°C for fruits are also used. Liquid components (milk, broth, brine, sugar syrup, tomato puree, milk with pureed semolina, flour, rice) are added to the main product using dosing pumps and wiped after mixing. The mashed mass is pumped into a hermetically sealed collector-heater, which is equipped with a stirrer for mixing canned food components.

Mass homogenization

The puree obtained after the masher has a coarse fibrous structure. The particle size of the fabric depends on the type of product and on the diameter of the holes in the sieves of the wiping machines and is 150-550 microns after the first wipe, and 50-250 microns after the finisher.

To give the product finer grinding, which improves taste, the mashed mass is homogenized, bringing the product dispersion to 20-30 microns. Such a product is well absorbed by the child's body, has a homogeneous, creamy consistency and does not delaminate during storage of canned food.

Deaeration

Puree-like canned food for children is deaerated by keeping the mass in a vacuum apparatus for 10-20 minutes. At the same time, steam is fed into the heating chamber of the vacuum apparatus. In this case, the product boils, together with water vapor, from 65 to 93% of the air contained in it is removed. After deaeration, the vacuum is broken due to the release of juice vapors, the temperature of the mass is brought to 80°C. In the product treated in this way, no more than 1% of air by volume remains.

Filling, sealing and sterilization

Before packaging, the product is heated to a temperature of 70°C in continuously operating heat exchangers or in batch heaters.

Packing is made from a closed preheater equipped with a stirrer. The temperature required for packing the product (70°C) is maintained in the collector. Puree is packaged in glass or lacquered tins (0.1-0.2 l), or tubes using automatic fillers.

The filled container is immediately rolled up and then sterilized: fruit or berry puree at 100°C (from blackcurrant - at 85°C), the same puree with the addition of cereals and milk - at 110-120°C, fruit and vegetable, vegetable, meat and vegetable puree - at 120 ° C. The duration of the actual sterilization, depending on the type of product and container, ranges from 10 to 60 minutes. After sterilization, canned food is cooled.

Canned food from coarsely chopped vegetables

Production of canned food from coarsely chopped vegetables for baby food is similar to the production of puree products, but differs in the size of vegetable pieces (5-10 mm). In addition, for children over 1.5 years old, canned food is prepared such as lunch dishes - the first (vegetable soups, green cabbage soup) and the second (vegetable stew, meat with vegetables, etc.).

For children over 1.5 years of age, food in a mushy state is recommended, containing pieces sized 2-4 mm (from 1.5 to 4 years) and 5-10 mm (from 4 to 7 years). A technology has been developed for such canned food from certain types of vegetables (green peas, carrots or a mixture of these vegetables in sour cream sauce) and berries (strawberries in sour cream sauce, cranberry or sugar syrup).

Green peas prepared according to the usual scheme are packed in jars, poured with sauce, rolled up and sterilized. To prepare sour cream sauce, browned flour is mixed with sour cream, adding water, the mixture is added to a boiling sugar-salt solution, butter is added, boiled, and then the finished sauce is filtered.

Carrots are peeled, washed, scalded, cut into cubes and then stewed with butter and sugar-salt solution. The product is packaged in jars, poured with tomato sauce and preserved.

The strawberries are washed, peeled, placed in jars, filled with syrup and subjected to the usual processing. Cranberry syrup, due to its high acidity, helps preserve the intense color of canned food. When using sugar syrup, citric acid is added to it.

Quality requirements for canned food for baby food

According to organoleptic characteristics, canned vegetables, fruits and vegetables, vegetable and meat for baby food must meet the following requirements.

Appearance and consistency for vegetable, vegetable and fruit purees, vegetable purees with the addition of other components, homogenized vegetable and meat purees - a homogeneous finely ground puree-like mass, mashed - a homogeneous puree-like mass.

Spreading the puree on a flat surface creates a lumpy or spreading mass.

Liquid and fat exfoliation is allowed during storage of canned food.

For vegetable and vegetable-fruit juices - a homogeneous, opaque liquid mass with an evenly distributed homogenized pulp.

Liquid flaking is allowed during storage of canned food.

For all types of canned food, single dot inclusions of a dark color are allowed, during storage - precipitation of a light color.

Taste and smell are natural, well expressed, characteristic of this type of product. Extraneous smell and taste are not allowed. For canned carrots and liver, natural bitterness is allowed.

Uniform color throughout the mass, characteristic of canned vegetables or a mixture of vegetables, fruits and berries.

For canned food with added dairy products - lighter.

