Locations:
Search IconSearch

Homemade or From the Jar: Which Baby Food Is Best?

How to make baby food at home

baby being fed baby food

When it comes time to for your infant to start eating solid food, is preparing it yourself any better or worse than choosing pre-made, packaged baby food?

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“Both types of food have pros and cons,” says pediatric dietitian Diana Schnee, MS, RD, CSP, LD.

Baby food in the jar is convenient and portable, but some parents worry about:

  • Cost: It can be more expensive to buy baby food than to cook and mash fresh food yourself.
  • Preservatives: The only preservative recommended in jarred foods is vitamin D. But if you blend your own, you know exactly what’s in it and don’t have to worry about navigating ingredient labels.
  • Processing: Excessive heat used to kill bacteria during food processing may also dull nutrients.
  • Packaging: Disposable packaging isn’t as earth-friendly as reusable dishes.
  • Contaminants: Some reports have claimed that jarred baby food contains small amounts of heavy metals.

For these and other reasons, some parents opt to take the homemade route. This can be less expensive, but it also has its downsides:

  • Time: Chopping, steaming and blending foods for baby can mean extra time spent in the kitchen.
  • Storage: Homemade food doesn’t keep as easily as jarred food. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze cooked baby food within two hours to avoid bacteria growth.
  • Texture: How lumpy is too lumpy? Food that isn’t mashed enough could be a choking hazard. And picky eaters may prefer the consistency of smoother processed food.
  • Safety: Homemade food doesn’t go through the safety and quality checks that jarred food does.

Advertisement

So which is better?

It’s up to you. According to Schnee, the concerns aren’t dire enough to rule out either type of food. Ideally, she recommends a combination — making homemade food when you’re having dinner at home and buying jars for when you’re dining out.

“The quality of processed baby food is no longer an issue — there are high-quality, natural baby foods on store shelves now, and most well-known brands have good safety records,” she says. “But if parents want to make homemade food, it’s fine as long as they do it safely.”

Do’s and don’ts for making homemade baby food

If you choose to make baby food yourself, follow these guidelines:

  • Do steam or microwave fruits and vegetables (instead of boiling them) to retain most nutrients.
  • Don’t add salt, sugar or any other ingredient. Each baby food item should have only one ingredient so that it’s easier to identify any potential allergic reaction.
  • Do mash or puree cooked food with small amounts of water, formula or breast milk until smooth.
  • Do transfer food into ice cube trays, cover the tray with plastic wrap or a lid and freeze. Then store frozen cubes in baggies. You can thin purees before or after freezing. Each cube is equal to about 1 ounce of food.
  • Don’t freeze food for more than one month. Be sure to label the bag with the date of preparation as well as the type of food.
  • Do rewarm food to room temperature when it’s time to eat — but not before.

Healthy snacks for babies (and moms) on the go

No time for homemade? Busy parents can still feed their babies fresh foods that don’t come in a jar. Take one of these along on your next outing:

  • Banana: Bring a little dish and a fork or spoon and mash it up.
  • Avocado: Mash it up like a banana.
  • Yogurt: But be sure to tote it with an ice pack.
  • Diced fruit: Peaches, pears and melons are great for babies with new teeth.
  • Tiny cubes of cheese: Opt for pasteurized cheeses, like mozzarella or mild cheddar, because they are less likely to contain illness-causing bacteria.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Health Library
Feeding Your Baby: The First Year

Related Articles

Smiling caregiver holding up smiling baby with spit-up on face and onsie, with smiling caregiver in background, too
January 10, 2025/Children's Health
Why Do Babies Spit Up?

Regurgitation of breastmilk or formula is common, but it could be a sign of GERD in some cases

Baby lying down with crocheted cow hat on, drinking from sippy cup
October 30, 2024/Children's Health
When It’s Safe for Your Baby To Have Cow’s Milk

In babies under 12 months old, cow’s milk has been associated with gastrointestinal bleeding

Toddler drinking orange juice from a glass
October 28, 2024/Children's Health
When Can Babies Have Juice?

No juice until your child is 1 year old — and even then, they shouldn’t have much, if any

Toddler drinking from a pink cup
July 31, 2024/Children's Health
When and How To Wean Your Baby Off Bottles and Sippy Cups

Ideally, you want your toddler to be drinking from a ‘big kid cup’ by age 2

Smiling older baby in high chair with baby utensil in mouth, eating with family
June 24, 2024/Children's Health
Baby-Led Weaning: What You Need To Know

Letting your baby feed themself foods the whole family enjoys has its benefits — but stick to softer foods and follow safe-eating guidelines

Caregiver feeding baby food to child in highchair
June 20, 2024/Children's Health
What To Know About Heavy Metals in Baby Food

Levels are generally low, but there are ways to minimize potential health risks

Happy toddler holding sippy cup
May 6, 2024/Children's Health
Baby Steps: Tips to Transition From Formula to Milk

Slowly introducing cow’s milk (or soy milk) can help your child make the change

Caregiver spoon feeding baby in highchair at the table
April 23, 2024/Children's Health
When Your Baby Can Have Honey

In babies under 12 months, honey may cause a serious illness called infant botulism

Trending Topics

Person in bed sleeping on their side, covers off
Breathing Problems? Try These Sleep Positions

If you’re feeling short of breath, sleep can be tough — propping yourself up or sleeping on your side may help

A couple looking at skyline, with one person slightly behind the other, head bent down
What Is Anxious Attachment Style — and Do You Have It?

If you fear the unknown or find yourself needing reassurance often, you may identify with this attachment style

Glasses and bottle of yellow-colored prebiotic soda, with mint, lemon and ginger garnish
Are Prebiotic Sodas Good for You?

If you’re looking to boost your gut health, it’s better to get fiber from whole foods

Ad