Boring question about defrosting baby food

[starkadder]

Sorry...not very interesting but I am very confused, and can't quite work out what is allowed and what isn't, even after trawling through the net and archives on Mumsnet...

Our baby is nearly 8 months old and we cook all his food from fresh ingredients and then often feed him some, put some in the fridge for the next day, and freeze the rest. What I don't understand is:

1. If it's cooked, then put in fridge till the next day, is it then OK to give to him cold, or are we supposed to reheat to "piping hot" and then let it cool down again?

2. If it is cooked and then frozen, can we defreeze using the defrost setting on the microwave or are we supposed to thaw by heating up to "piping hot" in the microwave or on the stove and then letting it cool down again?

3)...or are we supposed to thaw in the fridge overnight so it doesn't reach the "danger zone" of between 5 and 70 degrees?

4. ...and is it different for meat and rice?

???I know i is basic stuff but just don't really understand the whole thing.....

Personal experience only:

1. Yes - straight from fridge is fine, or take out a bit earlier to get the chill off
2. & 3) - if poss, avoid using the microwave as it (apparently) destroys more nutrients than any other cooking or heating method - something to consider when you've been to so much effort already
3. and 4) - for plain fruit or veg I'd have been happy to serve defrosted or warmed. For anything with meat, fish, rice or dairy in I would always go plasma hot and then cool to eating temperature - if you're making stuff to freeze, you can always make it thicker so once heated it can be cooled quickly by adding a little cold water or milk?

Hope this helps

thanks ;-) this does help!

Using the microwave keeps the nutrients but it destroys some of the immune-boosting propeties of food and can have some effect on the blood apparently.

I always heat food to piping so destroying any nasties that might have got in it.

effect on the blood??!! what does this mean?! you can't just say that!!

thanks for reply tho - did not mean that - just am now freaked out about possible effect on blood of baby...

I micr everything, I didn't know this about it not being good. I thought it was a good way to cook things as it kept the nutrients?

I also micro things from frozen. I think different sources say different things. I personally think it is better to go straight from frozen so you don't have it sitting in the fridge for the day or whatever in that in between temp.

I always cook things really hot though.

I always reheat to piping hot whether the food has been in the fridge or frozen. I microwave it on the defrost setting til it's, er, defrosted then cook on full heat til piping hot.

This includes rice (DS practically lives on risotto) but not meat as we are veggie.

Starkadder - no offence taken! I wouldn't worry too much. The blood thing is something I read in Optimum Nutrition Before During and After Pregnancy. It has a section on weaning.

It says "Don't be tempted to heat food in the microwave. Although it retains its nutrient content, it has a negative impact on the immune-boosting properties and can adversely affect your child's blood." This is referenced LH Smith & JG Hattersley 'Victory Over Crib Death', Townsend Letter for doctors and patients (aug/sep 2000).

Like I said, don't worry, the author also says never store food in plastic and filter all tap water even the water you shower in (so you could say he is a bit out there)! I sometimes use the microwave anyway.

haha! thanks for the reassurance! Imagine filtering your shower water....Jesus.

Anyway, I think the main thing is to reheat meat, rice, fish to piping hot, right? And then it is OK to cool down again with cold water or milk or whatever. And feed it to him immediately. Because surely if you let it cool down at room temperature that is not great either? V confusing...I keep thinking I am all sorted and then I realise I still don't really understand - and I think it is because I don't really understand what conditions these evil bacteria grow in...

Well you have never given yourself food poisoning (I assume!) so you are probably doing all the right things food-hygiene wise. If things are piping hot I don;t suppoise it matters too much how it cools as long as you give it immediately.