Buying guide for best baby food storage containers
Parents care about the food their babies eat, which is why some choose to make their own baby food. Baby food storage containers are designed to hold individual servings. These spill-proof, leak-free containers are ideal for eating at home or on the go. They’re ultra-convenient for busy parents who want to make large batches of baby food at a time, and since some containers are freezer-safe, it’s simple to cook in bulk for your baby.
The best baby food storage containers are easy to fill and even easier to clean — many are safe to place on the top rack of your dishwasher. Perhaps best of all, they’re made with food-safe materials that are free of toxins.
If you’re ready to feed your baby’s growing appetite with homemade food, it’s time to invest in some baby food storage containers. Our buying guide will help you choose the best ones for all your home and travel food storage needs.
How making baby food helps parents
Baby food storage containers are ideal to portion and store individual servings of baby food. With a healthy supply of containers on hand, you can prepare large quantities of baby food and then refrigerate or freeze them for future use.
These containers eliminate the guesswork when it comes to measuring out the right amount of food for a meal. On a daily basis, the containers can save you precious time spent on food preparation, cleaning, and serving. Making your own baby food can also help with the bottom line of your grocery budget, as you can take advantage of fresh produce and vegetables on sale to create healthy, nutritious meals for your child.
Key considerations
What foods are best in them?
You may be wondering what foods are best stored in baby food containers. Blended baby food is most commonly kept in the containers, but you can also use them for dry snacks, such as age-appropriate puffs and crackers. If your containers are airtight and spill-proof, you can also use them to store liquids.
Container styles
Tub: Baby food tubs feature lids that either snap or screw on. Some resemble ice trays; they’re made of silicone and pop out frozen contents with little effort. Some consumers feel that tub-style baby food containers are the easiest to fill and clean because they have such wide openings.
Pouch: A baby food pouch is unique in that the food is ingested through a sippy opening on top. Storage pouches are filled on their side through a resealable opening or by removing the sippy top. These containers are a big hit with babies who are teething, and the best ones are built to sustain more wear and tear than the average container.
Capacity
Baby food storage containers hold between one and seven ounces of food. The most common capacity for a traditional tub-style container is two ounces; pouch styles hold up to seven ounces.
Some larger baby food containers have markings that indicate smaller measurements. These are especially helpful if you want accuracy without the hassle of manually measuring each serving with a measuring spoon or scale.
Easy care
Baby food storage containers are designed for convenience. As mentioned, many (both tub and pouch styles) are safe for placement on the top shelf of your dishwasher. That includes the lids. If you don’t have a dishwasher, you’d of course have to wash them by hand, but they’re fairly easy to wash and small enough to fit in a sink basin for soaking.
Features
Materials
Lids and containers are generally made of food-safe, nontoxic materials. Whether silicone, plastic, or glass, these products are typically free of BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalates. Certain containers are also heat-safe to the touch, which is an ideal feature for parents who like to microwave their child’s food right in the container.
Label systems
Some baby food storage containers have labels, though you’re only given a small amount in each package. You could purchase labels from the same product line, but if you use them often, that could get expensive. The upside of having product-specific labels is that they fit perfectly and peel off effortlessly, so it’s a time-friendly feature — which is appreciated by busy parents.
Stacking systems
Some baby food storage containers come as stacking systems. These may be in the form of trays or interlocking containers.
Trays: In tray styes, there are usually six or more containers grouped together. The bottoms of the trays may be equipped to stack on top of a layer of lids. If you like to make large quantities of baby food at once, this is a handy feature.
Interlocking: Interlocking containers don’t utilize trays to stay together. Instead, the lids and bottoms snap together. Even though it’s a streamlined way to keep food in a refrigerator or cooler, removing a container could accidentally open others in the stack and cause spills.
Baby food storage container prices
Baby food storage containers cost between $10 and $50. Price is largely based on container quality and how many come in a set.
Inexpensive: Budget-friendly baby food storage containers cost between $10 and $20. Most sets include around 10 containers, though some have as many as 20.
Mid-range: Priced between $20 and $35, the containers that fall in the middle price range often have stackable features. While they don’t have many more pieces than budget sets, the containers and lids are of better quality.
Expensive: At the top of the price range, premium baby food storage containers cost between $35 and $50. These sets come with all the bells and whistles of other sets. The difference is that these sets may be made of high-quality glass and/or have more than 20 containers.
Tips
- Color code your containers. If you have more than one child, color code your containers so you can easily grab the right ones from the refrigerator rather than wasting time reading each label.
- Research how foods freeze. Certain foods and consistencies freeze better than others, so if you plan on cooking and storing in bulk, do your research first.
- Date every container. It’s not unusual for baby food storage containers to go missing in a playroom, car, or bag. Date your containers so if you find one out of place, it’s not mistaken for a fresh one.
- Replace stained containers. If your container is stained even after a thorough cleaning, replace it, as it could be a sign that the integrity of the material has been compromised.
- Wash new containers before using them. There may be residue or dirt on the new containers, and you don’t want your baby to ingest this debris.
FAQ
Q. There is a chip in one of my baby food storage containers. Should I replace it even if it doesn’t affect how it closes?
A. Yes. A small chip, especially at the top, may seem harmless, but it’s a good indicator that your container is on its way out and could shatter. Not only is it unsafe to use glassware with jagged edges, spills are more likely to occur. A chip affects the vacuum seal closure in some lids, so it’s only a matter of time before a big mess occurs.
Q. Can I bring filled baby food storage containers on an airplane?
A. Yes, as long as your containers fit TSA requirements. It’s not unusual for TSA agents to inspect carry-on luggage that contains prepared baby food, so make sure it’s easily accessible to optimize your time at security checkpoints.
Q. My child has passed the age where I need baby food storage containers. Can I repurpose the ones I have?
A. Absolutely. You can use them for meal prep or for eating on the go. These containers are often the perfect size to store snacks, dressing, and condiments. What’s more, if you’re eating a meal with ingredients that get soggy if they’re premixed (like tacos), baby food storage containers make it easy to keep your ingredients fresh.
