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Home » Recipes » Baby food

Homemade Baby Food Pouches {how-to and 5 recipes}

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 6, 2025 | Published: May 13, 2016
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
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Homemade baby food pouches are easy to make, portable, squeezable and there are tons of combination possibilities! A great way to serve healthy fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your little one.

Homemade baby food squeeze pouches with the names of the different combinations written on the front.


 

I made ALL of the baby food for both of my little ones. Which was no small feat because they were very hearty eaters. A good thing, but whew, kept me busy in the kitchen!

I always made big batches of purees, to knock out a bunch at a time, and inevitably, I’d be left with extras when they were moving onto finger foods and self-feeding.

So I started turning those purees into homemade baby food pouches.

(I also have tons of other ideas of ways to use leftover baby food - I didn't want to waste a bit!)

Rows of homemade baby food pouches with the names of the different combinations written on the front.

You can of course buy squeeze pouches in the store.

They have lots of different kinds of applesauce mixes, yogurt squeezies, and fruit and veggie combinations.

But you can make your own so quickly, easily and for much less money. Plus, you can customize them to your little one’s liking and feel good that you’re controlling the ingredients.

My kids are older now - M is 5 next week (yikes!) and J is coming up on 3 - but they still love these squeezies. M says she has lots of friends who bring them for lunch, so she’s always asking for me to send them to school.

And I'm happy to.

I love that it’s an easy way to ensure they are eating their veggies. They will take down one of these pouches in a matter of minutes but they don’t always dig into a big bowl of peas or a plate full of broccoli. #yet #Iwontgiveup

Rows of different homemade baby food pouches with the names of the different combinations written on the front.

So today I’m giving you the run-down on what I use, how it works and 5 easy homemade squeezie combinations to get you started.

You can also check out these 5 additional homemade baby food pouches for more ideas! And you'll be coming up with your own favorite recipe combinations before long.

So, let's dive in.

Oh, and if you want to jump on down to the recipes, just scroll to the bottom of the post. The recipe card is above the comments section.

A baby food squeeze pouch filling station being used to make spinach apple rice baby food pouches.
A baby food squeeze pouch filling station being used to make homemade baby food pouches.

Equipment:

I have the Infantino Squeeze Station and it's been great. It's the only specific baby food equipment I've bought and it was definitely worth it.

You’ll also need to buy refill pouches (they come in batches of 50 and you will go through them!)

They have other accessories, but I’ve stuck to these basics and been fine.

You’ll also need an immersion/hand blender or regular blender to make the purees to put into the squeeze pouches.

A glass measuring cup with banana, barley and zucchini next to an immersion blender.
A trio of banana barley zucchini homemade squeezes in clear pouches with orange lids.

How to make baby food squeeze pouches:

    Step 1. Set up the station. You set up the squeeze station by inserting three pouches into the bottom (they fit through some grooves and sort of snap in.) Then you put the empty containers on top and screw them onto the bags to prepare for filling.

    Pro tip: Be sure to write the contents and date on your bags before you start to fill them. Much easier to do it before rather than after they’re filled.

    Step 2. Add puree mixes. Next, spoon your puree mix into each container, filling it almost to the top. You use the press tool and push the puree down into the pouch. It’s a weirdly gratifying feeling.

    Note: If the mixture gets stuck or won’t push, you probably have a small chunk in your puree that got caught in the hole. Just unscrew your tube, dump the contents back into your blender and reblend (or pick out the offending piece if you see it).

    Step 3. Remove the bags. After the bags are filled, unscrew the tubes from the top and carefully pull the bags out, keeping them level so they don't spill. Twist on the orange top and voila!

    It’s really easy and actually kinda fun! 

    A trio of apple spinach brown rice squeezes in clear pouches with orange lids.
    Two broccoli pineapple baby food squeezes in clear pouches with orange lids.
    Baby food pouches with mango, quinoa and sweet potato mixes.
    A trio of pear peas and spinach squeezes in clear pouches with orange lids.

