You may wonder whether food needs heating up each time to kill any bacteria that may be present, or perhaps you’ve heard that babies find it easier to digest foods that have been warmed slightly.

Let's look at the reasons for warming foods and how to do it safely:

Do I need to warm up my baby’s food before they eat it?

When it comes to heating up your baby’s food before eating, it’s actually less a matter of health and safety and more a matter of what your baby prefers. Most packaged baby foods bought at the store are ready to eat as they are, and pureed foods that you yourself have prepared for your baby can also be eaten cold, so long as they’ve been stored correctly.

That being said, there are a few guidelines you’ll need to keep in mind when serving your baby's food.

What are the general guidelines for deciding whether or not to heat foods?

Follow package instructions and general food safety guidelines. Firstly, if you’re serving your baby pre-made and packaged food from the store, always carefully follow the cooking instructions. Some foods may require warming up, while others can be served either warm or cold.

On top of this, remember to follow the general food safety guidelines that you apply to the food you yourself eat. Such as properly wrapping leftovers so there’s no food contamination, refrigerating perishables, always making sure to thoroughly cook meats, and throwing away unused items that have passed their best-before date.

Store baby food safely. If buying baby foods, always make sure that the vacuum seal is intact before buying, and then take care to store the items correctly. Once a jar or packet has been opened, you should keep any leftovers in the fridge for no longer than two to three days (depending on the food).

Meat and eggs can generally be stored for a day, while fruit and vegetable mixtures typically last up to three. Meat and vegetable combinations and homemade baby food purees will usually be safe for two days, as long as they’ve been placed in a sealed container and popped in the fridge (though some foods can last up to six months in the freezer). If a food's consistency, colour, or smell changes, you should definitely throw it away.

If you bear these few points in mind, you should find that the foods you prepare for your little one are kept safe and delicious!

How do I safely heat and serve my baby food?

Make sure the food is piping hot if you’re reheating it. This will kill any harmful bacteria that may be present. You should be able to see steam rising from the food.

After heating, make sure to thoroughly stir all the food. This will spread the heat evenly, so it’s ready for tasting.

Always test food before giving it to your baby. This is especially important if you’ve heated it up in the microwave, as hot pockets may form that could cause burns.

Some foods should not be microwaved. This includes meat and eggs. Pureed baby foods should also be transferred to a microwave-safe dish before heating.

Avoid feeding your baby directly from the jar of baby food. The reason is that it can lead to bacterial contamination. Instead, put a portion of the food into a small bowl and feed your baby from this dish.

Allow all food to cool down a little and check the temperature yourself before giving it to your baby. If the food is even slightly hot and not just warm, you’ll need to wait a minute more.

Defrost frozen food properly before you cook it. The safest and simplest way to do this is to leave it in the fridge overnight. But you can also pop it in the microwave for a spell or place it in a container of hot water to thaw out.

Do not refreeze something that has already been defrosted, and refrain from reheating food more than once.

Try different temperatures. Some foods simply taste better warm, while others taste better cold. So consider this before serving up a portion to your baby, and be prepared for them to prefer the opposite to you.

If you’re ever feeling a little unsure as to whether or not to warm a certain food for your baby, simply use your own food customs and tastes as your guideline.

Should I warm my baby's food?

From Unii’s Baby Nutrition Journey, we share tips on food temperature and digestion.