Freezing baby food for convenience

Preparing homemade baby food is a good way to offer varied meals while controlling the ingredients used. To save time daily, many parents choose to cook several portions in advance and store them in the freezer.

Best practices for freezing baby food

According to Margot Vire, a dietitian, to best preserve the quality of the preparations, it is preferable to freeze them quickly after cooling, in small portions, in appropriate containers, and noting the date and what they contain. Preparations containing meat, fish or egg can also be frozen, with the same precautions.

Storage duration and food quality

For homemade preparations intended for babies, a storage period of about one month at -18 °C is a simple and cautious reference. This duration does not mean that a puree becomes unsuitable for consumption immediately after this period is exceeded. In the freezer, the multiplication of bacteria is stopped, but the food continues to change slowly over time.

Thawing baby food safely

Thawing is an important step to preserve the food safety of the baby's meal. You can do it, for example: in the refrigerator: place the portion in the refrigerator far enough in advance so that it thaws gradually; in the microwave: use a compatible container, proceed in short periods and mix thoroughly to distribute the heat.

Handling leftovers from baby meals

It is common for the baby not to finish his entire portion. In this case, some precautions are important. If you want to save the remaining meal, first take a small amount into a clean plate or bowl, and add more if necessary. The content of the container in which the baby has eaten should not be saved for a later meal, because saliva can introduce bacteria into the preparation.

Checking for food safety before feeding

Before offering a meal to the baby, you will need to check that the preparation does not have an unusual odor or an abnormal appearance. If this is the case, it should be discarded. Note: the absence of a bad odor does not guarantee that a food is safe. It is therefore essential to respect the storage durations and maintain an appropriate temperature.

Nutrient preservation and reheating

The loss of vitamins depends mainly on the temperature reached during reheating and the duration of that process. A short reheating can even allow better preservation of certain vitamins than a prolonged cooking. In case of a break in the cold chain or doubt about the safety of a food intended for a young child, it is better not to take any risks.

Using the freezer effectively

With good organization, the freezer can become a real ally to offer varied homemade meals without having to cook every day. The key is to strictly follow the storage advice.