    Tips and Tricks:

    • Lemon: Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to all of these to help preserve them. The only exception is the pineapple-broccoli mixture. The citrus from the pineapple is enough on its own.
    • Peels: You can keep the peels on the pears and apples, just be sure to puree them very well so pieces don’t get stuck and prevent the mixture from going into the squeezie bags.
    • Cooking: The vegetables and grains need to be cooked and soft, so plan ahead. Or use leftovers. These can be a great way to use up scraps and reduce food waste.
    • Consistency: If any of your mixtures seem too thick (because the water content of fruits and veggies can vary), just add a bit of applesauce or a splash of water to the blender until its thin enough.
    • Size: Each pouch holds about 4 ounces. Most of these batches for me make about 3 squeezies worth. You can of course always double up if you want to knock out a bunch. They freeze great, so you might as well!
    Close up of homemade baby food squeeze pouches with the names of the different combinations written on the front.

    Storage Tips:

    • Homemade squeeze pouches, once made, should be stored in the refrigerator. Make sure they are labeled and dated. They will keep for up to 2-3 days in the fridge.
    • You can also freeze the pouches! Pop them in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before giving to your little one.
    • Traveling? You can safely transport these pouches for up to 1-2 hours. If you're going to be out longer than that - or if it's a very hot day - I would recommend packing them in a cooler.

    Oh, and these should all be served cold or at room temperature; they aren’t meant to be heated or served warm.

    Check out the recipes below and get to making some baby food pouches. I hope your little one enjoys!

    XO,

    Kathryn

    P.S. You can find more baby food help, resources and recipes in my cookbook. Healthy, Quick and Easy Baby Food has ALL the info you need to get started plus 100 recipes ranging from single purees to combinations to finger foods and toddler foods.

    How to make homemade baby food pouches and 5 easy recipes!
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    4.58 from 103 votes

    Homemade Baby Food Pouches

    Portable, squeezable and with lots of flavor options, homemade baby food pouches are a great way to serve healthy fruits, vegetables and grains to your little ones!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Yield: 3 pouches for each combination

    Ingredients

    For the apple-brown rice-spinach pouches:

    • 1 apple, core removed and roughly chopped
    • ½ cup cooked brown rice
    • 1 cup packed fresh spinach leaves (raw)
    • Juice of ½ lemon

    For the pineapple-broccoli pouches:

    • 1 cup cut pineapple (thawed if frozen)
    • ⅔ cup cooked broccoli florets

    For the mango-sweet potato-quinoa pouches:

    • 1 ripe mango, peeled, seed removed and roughly chopped
    • ½ cup cooked sweet potato
    • ½ cup cooked quinoa
    • Juice of ½ lemon

    For the banana-barley-zucchini pouches:

    • 1 ripe banana
    • ½ cup cooked barley
    • ½ cooked chopped zucchini
    • Juice of ½ lemon

    For the pear-peas-spinach pouches:

    • 1 ripe pear
    • ½ cup cooked peas
    • 1 cup raw spinach
    • Juice of ½ lemon

    Instructions

    • Make sure all of your grains and veggies are cooked, if indicated.
    • Combine all ingredients for each pouch combination in a blender or immersion blender and blend until it’s a smooth, pourable consistency. (See notes.)
    • Label your bags, set up your station and add the mixture to the squeeze station containers, filled to the indicated line. Push down with the press tool and fill each bag. Remove the bags from the station and twist on the tops. They are ready to serve! (See notes below for storage tips.)

