It is important to cook and store food safely. As a general rule, be "CLEAN and QUICK".
- Clean your hands with warm soapy water before making any food.
- Clean all utensils (strainer, cutting board, spoon, etc.) in a dishwasher or hand wash them using hot, soapy water; rinse; and allow to air dry.
- Cover the food once it has been cooked and put in the refrigerator or freeze right away.
Home made Puree | Storage Time in Freezer |
Vegetables | 6-8 months |
Fruits | 6-8 months |
Meat-poultry-fish (cooked) | 10 weeks |
Mixed Vegetable & Meat | 10 weeks |
Puree containing milk | 10 weeks |
To make and freeze your own baby food, use the "Food Cube Method" or the "Drop Method".
Food Cube Method
- Place about 2 tablespoons of pureed food in each cube of a plastic "pop out" ice cube tray. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Put in freezer.
- When frozen (1-2 hours), "pop" out the frozen cubes of food and place in freezer bags. With a water-proof marker, write the names of the food and the date it was frozen on the bag.
- When you want to use the food, take out one frozen cube and defrost it in the fridge or put it in a plastic bag and place in warm water to defrost. One cube is equal to about one serving of the pureed food.
- After the food is pureed, drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. They will land on the baking sheet in a "plop" shape.
- Cover the tray with waxed paper and put into the freezer right away.
- When frozen (1-2 hours), remove from the cookie sheet and transfer pureed "plops" to plastic bags. With a waterproof marker, write the names of the food and the date it was frozen on the bag.
- When you want to use the food, take out one frozen cube and defrost it in the fridge or put it in a plastic bag and place in warm water to defrost. One cube is equal to about one serving of the pureed food.