Free baby food storage checker
How long does baby food last?
Pick what you have and when you opened or made it, and see the date it’s good until.
1What are you storing?
2What’s in it?
3When did you open it?
Educational guidance based on USDA, FDA and CDC food safety recommendations. Reviewed by our dietitians. It’s written for healthy, full-term babies and doesn’t replace your pediatrician, who knows your baby. If your baby was born early or has a medical condition, feeding difficulty or known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer).
Pick the kind of baby food you have to see how long it keeps in the fridge and the freezer once it’s opened or made. The times follow USDA, FDA and CDC food safety guidance for babies, who are more at risk from foodborne illness.
Baby food storage chart
Times are for food that was handled safely: refrigerated within 2 hours, in a covered container, in a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder. Frozen food stays safe longer, but quality drops after these times.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Opened jar: fruits or vegetables | 2–3 days | 6–8 months |
| Opened jar: meats or egg yolks | 1 day | 1–2 months |
| Opened jar: meat and vegetable dinners | 1–2 days | 1–2 months |
| Homemade purees: fruits, vegetables, grains, beans | 1–2 days | 1–2 months |
| Homemade: meat, poultry, fish or egg | 1 day | 1–2 months |
| Opened pouch | Follow the label | Not recommended |
| Expressed breast milk | Up to 4 days | Best within 6 months, up to 12 |
| Prepared infant formula | Up to 24 hours | Do not freeze |
Cooking in batches? Our baby and toddler recipes each list how long leftovers keep.
Safe storage tips
- Serve from a bowl, not the jar. Spoon a portion into a bowl so the rest stays clean for later.
- Label and date everything. Freeze purees in ice cube trays, then move the cubes to a labeled, dated freezer bag.
- Thaw in the fridge. Or in cold water or the microwave if you serve it right away. Never thaw baby food on the counter.
- Reheat once. Heat to 165°F (74°C), stir to remove hot spots, test the temperature and throw away leftovers from the meal.
Baby food storage: questions parents ask
How long is baby food good for after opening?
An opened jar of fruit or vegetable baby food keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge, a jar of meat or egg yolk keeps 1 day, and a meat and vegetable dinner keeps 1 to 2 days. Only keep food your baby didn’t eat from directly.
How long does homemade baby food last in the fridge?
Homemade fruit, vegetable, grain and bean purees keep 1 to 2 days in the fridge. Homemade meat, poultry, fish and egg keep 1 day. Freeze what you won’t use in that time.
How long can you freeze homemade baby food?
For the best quality, use homemade baby food within 1–2 months of freezing. Frozen food stays safe longer, but the taste and texture get worse over time.
Can I save baby food my baby didn’t finish?
Not if your baby ate from that bowl, jar or pouch. Saliva from the spoon gets into the food and lets bacteria grow, so throw away leftovers from the meal.
How long does breast milk last in the fridge?
Freshly expressed breast milk keeps up to 4 days in the fridge, up to 4 hours at room temperature and is best used within 6 months from the freezer. Use thawed milk within 24 hours and don’t refreeze it.
Keep it in your baby’s passport
This tool is free with no sign-up. Start the app to log meals, track 100 first foods and get allergen reminders. 7 days free, no card needed.
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