Heating & Thawing Homemade Baby Food - All the Ways to Heat & Thaw Baby Food - Homemade Baby Food & Baby Food Recipes

What is the Best Way to Heat or Thaw Homemade Baby Food Cubes?

Thawing and Heating of Homemade Baby Food

When thawing or heating baby food cubes, take out as many cubes that you will feed your baby for 1 or 2 days. 

Transfer the cubes to a storage container and let the cubes thaw in the refrigerator.  You may even wish to transfer the cubes to a glass bowl and then thaw them in the microwave. We'll discuss the various methods below.

Microwave Thawing and Heating of Homemade Baby Food

If you do not wish to use a microwave to thaw your baby food cubes, you may thaw your baby food cubes in the refrigerator over night (ensure that the cubes remain a closed container and not in an uncovered bowl) as mentioned.

If you are using a microwave to thaw or reheat baby food cubes, be sure to stir food to ensure no hot-pockets are left to burn baby. Always warm baby food cubes in a glass bowl and not in plastic containers as research indicates glass is safer.

Many parents do not like to use the microwave for a variety of reasons. It is up to you to decide if heating or thawing your baby food cubes in the microwave is right for you and your baby.

** We do not and will not make any statements concerning the use of the microwave. The research is simply too conflicting and much of it is not reputable.**

For cooking, we prefer to bake when possible (for optimal nutrient retention) and steam when possible. For thawing and heating, we use the fridge and pots and pans. We use the microwave for heating on occasion but mostly just for reheating teas and coffees. This is just our personal choice.

Refrigerator Thawing of Homemade Baby Food Cubes

If you do not wish to use a microwave to thaw your baby food cubes, you may thaw your baby food cubes in the refrigerator over night (ensure that the cubes remain a closed container and not in an uncovered bowl).

Submersion or Warm Water Thawing of Baby Food Cubes

You may also place the cubes in a small bowl and then place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with hot water. Thawing baby food cubes using this "submersion method" should take between 10-20 minutes. You can also do this with a pan of warm water on the stove; add the smaller bowl to a pot of water that you have warmed.

Thawing food on your kitchen counter is never recommended as bacteria or other contaminants may get into the food.

You should not feed your baby from the container and then re-store the container that baby has been fed from. Saliva may contaminate the food and bacteria may evolve. Always take the portions you will serve from the container and transfer to a feeding bowl.

Please keep in mind that reheating baby food cubes is NOT necessary.  Baby food cubes may be served at room temperature once they have been thawed. Many babies enjoy room temperature foods.

How Long is it Safe to Keep Thawed Baby Food in the Refrigerator

Thawed homemade baby food is just like other food that you have cooked, frozen and then thawed.

Thawed homemade baby food may safely be kept in the refrigerator for 72 hours maximum.

Ensure that the thawed baby food is kept in a sealed container to avoid contamination.