A Complete Guide on Storing Baby Food for Emergencies

Do you have babies or toddlers at your house? If so, you already know that they can’t eat the type of food adults eat. Since you want to make sure that your baby has the food they need in case of an emergency, you need to store baby food long-term.

You never know when an emergency will strike, so being prepared and having enough baby food for your infant or toddler will always be beneficial in the long run.

In this blog, we give you a complete guide on storing baby food for emergencies, so your baby or toddler can always have everything they need to thrive.

Storage Methods

Some people prepare fresh baby food for their babies and toddlers, but homemade baby food needs a good storage strategy. Now, remember that your babies eat a very small amount of the baby food you prepare, so you will need a good storage strategy to store the rest of it effectively.

Simple refrigeration is not effective for storing baby food for emergency use, but it can effectively extend the shelf-life of baby food on a short-term basis.

Refrigeration will extend the shelf life of baby food by three days to a week. So, if you are someone who likes to do weekly meal prep for yourself and your baby, simple refrigeration will work for you! 

All you need are airtight containers and labels— you should label each container with the date that you prepared the baby food.

Freezing baby food will keep it fresh for up to three months.

You can use freezer-proof plastic containers, freezer bags, or ice trays to store baby food in the freezer. One thing that you need to ensure is that you store baby foods in smaller amounts. This is important because you can’t refreeze baby food; it will go bad and needs to be consumed immediately.

Steps to Store Baby Food in The Freezer

• Gather freezer-proof containers or ice trays for baby food storage.
• Fill the ice trays or containers with the baby food. Don’t overfill it.
• Cover the ice tray or containers. This gives you a way to stack up multiple ice trays or containers in the freezer.
• Freeze them for 6 hours.
• Once frozen, put the frozen baby food in freezer bags.

4 Containers You Can Use to Store Baby Food

These are readily available with your refrigerator and freezer. So, you can use them to freeze your baby food and store them, too. 

Apart from traditional ice trays, you can also use a muffin tray to store baby food. Once frozen, you can transfer it into freezer bags.

As long as the plastic container is freezer-proof, you can store baby food in plastic containers in the freezer.

Another great option to store baby food in the freezer is mason jars. They seal perfectly and are freezer-proof.

Lastly, freezer bags are one of the best options for storing baby food in the freezer long-term. Baby food frozen in ice trays or plastic containers can be transferred to freezer bags. Just be sure to check that you are sealing your freezer bags effectively.

Store Bought Baby Food Vs Homemade Baby Food: Which is Better?

You can always find baby food at your nearest grocery or convenience store! There are certain benefits to having store-bought baby food. It is already prepared and comes in sealed glass jars or plastic pouches. Until opened, this type of baby food will last for about 1-2 years. This makes store-bought baby food a more convenient option that is much better for long-term storage. 

However, there is one major drawback to store-bought baby food— you can’t control the ingredients that go into it.

Many parents prepare baby food at home. This gives them greater control over the ingredients that are added to their baby food. Homemade baby food doesn’t contain any additives, preservatives, or chemicals.

Although storing homemade baby food can be difficult, it is certainly not impossible! If you want to opt for homemade baby food, all you need to do is utilize the right storage containers and methods to store baby food long-term.

Bottom Line

Having sufficient baby food stored is crucial for any parent of a baby or toddler in an emergency.

Emergencies such as job loss or financial struggles can put a great deal of pressure on you, especially if you have babies or toddlers. We know kids can be very expensive, but the last thing you want to worry about is whether your child will go hungry. So, storing more than enough food for your baby can take a huge weight off your shoulders.