Canned food "Puree from zucchini and apples "Rassvet" may have a pink color. Slight darkening of the surface layer or side surface of the contents of cans is allowed. Indicator Canned food Spinach with meat and potatoes Green peas with rice and carrots Vegetable marrow sauce Pumpkin with rice Carrots with applesauce Carrot with apricot puree Green peas in sour cream sauce Carrots in sour cream sauce Carrots with green peas in sour cream sauce Meat with vegetables Appearance Mixture of minced vegetables and meat Mixture of crushed carrots and potatoes with peas and rice Chopped vegetable mix Pumpkin puree with rice grains Mixture of shredded carrots and fruit puree Chopped Pea Mix with Sauce Chopped Carrot Mix with Sauce Mixture of crushed carrots and peas with sauce Mixture of minced vegetables and meat Liquid and fat exfoliation is allowed during storage of canned food Precipitation of a light-colored precipitate is allowed during storage of canned food Taste and smell Natural, characteristic of culinary preparations of the same name. Extraneous taste and smell are not allowed Color Natural, characteristic of culinary preparations of the same name. Slight darkening of the surface layer or side surface of the contents of the cans is allowed Consistency Soft vegetables and meat Puree with soft rice grains Soft vegetables Soft vegetables and meat

Characteristics of canned food

Index Canned food
Vegetable soup with green peas Vegetable soup with cauliflower Green cabbage soup Spinach with meat Vegetable soup with meat and potatoes Vegetable soup with meat
Appearance Mix of vegetable pieces in filling Chopped vegetable mix with potato pieces Mixture of minced vegetables and meat Mixture of vegetable pieces and minced meat in broth
Chopped vegetables in bulk in the form of pieces
Taste and smell Natural, characteristic of culinary preparations of the same name. Foreign taste and smell are not allowed
Color Natural, characteristic of culinary preparations of the same name. Slight darkening of the surface layer or side surface of the contents of the cans is allowed
Consistency Vegetables and meat are soft. Single pieces of boiled vegetables are allowed

Characteristics of canned food

Indicator Canned food
Green peas in sour cream sauce Carrots in sour cream sauce Carrots with green peas in sour cream sauce Meat with vegetables Vegetable stew in tomato sauce Vegetable stew with meat in white sauce Liver with vegetables in sour cream sauce
Appearance Peas in sour cream sauce Carrot pieces in sour cream sauce A mixture of peas with carrot pieces in sour cream sauce Mixture of cereals, minced meat and vegetable pieces Mix of vegetable pieces in tomato sauce Mixture of vegetable pieces and minced meat in white sauce A mixture of vegetable pieces and chopped liver in sour cream sauce
Chopped vegetables in bulk in the form of pieces
Taste and smell Natural, characteristic of culinary preparations of the same name. Foreign taste and smell are not allowed
Color Natural, characteristic of culinary preparations of the same name. A slight darkening of the surface layer of the contents of the cans is allowed
Consistency Vegetables, meat, liver, cereals are soft. Single pieces of boiled vegetables are allowed

In comparison with other types of canned food, canned food for children has the highest safety indicators.

According to physical and chemical indicators, canned food must comply with the following standards, depending on the type of product.

Mass fraction of solids from 5% in vegetable puree soup "Autumn" to 23% in liver puree with potatoes.

In fruit and vegetable juices from 5% in tomato-apple to 17% in carrot-cranberry. In vegetable juices from 5% in tomato "Solnyshko" to 14% in pumpkin.

In canned vegetables and meat and vegetables from 10% in vegetable marrow sauce to 17% in green peas with rice and carrots. In canned vegetables and fruits from 10% in carrots with apple puree to 11% in carrots with apricot puree. In the first lunch courses from 14% in vegetable soup with cauliflower to 17% in spinach with meat, vegetable soup with meat and potatoes. In the second dinner courses from 16% in carrots in sour cream sauce to 22% in vegetable stew with meat in tomato sauce.

In canned food with the addition of vitamins from 5% in tomato juice "Solnyshko" with vitamin C, zucchini puree with vitamin C up to 2D% in carrot or pumpkin and sea buckthorn puree with vitamin C.

Mass fraction of chlorides in puree soups and puree from 0.3% to 0.6%.

In canned vegetable and vegetable-meat from 0.5% in spinach with meat and potatoes, green peas with rice and carrots up to

0.8% in vegetable marrow sauce. In the first dinner courses from 0.8 to 1.2%. In the second dinner courses from 0.4 to 0.7%.

In canned food with the addition of vitamins from 0.4 to 0.6% in squash caviar with vitamin C.

Mass fraction of fat from 1% in vegetable soup puree "Autumn" to 6% in liver puree with carrots "Alenka" ".

In canned vegetable and vegetable-meat from 2.0% in spinach with meat and potatoes, green peas with rice and carrots to 3.5% in vegetable marrow sauce. In the first dinner courses from 3 to 5%. In the second dinner courses from 3 to 4%.

In canned food with the addition of vitamins at least 4% in squash caviar with vitamin C.

Mass fraction of carotene from 0.0005% in zucchini puree with carrots, meat and vegetable puree with tomato, meat and vegetable puree with zucchini, liver soup, chicken puree with vegetables up to 0.005 % in carrot puree.

