How long does baby food last once opened?

Once opened, jars or pouches of baby fruit keep about 3 days in the fridge, and vegetables and dinners with meat about 2 days. Dry baby cereal keeps about 1 month once opened. Unopened jars keep in the pantry until their date.

Food	Fridge	Pantry
Baby food, fruit (opened jar)	—Opened: 3 days	—
Baby food, vegetables (opened jar)	—Opened: 2 days	—
Baby food, dinners with meat (opened jar)	—Opened: 2 days	—
Baby cereal, dry	—	—Opened: 1 month

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

When to throw out baby food

Food your baby has eaten from directly: the spoon brings saliva and bacteria into it.
A jar whose lid didn't pop when first opened, or that was already loose, or a bulging pouch.
Any sour smell, mold or change of color.

How to store baby food

Spoon a portion into a bowl and feed from the bowl; keep the rest of the jar clean for later.
Close opened jars and pouches and refrigerate them straight away.
Write the opening date on the lid.
Keep dry cereal tightly closed in a cool, dry place.

Can you freeze baby food?

Homemade purées freeze well in ice cube trays for a few months; thaw portions in the fridge and use them within a day or two. Store-bought jars aren't meant to be frozen once opened.

Questions

Can you save baby food your baby didn't finish?

Not if you fed straight from the jar or pouch: throw out the leftovers. Serve from a bowl if you want to keep the rest.

How long does homemade baby food last?

1 to 2 days in the fridge, or a few months frozen in portions.

Do you need to heat baby food?

Fruit can be served cold. If you warm jars with meat or vegetables, stir and test the temperature: microwaves heat unevenly.

Add baby food to ShelfLife with the date you opened each jar.

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