    Notes

    Lemon: Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to all of these to help preserve them. The only exception is the pineapple-broccoli mixture. The citrus from the pineapple is enough on its own.
    Peels: You can keep the peels on the pears and apples, just be sure to puree them very well so pieces don’t get stuck and prevent the mixture from going into the squeezie bags.
    Cooking: The vegetables and grains need to be cooked and soft, so plan ahead. Or use leftovers. These can be a great way to use up scraps and reduce food waste.
    Consistency: If any of your mixtures seem too thick (because the water content of fruits and veggies can vary), just add a bit of applesauce or a splash of water to the blender until its thin enough.
    Size: Each pouch holds about 4 ounces. Most of these batches for me make about 3 squeezies worth. You can of course always double up if you want to knock out a bunch. They freeze great, so you might as well!
    Here are 5 more homemade baby food pouches if you want more flavor/combination ideas!
    Storage: Homemade squeeze pouches, once made, should be stored in the refrigerator. Make sure they are labeled and dated. They will keep for up to 2-3 days in the fridge.
    You can also freeze the pouches! Pop them in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before giving to your little one.
    Traveling? You can safely transport these pouches for up to 1-2 hours. If you're going to be out longer than that - or if it's a very hot day - I would recommend packing them in a cooler.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pouch | Calories: 50kcal
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
    Homemade baby food squeeze pouches with the names of the different combinations written on the front and a text overlay on the photo.
    Pin

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristina

      September 11, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      Looking forward to making these soon. Wondering what sized zucchini you used since it just says 1/2 chopped and cooked. All the ones at Kroger are rather small (maybe 6 inches long) and want to make sure that size would be enough.
      Thanks,

      Reply
      • Kathryn

        September 12, 2018 at 6:37 am

        Hi Kristina! If you found one of those real small zucchinis, you can probably use the whole thing. (Or you can cook and puree it and if it seems like too much, keep some separate on its own to use for baby food or to mix with something else.) It's pretty forgiving. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Ling

      November 10, 2018 at 9:13 am

      love them !

      Thank you for sharing and I have few questions: 1. How long does it last? 2. Can I put them in the freezer? 3. Can a 4 months old have these?

      Reply
      • Kathryn

        November 12, 2018 at 7:14 am

        Hi, you can store pouches in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To defrost, simply move the pouch to the refrigerator - it thaws in less than a day. You'll need to talk with your doctor about when to introduce solid food (usually 4-6 months is the recommendation). But I don't think such a young baby could hold and eat these, so you may want to wait a little while before introducing squeeze pouches.

        Reply
        • Sara

          July 30, 2022 at 1:19 am

          I have read a lot that if you take a pouch out of the freezer and let it thaw...that you need to reheat it before you serve it. Do you do this?

          Reply
          • Kathryn Doherty

            August 01, 2022 at 8:48 am

            Hi Sara, no, I didn't reheat these. I'm not sure all pouches are even able to be heated and I never served them warm. Just let them thaw and then served them from the fridge. Hope that helps!

            Reply
    3. McKenzie Stewart

      January 18, 2019 at 7:24 pm

      Just made these today! I made a few modifications as I went to use some stuff I had extra of. I ended up with 38 pouches! This will be so nice for on the go for the next 3 months!

      Reply
      • Kathryn

        January 21, 2019 at 6:50 am

        I'm so happy this was helpful! And nice work - you've got a ton ready to go!! 🙌

        Reply
    4. Malinda

      May 15, 2019 at 9:42 am

      I heard that you have to reheat frozen/thawed baby food until it’s steaming before feeding it to baby. Is that true? If so, you can’t boil the pouches so freezing the pouches isn’t an option because you would have to squeeze the purée out to heat it up. Thus defeating the purpose. Can you help?

      Reply
      • Kathryn

        May 15, 2019 at 10:33 am

        Hi Malinda! You should definitely not feed steaming hot food to a baby but if you mean that it should be basically boiled to kill bacteria, that is also inaccurate. If you safely prepare, store and defrost the food, there is no need to bring it to a high temperature, as it won't have grown any dangerous bacteria. (You cannot keep baby food that the baby has partially eaten or if the spoon used to feed the baby has contaminated the remaining food or the container.) So any of these unused pouches can be frozen and then thawed overnight in the fridge and fed to baby cold from the refrigerator. You can read more about baby food storage in this post: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-baby-food/ And as always, if you have questions and concerns about baby food and feeding your baby, you should always consult your pediatrician or health care providers. I hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Veronica Watson

          August 05, 2023 at 9:18 am

          I want to make this home made pouches. I see in the comments that you thaw out in the refrigerator but the only question how long does it last if you have them in room temp if you need to take them on the go

          Reply
          • Kathryn Doherty

            August 07, 2023 at 1:38 pm

            Hi! I would plan to use them within 1-2 hours after taking them out of the fridge to be on the safe side. If you are traveling with pouches for longer than that, I'd pop them in a cooler to keep them chilled. Hope that helps!

