reheating - a bit confused :)

Babycelt · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-11, 09:29

We haven't actually started solids yet but will in the next week, starting with baby rice and slowly introducing solids. DS is 5 months and has reflux and has had bad wind/constipation but that seems much better now. Our PHN (hv in ireland) has recommended that we start solids soon but slowly.

I'm trying to get ahead of the game and start making and freezing veg and fruit ready for him when we start the meal planner routine from the book. But I am confused about reheating baby food.
For example, I understand that it should be reheated to hot then let cool down, but should it be served at room temperature or slightly warm?
also, and this is my big dilemma - I take baby into work with me, 3-4 days a week. We would have a microwave to reheat with but nothing else. I originally thought I could defrost it by standing the container in hot water, but that won't reheat it to piping hot. Is the microwave safe to use to reheat ? I really don't want to have to use shop made jars on the days I work. Is there any gadget that would reheat sufficiently other than a microwave?

Thanks in advance for any tips on reheating!

Bubba82 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-11, 10:31

the microwave is fine to use to reheat just make sure you give it a really good stir after as microwave heating causes hot spots so you wanna give it a good stir to make sure to get rid of them.

as for how warm the food should be, i used to spoon a bit of food up and touch it to my lip, if it felt a safe warm then i would feed LO with it, if not let cool for a bit longer but to be honest my 2 weren't fussed whether the food was warm or cold

bananas are a really good 1st food as there no prep needed just peel and mash, same with avocado, and my 2 used to love avocado and banana mixed together

HTHs

logans_mum · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-11, 20:08

It's been a good while since baby purees for me but am I right in thinking that you don't need to reheat fruit & veg purees after freezing? Just let defrost completely and give to baby cold? And it's just when there's meat in the puree that you need to reheat & cool to a safe temperature? I think I remember doing that with my two. Please correct me if I'm wrong!!

Bubba82 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-11, 20:34

Yeah I think you're right babe x

DrP · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-11, 21:15

Indeed. I just defrosted fruit and veg purees in the fridge overnight and if anythign warmed them up ever so slightly just before serving so they weren't too cold.
Once you start to introduce meat and fish then you must heat it up till piping hot.

Babycelt · #6 (**permalink**) 04-03-11, 09:35

thanks so much for the replies, that makes sense! Glad to know the microwave is ok to use, I'll stop fretting

cathyg · #7 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 16:27

to make life easier, get your baby used to eating food cold, as it can be hard to find places out & about to warm up baby food if they've got used to eating warm food.

Babycelt · #8 (**permalink**) 09-03-11, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathyg

to make life easier, get your baby used to eating food cold, as it can be hard to find places out & about to warm up baby food if they've got used to eating warm food.

I will try that - there's a lot to be said for it