In vegetable and fruit juices from 0.0015% in carrot and tangerine to 0.0025% in carrot and apple, carrot and grape, carrot and fruit juices. In vegetable juices from 0.002% in pumpkin to 0.0025% in carrot juice.

In canned vegetable and vegetable-meat not less than 0.0010% in green peas with rice and carrots and vegetable marrow sauce. In canned vegetables and fruits from 0.0020% in carrots with apple puree to 0.0030% in carrots with apricot puree. In the first dinner courses, at least 0.0005%. In the second lunch courses from 0.0005% in vegetable stew with meat in tomato sauce, vegetable stew with meat in white sauce, liver with vegetables in sour cream sauce, meat with vegetables up to 0.0030% in carrots in sour cream sauce.

In canned food with added vitamins from 0.0007% in carrot or pumpkin and sea-buckthorn puree with vitamin C to 0.0025% in carrot-apple juice with vitamin C, carrot-grape juice with vitamin C, carrot-fruit juice with vitamin C , carrots with vitamin C.

Mass fraction of sugars not less than 7% in beetroot juice.

Mass fraction of pulp in fruit and vegetable juices from 20% in carrot-mandarin juice to 35% in carrot-apple, carrot-grape, carrot-cranberry, carrot-lingonberry, carrot-fruit, pumpkin-apricot juices. In vegetable juices from 30% in pumpkin to 35% in carrot juice.

In canned food with added vitamins from 30% in pumpkin juice with vitamin C to 35% in carrot-apple juice with vitamin C, carrot-grape juice with vitamin C, carrot-fruit juice with vitamin C, carrot juice with vitamin C.

Bulk the share of titratable acids in vegetable and fruit juices from 0.8% in carrot-tangerine to 0.4% in carrot-apple, carrot-grape. In vegetable juices from 0.3 to 0.6% in tomato "Sun".

In the first dinner courses from 0.15% in vegetable soup with green peas, in vegetable soup with cauliflower up to 0.4% in green cabbage soup. In the second dinner courses from 0.1% in green peas in sour cream sauce to 0.30% in vegetable stew with meat in tomato sauce, in liver with vegetables in tomato sauce, in meat with vegetables.

In canned food with added vitamins from 0.3% in tomato juice "Solnyshko" with vitamin C to 0.7% in carrot and fruit juice with vitamin C, carrot or pumpkin and sea buckthorn puree with vitamin C.

Mass fraction vitamin C in canned food with the addition of vitamins from 0. 020% in carrot and apple juice with vitamin C, carrot and grape with vitamin C, carrot and fruit with vitamin C, carrot with vitamin C, carrot or pumpkin and sea buckthorn puree with vitamin C up to 0.050 % in pumpkin juice with vitamin C.

Mass fraction of protein in vegetable and meat purees from 3.0% in liver puree to 7.0% in liver puree with rice, liver puree with potatoes.

In canned vegetables and vegetables and meat in spinach with meat and potatoes, not less than 3.0%. In the first lunch courses from 3.0% in vegetable soup with meat and potatoes, vegetable soup with meat up to 4.0% in spinach with meat. In the second lunch courses from 3.0% in vegetable stew with meat in tomato sauce, vegetable stew with meat in white sauce, liver with vegetables in sour cream sauce to 4.0% in meat with vegetables.

Storage

Shelf life of canned food: 2 years in glass containers and 1 year in metal containers from the date of production. The shelf life of canned food made with the addition of vitamins, milk, cream, sour cream is 1 year from the date of production.

Safety indicators of canned vegetables and fruits and vegetables for baby food puree) for baby food, the following requirements for safety and nutritional value are provided (table).

Nutritional value (per 100 g of product)

Criteria and indicators

Units

Permissible levels

Note

normalized

marked

Mass fraction of solids

g

5-20

+

g, not less than

11

+

For juices and purees

Total acidity

%, not more than

0. 8

-

Carbohydrates

g

5-25

+

including mono- and disaccharides

g

5-25

-

Proteins

g, not less than

0.5

For fruit-milk and fruit-grain purees

Mass fraction of ethyl alcohol

%, not more than

0.2

-

For fruit juices and purees

Minerals:

potassium

mg

70-300

+

sodium

mg, max

200

-

iron

mg

1. 0-3.0

+

For enriched products

Vitamins:

ascorbic acid (C)

mg

15.0-50.0

+

For fortified drinks

β-carotene

mg

1-4

+

The same

In terms of safety, toxic elements, mg/kg, not more than: lead - 0.3, arsenic - 0.2, cadmium - 0.02, mercury - 0.01.

Mycotoxins, mg/kg, not more than: patulin is not allowed (<0.02, for those containing apples, tomatoes, sea buckthorn), deoxynivalenol is not allowed (<0.05 for fruit and grain purees containing wheat, barley flour), zearalenone not allowed (<0.005 for fruit and grain purees containing wheat, corn, barley flour), aflatoxin not allowed (<0.00002 for fruit and milk purees), aflatoxin B 1 not allowed (< 0.


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