How Long Does Baby Food (Jars) Last?
Opened jars of fruit or vegetable baby food last 2–3 days in the fridge, meat and egg varieties 1 day, and meat-vegetable combinations 1–2 days. Discard any food the feeding spoon has touched.
Baby Food (Jars) — opened, fruit or vegetable
shelf life- Opened, meat or egg: 1 day in the fridge
- Opened, meat and vegetable combination: 1–2 days in the fridge
- Unopened: 1–2 years in the pantry
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Jarred baby food is cooked, pureed and heat-sealed so it stays safe in the pantry until opened. After that it is a moist, low-preservative food being fed to someone with an immature immune system. How long it keeps depends on what is in it: fruit and vegetable purees last longest, meat and egg the shortest.
How to store baby food (jars)
- Spoon the portion you expect your baby to eat into a separate bowl and refrigerate the jar immediately; a spoon that has been in the baby's mouth carries bacteria back into the food.
- Throw away whatever is left in the feeding bowl after the meal rather than saving it.
- Listen for the pop when you open a jar and check that the safety button in the lid is down beforehand; do not use a jar whose button is already raised.
- Write the date and time of opening on the lid so there is no guessing two days later.
- To freeze leftovers that were never touched by a used spoon, move them from the glass jar into a clean ice cube tray or freezer container.
How to tell if baby food (jars) has gone bad
- A lid with the center button popped up before opening, no pop when first opened, or a chipped or cracked jar.
- Mold on the surface or under the lid.
- An off, sour or fermented smell, or bubbling in the food.
- A rusty, dented or sticky lid that suggests the seal has been leaking.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Baby Food (Jars) shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened, fruit or vegetable | 2–3 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Opened, meat or egg | 1 day | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Opened, meat and vegetable combination | 1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Unopened | Not recommended | Not recommended | 1–2 years |
| Always go by the use-by date on the jar; never use baby food past that date. | |||
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Can I feed my baby straight from the jar?
Only if you plan to throw away whatever is left. Saliva on the spoon carries bacteria and enzymes into the jar, where they multiply even in the fridge and break the food down. To save part of a jar, spoon a serving into a bowl with a clean spoon first.
How long does opened baby food last in the fridge?
It depends on the type: strained fruits and vegetables last 2–3 days, meats and egg yolks 1 day, and meat-vegetable combinations 1–2 days. These are the times given in federal food safety guidance, and they assume the food was not contaminated by a used spoon.
Can I use baby food after the expiration date?
No. Do not feed a baby jarred food past its use-by date, even if the seal is intact and it looks normal. Beyond the safety margin, the nutrient content is only assured up to that date. Discard expired jars.
How long can an opened jar of baby food sit out?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature, and 1 hour if it is above 90°F (32°C). After that it should be thrown out rather than refrigerated. When traveling, carry unopened jars, or keep opened food in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Is it safe to heat baby food in the microwave?
It can be done with care. Transfer the food to a dish rather than heating the jar, heat it briefly, stir thoroughly and let it stand, then test the temperature before feeding, because microwaves create hot spots that can burn a baby's mouth. Meat and egg varieties heat especially unevenly.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Food Pouches Opened |
1 day | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Homemade Baby Food Homemade |
1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Baby Cereal Opened |
Not recommended | Not recommended | 1 month |
| Infant Formula Prepared |
24 hours | Not recommended | 2 hours |
| Applesauce Opened |
7–10 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
| Breast Milk Fresh |
4 days | 6 months | 4 hours |
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.