

And if you're taking a picnic this summer, toss opened baby food after one hour if temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. You should also be sure you don't leave opened baby food out longer than two hours at room temperature, advises Jacobs. Many baby food manufacturers like Gerber offer 24-hour helplines, so if in doubt, give them a call. Remember, you can always check this stuff with your pediatrician - they're invested in the health of your baby, and foodborne illness presents serious risks. “The saliva from the baby's mouth can introduce harmful bacteria into the baby’s food,” she adds.

Preeti Parikh, M.D., board-certified pediatrician and executive medical director at GoodRx. “If your baby’s saliva has touched it, then it should be thrown out right away,” advises Dr. The best way to save food is to spoon it onto a plate or bowl and let your baby take it from there. Opened baby food should never be stored in the refrigerator if your baby has had any direct contact with it. Those handy pouches? You should refrigerate baby food pouches within an hour of opening and toss them after 24 hours, no matter what they contain, according to Sarah Smith-Simpson, principal scientist of sensory and consumer insights at Nestlé Gerber. Keep in mind that storage recommendations differ depending on the packaging you choose. Generally speaking, you can refrigerate opened store-bought fruit and vegetable baby food for two days, and opened store-bought meat and egg products for one day, per the FDA. “Unopened, most baby food should have 12 to 24 months of shelf life,” says Jason Jacobs, vice president of quality and technical services at Beech-Nut Baby Nutrition Company. How long does store-bought baby food last? Here’s the nitty gritty on the safety of baby food leftovers, as explained by pediatricians and baby nutrition experts.

It’s important to check the packaging on every product, though, as the specific guidelines may vary depending on ingredients and packaging. Homemade baby foods can last one to two days when properly refrigerated. For instance, are you saving veggies or meat-based products? Is it store-bought or homemade food? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you can store opened (store-bought) fruit and vegetable baby food in the refrigerator for two days, but you should toss store-bought meat and egg products after one. How long your baby food will last depends on a few things. It begs the question: How long does baby food last after being opened? Is it something you can save for later and feed to them the next day, or should you just toss it? But no matter how meticulously I plan my grocery trips, I inevitably end up with extras that my baby doesn’t eat right away. The bright colors, the velvety purées, and the seemingly endless choices can keep me happily browsing the shelves until my shopping partner needs a diaper change. I love buying baby food more than just about anything.
