We put a lot of thought and attention into what we consume as adults. A home-cooked meal is unquestionably preferable to a restaurant-prepared dish. Not only because it tastes better but also because we know exactly what’s in it and can avoid the terrible additives, extra sugar, preservatives, and other ingredients that are commonly found in ready-made foods. So it only makes sense to devote the same, if not more, time and effort to making nutritious homemade baby food!
What Are The Advantages Of Making My Own Baby Food At Home?
- Nutritious Food
Packaged food isn’t required for all baby food. It is not difficult to make your own at home. Your infant will be more open to trying new flavors and types of food if you start serving fresh food from the beginning. You can choose your baby’s favorite fruits, veggies, and meats, steam and puree them in a food processor, then freeze them in convenient portions when making baby food at home. You can make fresh food for your infant while also preparing healthy meals for the rest of your family with just a little effort. The best part is that you’ll know exactly what your kid is eating.
- Cost-cutting
Making homemade infant food is motivated by a variety of factors, including cost. Healthy, flavorful baby food may be created for a fraction of the cost of store-bought baby food. Because food may be acquired in season or on sale, making baby food at home is incredibly cost-effective.
You may save hundreds of dollars on your annual food bills if you focus on buying bulk goods that you can store or freeze. The more you buy, the more money you save, but be sure you have enough storage space. Another approach to save money is to create huge batches of baby food and freeze single servings.
- Variety
Packaged foods must adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring that each jar of baby food tastes and feels the same. Due to seasonal vegetables or varying herbs and spices, homemade food will always taste a little different! This will prevent your weaning child from becoming bored with the same foods.
How To Store Baby Food Safely?
- Select Best Ingredients And Containers
Always start with high-quality ingredients and containers for your cuisine. When at all feasible, use fresh, organic food. Look for containers that aren’t made of BPA, such as baby food jars glass. Hands and any food preparation equipment should be washed. Before beginning any cooking chore, make it a practice to wash your hands. Maintain the cleanliness of your towels, rags, and sponges.
The following are some typical accessories that can be used to quickly freeze homemade baby food.
- Ice Trays
Ice trays are ideal for storing infant foods that have been juiced, pureed, or mashed. Foods frozen in ice trays are normally one-ounce portions, which means you can freeze little amounts of food as cubes, each one serving. Fill clean ice cube molds halfway with food, cover the tray tightly with a lid, and freeze.
- Cookie sheets
Cookie sheets can be used to freeze portions of baby food if you don’t have ice trays or muffin trays. Simply lay the sheet with parchment or wax paper, place the food on top, and freeze. Sticky finger foods can also be frozen on cookie sheets. To save space, move the frozen finger snacks to freezer bags.
- Freezer bags
Freezer bags (Ziploc bags) are ideal for storing whole foods like grapes or items that are cooked in big amounts. Foods frozen in ice trays, muffin pans, and cookie sheets can also be stored in the bags. The frozen food cubes should be carefully placed inside the bag to avoid sticking to one another.
- Freezer containers
Freezer containers are readily accessible over-the-counter or on the internet. Four-ounce food containers, which come in a variety of sizes, are ideal for storing portion-based foods. Check the quality of the product, such as the material and its ability to tolerate low temperatures, before making a purchase.
- Preparation
You can steam, mix and puree veggies, meats, grains, and products of your choice, realizing that your child is getting the best baby food ever for not exactly a large portion of the expense of locally acquired food sources. Utilize a food processor, and for enormous amounts of food, a blender or food processor is significant.
Besides making your baby food preparation more straightforward, most guardians likewise find that utilizing a baby food liner and a baby food blender is a protected method for making baby food since you get to screen the interaction yourself and realize what is going into the food you make your kid. One of the keys to making the cycle less tedious is to set up child’s food sources in mass and part them into spotless and void reusable food pockets or compartments.
- Storage Of Baby Food
You have the option of freezing or refrigerating your baby’s food once you’ve prepared it. Baby food should be eaten within 48 hours after it has been refrigerated. Frozen food, on the other hand, should be consumed within three months of purchase.
Freezing makes the food-production process significantly more helpful — you can prepare enormous bunches of baby food at a time and freeze extras for some other time, rather than making little clusters of food like clockwork. Freezing can likewise assist you with taking advantage of seasonal products.
Never reheat items more than once or refreeze meals that have already been frozen. Fill sealed, labeled, and dated containers with prepared baby food to freeze safely. A food glass jar that can be reused is a convenient method to store and serve your baby’s meals. Simply fill them up, label them, and store them in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.
Conclusion
Making homemade baby food is a sound and practical choice; however, the entirety of your endeavors can be squandered if you don’t have the foggiest idea of how to appropriately and securely store your handmade purees. Having the right refrigeration and freezing information, just as the right storage apparatuses, is critical.