Author Topic: Tips for Making Baby Food  (Read 6938 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ~inbalance~

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 272
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 14549
  • Location:
Tips for Making Baby Food
« on: June 06, 2011, 01:23:01 am »
Making homemade baby food may seem overwhelming at first, but actually it is easy and fun!

Equipment
*Knives, peeler, cutting board, bowls, pots and pans, steaming basket
*Food processor, food mill, or hand blender
*Containers and bags for storage - ice cube trays are perfect for freezing purees as standard ones make 1oz cubes

Cooking methods
*Steaming - use a steaming basket over top of a pot of boiling water.  Steaming is a great way to help food retain nutrients
*Boiling/poaching - use enough water to cover fruits/vegetables and cook until tender.  Chicken can be cooked this way as well
*Roasting in the oven - this is a good way to do many fruits and vegetables, especially ones like squash that are hard to peel as once roasted the skins come off easily.  Roast fruits, vegetables, and meats in a shallow pan with an inch of water

Storing and reheating baby food
*Freeze purees in ice cube trays and then transfer to labelled freezer bags once frozen.  TIP: Trays can be placed right into labelled bags prior to freezing to keep them covered, then once frozen the cubes can be knocked straight into bags
*Finger food can be frozen on baking sheets and then transferred to freezer bags to avoid it hardening into one big clump
*Baby food can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, in a freezer for up to 3mos, maybe even a little longer in a deep freezer.  NOTE: Some foods like banana and avocado may turn brown when kept in the fridge or frozen, but are still healthy and yummy for baby
*Remove from the freezer the night before and leave in the fridge to defrost
*Always heat thoroughly then allow to cool before giving to baby
*Don't reheat food more than one time, and always discard leftovers once used

Other tips
*Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before cooking
*Cut fruits and vegetables into small cubes for speedier cooking
*Use a bit of the cooking water while pureeing to achieve the right consistency, but avoid making it too watery - you can always add more upon defrosting to thin it out
*Formula, breastmilk or other milks can be added while pureeing instead of water.  Cow's milk is fine to use in cooking after 6mos providing there are no allergies or intolerances
*Food processors are great for making large batches, but are large and take up a lot of space.  A hand blender is convenient and great for smaller batches, and allows you to control the consistency and texture of the puree
*Start making purees very smooth and then add more lumps and texture as your baby gets older
*Avoid adding salt or sugar to baby food
*Often healthy family meals are great for baby too, simply puree a little bit before adding any additional salt or strong seasonings
*Once baby is a little older and trying more things, don't be afraid to start adding different seasonings for more flavour

For more great resources on making baby food, see here:
Favourite Baby Recipe Books
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=49758.0

If you have any more great tips or suggestions, please feel free to PM the Feeding Solid Foods moderator :)

« Last Edit: May 02, 2017, 21:23:08 pm by Jaime »
Em
Mama to
Mr. Personality 2008
Mr. Mischievious 2010
Little Miss Blue Eyes 2012