How should infant formula and baby food be stored?

United States Reviewed May 2026 Method v1.1 EU/UK: package use-by dates govern

Follow the package instructions exactly. As general official guidance: use prepared formula within 2 hours of preparation (1 hour once feeding begins), or refrigerate it immediately and use within 24 hours. Never freeze infant formula. The use-by date on formula is a hard limit.

Infant formula is the strictest case on this site: in the US it is the one product whose date label is federally meaningful for safety and nutrition, and manufacturer instructions always override any general guidance — including this page. When in doubt, discard and prepare fresh.

Pantry

Per package only

Prepared formula: max 2 h

Refrigerator ≤ 40 °F (4 °C)

1 day

Quality guidance · Prepared formula: 24 h max; package governs

Freezer

Do not freeze

See freezing section

Calculate a date for infant formula

Starting event Event date

Pick an event and date for a labeled result — never a bare “expiry date.”

Can I freeze it?

Do not freeze

Do not freeze infant formula — manufacturers and the FDA advise against it; freezing can change the formula’s composition and texture.

Opened jars of baby food keep 1–3 days refrigerated depending on type (check the label). Homemade puréed baby food (fruit/vegetable) may be frozen in small portions — formula and partially-fed jars may not.

Prepare & portion. For homemade purées only: freeze in sterilized ice-cube trays, then bag the cubes.

Package. Airtight, labeled with contents and date.

Thaw & use. Thaw purée cubes in the refrigerator; never refreeze. Never feed from the jar you plan to keep — saliva enzymes spoil it.

Thawing and post-thaw handling

Thaw homemade purées in the refrigerator only. Formula is never frozen, so never thawed.

Refreezing

Never refreeze any baby food or formula. The general rules are in the refreezing guide and the Refreezing Decision tool.

Common mistakes

Saving a half-finished bottle for later — discard formula within 1 hour of the start of a feeding.
Using formula past its use-by date — this date is a safety and nutrition limit, not a quality suggestion.
Feeding from the storage jar and refrigerating the rest.

Package exception: Manufacturer instructions override everything on this page. The formula use-by date is a hard limit.

Calculate a date for this food Open in Can I Freeze It? Make a label

Source-to-claim map
Formula preparation, 2-hour and 24-hour limits; no freezing; use-by date — FDA — Infant Formula: Safety Do’s and Don’ts · Opened baby food storage windows — USDA FoodKeeper (FoodSafety.gov) · All sources · Change history · Report a correction