            Reply
            • Rennae

              December 15, 2023 at 11:15 am

              If you are planning a trip, just take them from the freezer and pop them into the diaper bag still frozen. They will slowly thaw in there. Or, you could put them into a cooler for longer trips to keep them colder/frozen longer.

              Reply
      • Kathryn

        May 15, 2019 at 10:34 am

        Oh, and there's lots more information about baby food storage and handling leftovers in this post too: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/ways-to-use-leftover-baby-food/

        Reply
    5. Jessica

      May 21, 2019 at 3:14 pm

      I have this same feeding system and my baby is 2 months but I want to get a head start on making food before I go back to work. Can I put these in the freezer and I know I read it’s safe in freezer for up to 3 months on cubes but what about in these pouches? I appreciate your help!

      Reply
      • Kathryn

        May 22, 2019 at 7:10 am

        Hi Jessica! Way to go, getting ahead on some baby food and pouches for your little one! 👏 Yes, you can put these pouches in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can set them in the fridge to thaw overnight (though they don't even take that long) and have them ready to go. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    6. Rachel

      November 19, 2019 at 10:38 am

      You can also buy reusable/washable pouches. Thanks for the recipes!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        November 19, 2019 at 1:31 pm

        Yes, another good option! I never found any that I loved and were easy to clean - do you have any recommendations?

        Reply
    7. Dot

      December 28, 2019 at 1:52 pm

      Kathryn, these are amazing! Can I freeze them?

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        December 29, 2019 at 9:21 pm

        Yay, so glad you found this to be helpful! And yes, these freeze great! I have frozen all kinds of different combos for up to 3-4 months and they all did well. You can defrost in the refrigerator (overnight or 8+ hours) and then they are ready to serve. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    8. Sue Howat

      February 11, 2020 at 9:15 am

      Just a suggestion - with the toxins in plastic, plus ease of cleaning, I would like to suggest using mason jars instead. Very easy to clean, they seal AND (bonus!) they're made in the US!!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        February 11, 2020 at 11:55 am

        Hi Sue! I love using mason jars for salad dressing and overnight oatmeal jars; they are so handy! However, this post is about baby food pouches that are intended to let babies and toddlers feed themselves a puree mix by squeezing it into their mouths, so I don't think a mason jar would be a good substitute.

        Reply
      • Sadie

        March 04, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        Although pricy, they make baby squeeze pouches out of food grade silicone as well! If you're worried about the chemicals in plastics. Although most of those chemicals are a result of heating plastic, so as long as you don't heat these pouches or leave in direct sunlight, you should avoid the problem by large. Personally I do not throw them in the dishwasher for this reason.

        Reply
        • Kathryn Doherty

          March 08, 2022 at 5:29 pm

          That's great info - thanks so much for sharing!

          Reply
    9. Stephanie Toering

      June 25, 2020 at 10:14 am

      Thank you for these recipes- do you think I could sub frozen spinach for the fresh? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        June 25, 2020 at 2:07 pm

        Hi Stephanie! So, frozen spinach is cooked and that will greatly affect the taste of any of the pouches you make with it. Fresh spinach, on the other hand, blends right in and doesn't change the flavor at all. I hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Stephanie Toering

          June 26, 2020 at 12:35 pm

          Okay thanks!

          Reply
    10. Caitlyn

      October 11, 2020 at 11:28 am

      What is the freezer life on these?

