Modern parents have their hands full and frozen baby food can be a great way to save time and money. There has been debate about whether or not it’s healthy for growing tots. Fortunately, the verdict is out. Yes, it is perfectly healthy for your baby … if you do it the right way. You can freeze baby food in two ways. You can buy the food already cooked and frozen from the store or make it at home and freeze it. Either way, there are strict rules to follow to ensure you child is safe and receives the nutrition needed.
Baby food can be frozen and kept in cubes. It should be kept in the freezer under subzero temperature. Your ice cube tray can be a nifty storage device provided you clean it thoroughly first. If you’re using tray, wrap it and make sure it is airtight. Another method can be cubing the food first and transferring the cubes into a clean bag. If baby food is store-bought, the packaging it comes in should be adequate but don’t put it in the fridge without reading instructions first.
Knowing what you’re going to store the frozen baby food in is the easy part. Which foods you can or cannot freeze, and the length of storage can be tricky. If you buy frozen food cubes from the grocery store and the guidelines state you can keep it in your fridge for longer than 3 months, it’s usually because the ingredients were frozen in their natural form. Following the guidelines is reasonable but it is just wiser to use the baby food within 3 months. This is because it’s common for water to crystallize on frozen baby food and when it’s defrosted, you might find that it has a watery taste and most of the nutrients have dissolved.
On the other hand, if you’re preparing and freezing fresh baby food at home, the rules change. It is highly advisable that you store fresh baby food for no more than 72 hours. This applies more especially to food that contains fruits and vegetables. If you keep it for longer than 3 days, bacteria will start to creep in and contaminate the food.
Confusion often arises when it comes to the foods you can freeze and those you can’t. Most parents are horrified when they find the frozen baby food with bananas and avocadoes brown. Don’t worry; they’re not rotten at all. Bananas and avocadoes turn brown without rotting. They might be unsightly but they’re still healthy to eat. Here is another pointer. It’s okay to use frozen veggies and fruits to make your baby’s food and freeze it, just as long as the veggies and fruits were not defrosted before they were initially frozen.
While some parents find freezing baby food risky, others enjoy the convenience. If you’re on the fence, try it for one day. Read the rules, watch your baby’s response and make a decision that is best for your family.
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