So you’ve finally made a batch of baby food! Hooray! 

Homemade baby food has a lot of benefits, including the ability to use fresh, seasonal ingredients and tailor meals to your baby’s tastes and needs.

But now you’re staring at those purées or little muffins and wondering: 

“Do I put these in the fridge or the freezer? How long will they last? What if my baby doesn’t finish a serving?”

Safe storage is just as important as cooking. Babies’ tummies are still developing, and keeping food fresh protects them from bacteria while also saving you time and effort, minimising waste and spoilage.

In this guide, you’ll get:

• Simple fridge rules for the hows and whens of storing properly
  

• Freezer tips for batch-cooking without waste
  

• Reheating checklists so you know food is safe every time
  

• Chart guide for storage of purees and baby food, in both the fridge and the freezer
  
  

Fridge storage: the basics

Think of the fridge as short-term storage. Perfect for foods you’ll serve within a day or two.

Best temps: Keep your fridge set at 4 °C (40 °F) or lower.

When: Cool food quickly after cooking (within 1–2 hours) before popping it into the fridge.

How: Store freshly-made, cooled-down baby food in small, airtight containers: reusable jars/cups/pouches designed for baby portions, like the SiliSqueeze Pouch. Always label with date and contents, and use the oldest first.

Where: Since you want to take extra special care in storing baby food, place it in the coldest section of your fridge, not in the fridge door.

Fridge shelf life at a glance:

• Puréed fruits and vegetables: 2–3 days
  
  
• Puréed meats, eggs, or mixed meals: 1–2 days
  
  
• Solids (like muffins, patties, pancakes): 2–3 days
  
  

For serving: Only dish out what you’ll use with a dedicated serving or scooping spoon. Once a spoon has touched baby’s mouth, don’t put leftovers back in the container, as bacteria can spread quickly.

Freezer storage: the basics

The freezer is your friend for batch-cooking and meal prep. It buys you time and cuts down on food waste.

Best temps: Set your freezer to –18 °C (0 °F) or lower.

When: Let food cool completely before freezing to prevent ice crystals and severe changes in texture.

How: As always, when storing baby food, freeze them in small portions. Ice cube trays, silicone moulds, or baby food pods such as the PureePops Tray make it easy.

• Tip: To save freezer space and free up your trays for other recipes, remove frozen portions afterwards and store them in freezer-safe airtight containers or bags, pressing out extra air to avoid freezer burn.
  
  
• Label clearly with name of food and date when it was stocked; always start with the oldest foods so nothing gets forgotten. Tip: use the label-friendly PureePops Tray with our non-toxic Chalk Pens to keep your meal prep on track.
  
  

Shelf life at a glance:

• Puréed fruits/veg: 1-3 months for best quality
  
  
• Puréed meats/eggs/mixed meals: 1–2 months
  
  
• Solids like muffins, fritters, patties: up to 3 months
  
  

For serving (thawing):

• Safest way to thaw from the freezer is to move to the fridge overnight.
  
  
• For faster defrosting, use the microwave (defrost setting) or steam until visibly steaming hot. Tip: your KiddoKitchen Pro already has a defrost setting!
  
  

Never refreeze thawed food. Once defrosted, use within 24 hours. Once thawed, baby food should never go back in the freezer, as it won’t be as safe, nutritious, or delicious anymore.

Reheating + serving: your checklist

Before serving homemade baby food (whether from the fridge or freezer), a few quick safety checks go a long way.

1. Heat food until it’s steaming hot (about 74 °C / 165 °F). Stir well to avoid hot spots. Tip: your KiddoKook Pro already has a reheat function!
   
   

2. Cool to baby-safe temperature before serving. To check, stir thoroughly then drop some food on the inside of your wrist: you’re looking for comfortably warm, not too hot or cool.
   
   

3. Serve baby food only once. Reheat if it came from cold storage, but anything uneaten after that should be thrown away; you don’t want to give bacteria a chance to grow.
   
   

4. For solids like muffins, patties, or pancakes: warm until hot all the way through, then let cool slightly.
   
   

5. Never leave food sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if it’s hot weather).
   
   

6. Pack meals for outings in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
   
   

Chart guide for storage

Here’s a quick cheat sheet to keep on your fridge door:

Final note

At the end of the day, baby food storage doesn’t need to feel complicated. With a few simple habits (cool, store, label, freeze), you’ll keep your little one safe, healthy, and happy, and make life easier for yourself, too! And remember: when in doubt, throw it out. You’ve got this 💛

PS: Don’t stress if it’s not perfect every time. I’ve definitely had a few mystery purées lurking at the back of my freezer, too 🙈. And remember, your KiddoKook Pro is here to help, making reheating and defrosting super convenient. — Karen