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        October 12, 2020 at 12:45 pm

        You can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    11. Sandy B

      November 29, 2020 at 3:12 am

      Thank you so much for sharing! I just bought the pouches and the squeeze machine from the link. You are awesome to share these and I can't wait to start. I have a glass all in one steamer blender so will see how that will work with these 🙂

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        November 29, 2020 at 9:02 am

        So happy this is helpful for you Sandy! I bet that steamer blender will make even quicker work of the prep. Good luck!!

        Reply
        • Angela

          October 13, 2021 at 6:33 am

          Do you have any recipes with avocado or peanut butter? TIA!

          Reply
          • Kathryn Doherty

            October 13, 2021 at 7:24 am

            Hi Angela! Are you looking for baby food pouch recipes with avocado or peanut butter specifically? If so, I don't have any of those up right now. And actually, I don't think I used avocado or PB in any pouches for my kiddos. But I did make them smoothies with both - and you could always put that in a pouch if your little one isn't ready for a straw. Here's one recipe I have on the blog: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/peanut-butter-banana-smoothie-spinach/ Hope that helps!

            Reply
    12. Joy

      April 09, 2021 at 9:13 pm

      About to start making my own baby food. Just wondering if they need to be heated or microwaved before eating once they have been thawed in the refrigerator? I plan to make big batches in the freezer.

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        April 13, 2021 at 8:38 am

        Hi Joy! No, you can feed these pouches to your baby straight from the refrigerator once they are thawed. Hope that helps and good luck!!

        Reply
    13. Jess

      April 20, 2021 at 10:07 am

      How long are these pouches good for if you freeze them?

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        April 20, 2021 at 2:46 pm

        Hi Jess! I have frozen all kinds of different combos for up to 3-4 months and they all did well. You can defrost in the refrigerator (overnight or 8+ hours) and then they are ready to serve. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    14. Lisa

      June 28, 2021 at 8:45 am

      This was very helpful! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        June 29, 2021 at 7:29 am

        I'm so happy to hear that Lisa! 😊

        Reply
    15. Bethany

      July 23, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      Love your combinations! What size are the pouches you use? I have different reusable ones so I'll have to adjust the recipes, if necessary, based on the size and amount that I have. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        July 26, 2021 at 2:44 pm

        I'm so glad this is helpful! My pouches hold about 4 ounces. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    16. Kirsten Jeschke

      October 03, 2022 at 11:11 am

      Hi! Do you ever cook the apples before putting them in the pouches? Is it ok to use raw apples?

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        October 05, 2022 at 9:04 am

        Yes, it is OK to use raw apples; that's what I did for these. I also sometimes use applesauce and other fruits to make different flavored applesauce (like here: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-applesauce-5-fruit-flavors/) and put that into pouches. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    17. Maisy

      November 20, 2022 at 2:03 pm

      How long will they last out of the fridge?

      Reply
    18. Maisy

      November 20, 2022 at 2:05 pm

      How long will they last out of the fridge? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        November 21, 2022 at 8:01 am

        Hi Maisy! I would plan to use them within an hour to be on the safe side. If you're traveling with pouches for longer than that, I'd pop them in a cooler to keep them chilled. Hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Perla

          February 09, 2023 at 9:57 pm

          How do you clean the pouches that come with the Infantino Station? Would any pouch type from Amazon work on the Infantino station?

          Reply
          • Kathryn Doherty

            February 10, 2023 at 7:39 am

            The pouches I get are not re-useable. So I don't clean them; just use them and then toss them. I'm not sure other pouches would work with the Infantino Station; I'm guessing they need to be the right fit and another brand might not line up correctly.

            Reply
    19. Amanda

      June 17, 2023 at 1:36 pm

      can the grains in each recipe be substituted? For example, if I don't have barley or brown rice, can I use rainbow quinoa for all of these recipes instead?

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        June 21, 2023 at 8:22 am

        Yes, absolutely! You can use any cooked grain your baby enjoys, just be sure it's fully cooked and then pureed enough that it'll pass easily through the opening.

        Reply
    20. Emily Silvestre

      June 06, 2024 at 6:19 am

      Can you please make some only vegtable pouches?

      Reply
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