How to warm baby food without microwave

If you're batch cooking, cool the food down (ideally within one to two hours) and then freeze or refrigerate. If you're keeping it in the fridge – use it within 2 days. With rice, make sure it cools within an hour and then goes straight in the fridge or freezer. Rice kept in the fridge should be eaten within 24 hours – never reheat it more than once.

Keep raw meat and fish in a container at the bottom of the fridge (to avoid it dripping onto other food).

Defrosting

Defrost frozen food thoroughly before reheating. The safest way to do this is in the fridge (never do it at room temperature), or by defrosting it in the microwave (using the defrost setting). Once food has been defrosted, eat it within 24 hours.

Reheating

When reheating food, make sure it's steaming hot all the way through, then let it cool before giving it to your baby. If you're using a microwave, give it a good stir to get rid of any hot air pockets – always check the temperature before feeding your baby. Any cooked food you are feeding your child at mealtimes should only be reheated once.

Food on-the-go

If you take food (such as sandwiches or yoghurts) with you when you go out, it's a good idea to use a cool bag and frozen bottles of water, or ice blocks, to keep it cold until you're ready to eat it. If food is not kept cold, it should be eaten as soon as possible (within 4 hours maximum). Any leftovers should be thrown away.

Leftovers

To avoid food waste, decant the amount of food you think your baby will eat – you can always offer more if they're still hungry. Throw away any half-eaten portions – never save them. Make sure any food you cook is piping hot, then let it cool down before serving. Remember to stay with your baby while they're eating, so you can be sure they are swallowing safely.

There are many ways to heat and thaw homemade baby food. On this page we will tell you all about heating and thawing your 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. Remember to thaw only the amount of food that you will use in a period of 1-3 days as you should not refreeze any leftover food.

Transfer the cubes to a storage container and let the cubes thaw in the refrigerator or you may wish to transfer the cubes to a glass bowl and then thaw them in the microwave. We’ll discuss the various methods of heating and thawing homemade baby food below. Whatever method you choose, please do be sure to always test the temperature of the foods you will be feeding your baby!

Heating Homemade Baby Food

Microwave Heating

Many parents love the ease and convenience of the microwave for both heating and thawing homemade baby food. Whether or not you use the microwave to heat or thaw your homemade baby food is a decision only you can make.

To heat the baby food in the microwave, always transfer the amount of food you will be heating to a glass microwave safe container. You should not use plastic to heat foods in the mircowave. Heat the food in 15 second increments and stir after each heating. When the food has reached the temperature you desire, be sure to give one final stir so that no hot pockets are left to burn baby’s mouth.

Stove Top Heating of Homemade Baby Food

When heating baby food on the stove top, choose a smaller saucepan and place the food into the sauce pan. Gently heat the food using a low setting. Using the lower heat setting will ensure that you do not burn the food.

Do NOT store leftover food from a container that your baby has been eating from. Saliva will contaminate the food and storing leftovers may cause food poisoning.

Microwave Thawing of Homemade Baby Food

Always warm baby food cubes in a glass bowl and not in plastic containers as researchindicates glass is safer. 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.

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. 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.

Refrigerator Thawing of Homemade Baby Food Cubes

Thawing baby food cubes in the refrigerator will take longer than using a microwave or the floating/submersion method. 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). This method may take up to 12 hours so do be sure to plan accordingly!

Submersion or Warm Water Thawing of Baby Food Cubes

Thawing baby food cubes using this “submersion method” should take between 10-20 minutes. You may place the cubes in a small bowl and then place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with hot water. 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.

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. The homemade baby food that you have thawed 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.

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When heating baby food, it’s important to follow a few food safety rules to ensure that your baby’s meal is tasty and nutritious… with no unwelcome bacteria!

Is it OK to reheat cooked food for my baby?

Absolutely – in fact, many parents make large batches of food in advance and then store them for future use. If you are making food for baby that you intend to store, then you should cool it quickly, then freeze or refrigerate it immediately (learn more about how to freeze baby food and how to prepare baby food safely).

When heating baby food, you need to ensure that it is piping hot throughout. Don’t be tempted to just partially warm the food, so that your baby will be able to eat it immediately – it needs to be thoroughly heated in order to destroy any bacteria that may be present. You should then set is aside and allow it to cool to a comfortable serving temperature.

Is it dangerous to reheat rice?

What if my baby doesn’t finish his meal? Is it safe to warm it up for another time?

No – heating baby food for a second time could be harmful and may lead to food poisoning. Always throw away any leftovers at the end of each meal.

Can I reheat baby food if it contains ingredients that were previously frozen?

This is a common question – and the answer is that you can.

It is safe to thaw frozen food (like meat) – cook it for your baby – prepare a meal – cool the meal – freeze it and then – thaw and reheat it at a future date.

The only exception would be if the meal contains breast milk – IT IS NOT SAFE TO RE-FREEZE PREVIOUSLY FROZEN BREAST MILK.

Find out more about making baby food with frozen vegetables and fruits

How should I heat my baby’s food?

One way to successfully heat food for your baby is to place the food in a heat safe dish and sit the dish over a small pan of simmering water. You need to stir the food often to ensure that it heats evenly.

Many parents, though, find this a slow method of heating baby food and opt to use the microwave instead.

But is heating baby food in the microwave safe?

Whether or not you choose to use the microwave to warm your baby’s meals is for you to decide.

Many parents love the convenience of the microwave – hungry babies aren’t known for their patience and using a microwave certainly cuts down on the waiting time.

But some families do not like to use microwave ovens at all and believe that cooking or heating any foods in them can have negative health implications.

Visitors to our site sometimes tell us about alarming articles they've come across online, regarding the dangers of microwave cooking.

If you've read anything that worries you, then you may be interested in this article -  Microwave Myths – Fact vs Fiction (from the Center for Science in the Public Interest)   - which addresses and questions the validity of these claims.

As we said, it’s for you to decide.

We feel – along with many leading baby care sites – that heating baby food in the microwave is safe… BUT ONLY IF THE FOLLOWING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE OBSERVED.

• Make sure that the food container is safe to use in the microwave. Microwave-safe containers should be marked as such. Heating baby food in other types of plastic storage containers, like take-out containers or margarine tubs, can cause potentially harmful chemicals to leach into the food. Even microwave-safe plastic wrap should not be in direct contact with your baby’s food as it heats.
• Baby food should be covered when you heat it in the microwave. Use either a lid or plastic wrap suitable for use in the microwave (but please note the warning above). Keeping the food covered is important because it holds in any moisture produced and helps the food to heat evenly and safely.
• Always remove aluminium foil from food bound for the microwave – NEVER place foil inside the microwave. Similarly, some plastic bags (like storage or grocery bags) are unsuitable for microwave use.
• Food should be heated until it is steaming hot. Allow it to stand and then check its temperature using a food thermometer – it should be at least 165 deg F.
• After heating baby food in the microwave, stir it thoroughly to disperse any hot spots. Allow it to cool to an ideal serving temperature.
• If you use your microwave to thaw foods that you plan to cook for your baby, then you need to cook these foods immediately. Foods thawed in the microwave sometimes start to cook – setting the food aside to fully cook later on may encourage the growth of bacteria.

 Baby feeding travel accessories (including equipment for heating baby food when you’re on the go)

More articles and recipes…

Learn how to safely prepare baby food and avoid food poisoning hazards

Storing baby food – refrigeration and freezing tips

Pureed baby food recipes

Homemade baby food accessories