Peeling, chopping and steaming food for weaning recipes can make your kitchen look like it’s been hit by a tornado. It can feel a little bit overwhelming at first, especially when it is your first baby. The good news is that we have put together some hints and tips for freezing and storing weaning foods to make your life a bit easier.
The best option is to make large batches of food, ahead of time, then freeze them in ice cube trays or individual little pots. Don’t forget to label them clearly, as it can be hard to tell the difference between sweet potato puree and puréed carrot in the freezer! Just defrost a small portion the night before you need it, then you’ll have one less thing to worry about. You can buy great baby pots in most larger supermarkets or do what I did and buy them online from the comfort of your own home. Even better!
Sweet Potato Purée
This is an ideal first baby food as potatos are full of nutrients and high in fibre which helps with your little ones digestive tract and bowel health.
Ingredients
- Sweet potato
- formula or breast milk
Method
- Peel sweet potatoes with a veggie peeler, rinse and cut into small pieces
- Place the chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover the potato
- Bring the water to a boil and cook sweet potato chunks until tender (about 10-15 minutes)
- Drain and rinse with cold water
- Puree or mash the sweet potato using a blender or potato masher
- Add breastmilk or formula milk to get that fluffy texture
Top Tips for freezing
- Remember, do not reheat foods more than once and never refreeze uneaten baby food
- If using a microwave, make sure and stir the food well so there are no hotspots
- Make sure your purées are cool before putting them in the freezer
- Baby purées will keep in the freezer for up to eight weeks
- Remember to label containers and date them, when you are making a batch of purées
- Ice cube trays are convenient for starting weaning
- As their appetite increases, you will need to buy little pots for freezing. Try to buy good quality ones, you can use them as snack containers when your child is a bit bigger, when you are out and about
