Use This Trick to Prevent Baby Food From Browning (2024)

FAQs

Use This Trick to Prevent Baby Food From Browning? ›

Adding a splash of citrus juice to your baby food purée is the most widely recommended way to slow down browning.

To store in the fridge, place puree into small food storage containers and squeeze fresh lemon juice overtop. You'll want any exposed part of the puree to be in contact with some lemon juice to prevent browning. To freeze, stir 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice into the mash and spoon into an ice cube tray.

By adding a few drops citrus juice like lemon, lime or orange juice to the puree to prevent the oxidation. Normally, citrus juices are not recommended to be given to babies but a few drops in their food should pose no harm. If in doubt or have concerns, then consult a doctor before adding to your baby's food.

To help prevent the puree from browning, you can add a few drops of an acid such as fresh lemon or orange juice. Mix with whole milk plain yogurt, baby oatmeal, mashed avocado, sweet potato, or any other baby food you like as desired.

Apples contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO). When this enzyme comes in contact with oxygen, it turns colorless compounds into a brown pigment called melanin.

Store any leftover puree by pressing a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the puree. Use your fingers to press all the air out of it. This will keep your avocado from turning brown. From there you can easily pop into the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze into cubes to use at a later date.

Start with one food at a time and select foods that are nutritious and easy to mash such as bananas, avocados, peaches, mangoes, plums, grapes, potatoes and butternut squash. If your baby responds well to these, advance to other nutritious foods such as asparagus, kale, ground chicken, or quinoa.

To keep sliced bananas from discoloring, dip the banana slices into fruit juice, like lemon juice, orange juice, apple juice, or lime juice. If you're worried about the fruit juice affecting the taste of the banana, you can dip the slices in soda water or club soda instead.

Baby food storage guidelines

Pureed store-bought meat, poultry, or fish can be refrigerated for 24 hours after cooking and frozen for 1 to 2 months. Homemade baby foods will keep for 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator and for 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

Can you use lemon juice to keep bananas from turning brown? ›

To prevent your banana slices from browning, you can use the same trick you've seen for apples: acid! Just toss your banana slices in some lemon juice to inhibit enzymatic browning. Full coverage, particularly on the cut sides, will help prevent the slices from turning brown.

How can we prevent apples from turning brown? To slow the chemical reaction, you can isolate the fruit in an anaerobic – or oxygen-free – environment. This is possible by placing lemon juice or pineapple juice on the apple. These liquids carry antioxidants which eliminate oxygen.

Ultimately, as long as your banana is not moldy, and is not slimy or overly soft and squishy when you remove the peel, it is safe to eat brown bananas. A banana with brown spots or freckles is fine.

Some of the ways in which you could easily block the enzyme's activity and prevent avocado browning are by wrapping it thoroughly, adding lemon or pineapple juice, or storing it with an onion. While avocados are safe to eat after they've turned brown, their quality may be reduced.

Some of the ways in which you could easily block the enzyme's activity and prevent avocado browning are by wrapping it thoroughly, adding lemon or pineapple juice, or storing it with an onion.

Avocado puree can either be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that open avocado will brown in the fridge, so freezing may be the best option.

Pour a thin but visible layer of water or lemon/lime juice over the guacamole to form a barrier with the air. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, pushing the wrap, so it is flush with the guacamole to prevent air pockets, or put the guacamole in a sealed tub.

Wondering can you make avocado toast the night before? Yes, squeeze lemon juice onto your mashed avocado & store in a ziplock bag then . . .