Reusable Food Bags vs Silicone Freezer Trays | The son of Cherub

Both reusable food bags and silicone cooling mats are great ways to store homemade baby food – the best choice comes down to your baby’s stage and feeding habits. Silicone cooling trays are great for cooling small portions of puree that can be stored once in the early days of solids, while reusable bags are great for when your baby eats on his own and you’re out and about. Many Australian parents can use both: trays for cooling, bags for serving.

If you are cooking baby food and wondering what to buy first, this honest comparison goes over price, portion control, cooling, cleaning and convenience so you can choose what suits your routine.

Just looking

Part	Reusable grocery bags	Cool silicone trays
Very good about	Serving & feeding on the go	Single-phase cooling
The best part	Self-feeding, ~7+ months	First purees, ~6 months +
Control section	Large bottles (60-140ml)	Small cups (15-75ml)
Easy to freeze	Yes (many are)	Yes – made for it
Use on the go	Very nice	Do not move once melted
Cleaning	Requires little maintenance (a bottle brush helps)	Easy – usually dishwasher safe
Reduces waste	Yes vs lost bags	Yes vs disposable containers

Silicone cooling pads: a cooking horse on the cross

Silicone cooling trays are designed for one purpose: cooling homemade puree into clean, single-use portions. You heat and mix a lot of bread, rub it into the holes of the tray, cool, then take out the cubes and store in a labeled freezer bag. When it’s time for a meal, you melt exactly the cubes that your baby can eat.

This is good for the first months of solids, when the portions are small and you want to give variety without wasting. Flexible silicone pops ice cubes out easily – no more stealing from hard plastic ice trays – and most are dishwasher safe for quick clean up.

Advantages:

• Great little place for first timers
• Easy to release ice cubes from flexible silicone
• Generally dishwasher safe and easy to clean
• Allow to dry different colors in a small space

Disadvantages:

• Don’t move – you still need a plate and spoon to serve
• Best stored in the refrigerator, not for eating on the go
• The cubes need to be thawed and usually reheated before serving

For an in-depth look at what to buy, check out our guide to the best silicone cooling trays for baby food, and our great guide to baby food coolers for proper portioning and cooling.

Reusable bags: perfect for eating on the go

Reusable grocery bags are a great addition to your squeezer that you fill with your puree, yogurt or smoothie. It’s the answer to expensive disposable bags: fill it, seal it, and hand it to your child to feed himself, or squeeze it on a spoon yourself. They are perfect for daycare, parks, car trips and restaurants – wherever a dish is messy or impossible.

Many reusable bags also fit in the freezer, so you can fill up and freeze a batch, then grab one on the way out the door. They come on their own when your baby is seven months old and starts to feed himself, although you can also give him a spoon before that.

Advantages:

• Enough to feed on the go and encourage self-feeding
• Cheaper and greener than disposable bags in the long run
• Large meals are suitable for the hungry, older babies and toddlers
• Perfect for yogurt, smoothies and fruit and puree

Disadvantages:

• You need more care to clean it – a small brush makes it easier
• The major components do not correspond to the minor preferences of the first
• Quality varies, so look at the design of the food grade, without skipping a beat

Our complete guide to buying reusable grocery bags covers what to look for, and if you’re thinking about freezing and cleaning, we answer whether reusable grocery bags can go in the freezer, dishwasher and microwave.

Which one is right for you?

Here is an easy way to choose:

• Just starting hard (about 6 months)? Start with silicone cooling pads. The small cubes allow you to combine tastes and create variety without spoiling when the portions are small.
• Self-feeding or eating on the go (about 7+ months)? Add reusable bags. They make daycare, travel and travel easier and reduce your waste on disposable bags.
• Need one plan for the whole trip? Use them all together – and that’s the combination that most parents reach for. Cook and freeze the puree in a tray, then thaw and freeze in bags for several days.
• Feeding yogurt, smoothies or snacks? We’ve won the bag, hands down.
• Got some in the freezer and need some variety? Trays allow you to store smaller parts more efficiently.

A simple routine that uses both

Many families find the bag and tray pass irresistible. Heat and blend vegetables or fruit – a baby food maker makes this a five-minute job – then freeze the puree in silicone trays. Once cooled, transfer the cubes to labeled bags. On busy mornings, thaw a few cubes overnight in the fridge and squeeze them into a reusable bag for babysitting or on-the-go. You get the control of trays and the convenience of bags, all from one cook.

Whatever you choose, follow some safe storage tips: The Raising Children Network advises to refrigerate homemade baby food immediately, refrigerate it for no more than two days, or freeze it for several months, and avoid thawed food.

Judgment

It’s not really a bag versus trays – that’s what you want first. If your baby is just starting solids, silicone cooling pads are a smart first purchase. If you’re running a self-feeding baby from door to door, reusable bags will help you stay sane. Together, they’ve turned one batch of homemade meals into a week of easy, zero-waste meals. Buy a reusable grocery bag →

Frequently asked questions

Can you freeze food in reusable bags?

Yes – the best reusable bags are freezer safe. Fill, leaving a little room for expansion, set aside to cool, then thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Are silicone cooling trays better than frozen baby food trays?

Most of the time yes. Flexible silicone releases ice cubes more easily than hard plastic, and purpose-built trays often have lids and large holes that fit baby portions.

How long do homemade foods last in the refrigerator?

Homemade frozen baby food is best used within one to three months. Label everything with the date, and don’t refreeze food that has already thawed.

Do I need cooler bags and tires?

Not really, but they complement each other. Tires are best for freezing the smaller sections of the first section; bags are perfect for serving and feeding on the go. Many parents use trays to cool and bags to serve.

What is easy to clean?

Silicone freezer trays are often the easier of the two, as most are dishwasher safe. Reusable bags require a little maintenance, but a small bottle brush and a straight wash after you’re done will keep them looking brand new.

Are reusable bags worth it compared to disposable ones?

Over time, yes. Reusable bags cost more upfront but pay for themselves faster than buying single-use bags, and they create less waste.