Is Silicone Safe For Freezing Baby Food?

Storing baby food properly is not an easy task. Parents need to invest huge time and effort in deciding on the best method for storing food for their little one. Silicone containers, bottles, trays, and bowls are used widely all over the world. However, the safety of silicone for freezing baby food is a highly debated topic among concerned parents. Some argue that silicone is safe for freezing baby food while others contradict this point.

Generally, it is believed that the safety of silicone for freezing baby food depends on the quality of the silicone. If the silicone is of high quality, then it will not release toxins when frozen. So, you need to ensure that the silicone tray you are using for freezing baby food is made up of high-quality material. You can easily find high-quality silicone trays for freezing baby food with any leading brand like WeeSprout.

Below is a detailed discussion regarding the pros and cons of using a silicone tray for freezing baby food, and precautionary measures to be taken while freezing baby food in a silicone tray.

Pros of Using Silicone For Freezing Baby Food

The benefits associated with using silicone for freezing baby food are discussed below:

1. Easily Available

Silicone trays are available all over the world in different sizes. It doesn’t take much effort to find a silicone tray that is in accordance with your needs. Being available in different sizes, silicone trays make it easier for parents to freeze baby food as per requirements.

2. Easy to Remove Food

It is very simple to remove frozen food from the silicone trays. Just by putting some pressure on the back side, the frozen food can be taken out of the tray.

3. Approved By Pediatricians

Many pediatricians and health experts have approved the use of silicone trays for storing baby food. Pediatricians have agreed that silicone trays keep the food preserved and don’t impose the food to any risk of chemicals. The approval by health experts has compelled many parents to shift from plastic to silicone trays for freezing baby food.

4. Chemical Free

Being BPA and other chemicals-free, silicone is a good alternative to plastic. Not only does the use of silicone ensure food safety but also is good for our planet.

5. Lightweight & Bendable

Silicone trays are light in weight and can bend easily. These two qualities of silicone trays make them ideal for daily use. You can use them to freeze baby food even when there is not much space in the freezer. When not in use, you can bend and store them easily.

6. Unbreakable

Being unbreakable silicone trays are a good option to invest in. No matter how many times you or your baby drop them they won’t break and hence will last longer than other trays.

7. Heat Resistant

You can easily place your silicone trays in the microwave or can sterilize them in hot water without having to worry about anything.

8. Reusable

By ensuring the proper cleanliness of silicone trays you can reuse them for several purposes over the years.

9. Dishwasher Safe

The silicone material is dishwasher safe. Parents don’t have to exert any extra effort while cleaning the silicone tray.

10. Inexpensive

You can easily find high-quality silicone trays at affordable rates.

Cons of Using Silicone For Freezing Baby Food

Some of the cons associated with using silicone trays for freezing baby food include:

1. May Be Composed of Harmful Material

Some silicone trays are made up of low-quality material. The presence of low-quality material and chemicals in the tray makes the food unfit to be consumed by the baby. The lack of ability to differentiate between low- and high-quality silicone trays worsens the situation.

2. Can Develop a Foul Smell

If not cleaned appropriately, silicone trays can develop a very bad odor that is unlikely to leave. In some cases, the tray can even develop a foul smell even if cleaned properly. The presence of smell in the silicone tray makes it inappropriate for use.

3. Absence of Lid

Many silicone trays come without a proper lid. The absence of a lid causes spilling while placing the food in the freezer, and even exposes the food to germs and bacteria. The freshness of food is also affected by the absence of the tray’s lid.

Precautionary Measures to Be Taken While Freezing Baby Food in Silicone

Some precautionary measures that you need to take while freezing food in silicone trays include, but are not limited to:

1. Don’t Put Hot Food in Silicone Trays

Putting extremely hot food in silicone trays is not safe. Doing this exposes the food to the risk of chemicals, can ruin the shape of the tray, and affects the quality of food. Always ensure to give the food some time to cool down and then pour it into the silicone tray.

2. Don’t Leave The Food in Silicone Trays For More Than 3 Days

It is advised to consume the food frozen in silicone trays within 3 days. Leaving food in the silicone tray for so long exposes the food to germs. Also, the freshness and quality of food is compromised if left in the silicone tray for a long time.

3. Use a Lid

Always use a silicone tray with a tight lid. Using a lid to cover food reduces the exposure of germs and bacteria to the food. Lid plays a vital role in keeping food preserved and fresh for a long time.

Conclusion

From all the above discussion it is clear that using silicone for freezing baby food has both advantages and disadvantages. You as a parent need to determine whether it is safe for you to use it or not. You need to consider different factors while finding your answer to the question regarding the safety of using silicone for freezing baby food.

Ensure to take time to reflect on the pros and cons associated with using silicone for freezing baby food, and then make a decision that suits you the best.