Freezing Fruits for Finger Foods

Sometimes, I find that apples and pears can have a yucky texture after freezing. (Berries and bananas do better.) But maybe just freeze them without cooking them, and then do a zap in the microwave later to get them soft?

Also, you can make applesauce and pearsauce on the stove. It's way chunkier than a puree, and a really yummy finger food! I just cook apples (or pears) with some cinnamon and water, leaving them on the stove on low heat for a long time. My son refused baby food from 7 months on, but still loves to eat apple/pear sauce. Just keep it chunky!

when freezing fruit you want to freeze in layers...if you can slice your fruit and put it on a baking sheet and stick in the freezer...or if you're like me and that is not an option, freeze one layer at a time...I fill the bottom of the freezer container and freeze then I go back every 1/2 hour or so and add another layer until it's full...the reason for this is so they don't freeze in one big clump, that way you can pull out what you need when you want it w/o defrosting the whole container...This is great for teething as well! I freeze everything!! We go berry/apple picking during the appropriate season and it's an awesome expirence..a family activity and then I freeze the goods and we have berries and fruit all year round! My boys love frozen blueberries, I pull a few out at a time and they eat them frozen...I also freeze mini muffins(I use the banana, zuccini, and pumpkin bread reciepies and instead of making loaves I put them in the mini muffin tins) then I freeze them and pull them out for school lunches(my 2 year old loves them frozen too!!! his poor wife will need a freezer :) other frozen delights...go-gurts, string cheese(they last longer in the freezer and are still cold for school, picnics/lunches on the go)...I totally got off the subject...sorry, hope I helped a little!

This website might have some information that could be helpful to you:

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

K.,
What we did was simple: cut the fruit in to small 'bites' and freeze it. We used the little glass food jars, but unless it's just you and 1 kid, and DH is careful, I would say just use baggies or tupperware. The glass made it easier to chisel out, though.

I didn't do anything special with them to freeze them.

My son actually loves all those frozen, and the little chunks they come out of the freezer in - you don't have to thaw if your baby likes them frozen. Makes great teething remedies too.

Long term, I think you need to make sure that everything is SEALED in the freezer, and either way everything needs to be washed adequately.

You can do fruit preserves, you need to follow the recipe on the pectin box.

Good LUck!
M.

K.,
I think they will get mushy when you defrost them. I do know that if you make an apple pie and bake it half way first then freeze it it comes out okay, but the apples have to be cut thick like cutting the apples in quarters or maybe even eighths if the apples are really big. Try doing it with a few first and make it without a crust. Let me know how you make out.
Hugs,
T.

Before my daughter got more of her teeth in, I used to slice apples and put them in the microwave for about 15-30 seconds. This makes them a little mushier, but still intact so that she can hold them and feed to them to herself. This would probably work with pears too. Careful when you take them out of the mike as they can get really hot even after such a short nuke.

I know everyone wants healthy for their children but apples on young childrens even some adults are hard to digest. Choking is another problem. Why dont you peel the apples put in a pot with a tiny bit of water and cinnamon and cook. Great applesauce.