Happy New year, Super Baby Food fans! It is a whole new year and you have decided to try making your own baby food. Good for you and your family! You will soon learn that it is much easier than you thought to make organic, homemade, tasty baby food. Before you get started, though, here are a few safety measures to keep in mind and put into practice when making your own baby food. For those of you who already do make your own baby food, consider this a mini-refresher course. Please add your own additional safety ideas and tips in the comment section.
Baby Food Preparation Safety TIps
- Wash your hands…So simple, I know, but always the first step! Wash, wash, wash!
- Wash your produce – both fruits and vegetables – even if it is organic…wash, wash, wash. As you may already know some fruits and vegetables are ‘dirtier” than others…Check out EWG’s dirty dozen and clean 15 for a refresher.
- Thoroughly clean all food preparation surface areas and utensils with hot, soapy water – the counter surfaces, the high chair tray surface and all of your utensils and operating equipment, including blenders, food processors, etc. (For more information on high chair safety click on the link.)
- Beware of bacteria! Moisture and warmth can equal bacterial growth! Yuck! To get food cooled as quickly as possible, store it in small and/or shallow containers (you know from the 3rd edition of Super Baby Food that I prefer glass or stainless steel containers)
- Do not leave prepared baby food at room temperature for more than a few minutes. Serve it right away or freeze it for later use.
- Thaw all foods in the refrigerator and never refreeze food that has been cooked then frozen and then thawed.
Baby Food Precautions
- Baby food can be spoiled without necessarily smelling bad. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Any leftover homemade or commercial baby food or juice that has come in contact with your baby’s saliva must be discarded.
- Commercial baby food jars (I know you are only using commercial baby food in a pinch;)) must “pop” when opened to insure the content’s freshness!
- If commercial infant/baby/toddler cereal has been mixed with liquid, serve it immediately and discard the leftovers.
For many more safety tips on baby food preparation safety and baby food safety, be sure to check out the new edition of Super Baby Food, now available on Smashwords! There are three chapters in an entire section of the book dedicated to safety. It is very important! Please share your own safety tips developed along the way with me!