Pouches vs. Flash-Frozen Baby Food

Parents often ask us why we choose to flash-freeze our baby food products – after all, fresh is best, right?

Well… not exactly.

The truth is, the moment food hits the shelf at the grocery store, it’s starting to lose its flavour and its nutritional value. It’s why most baby food contains preservatives and other additives – because who knows how long that baby food will sit there before parents actually buy it.

So what’s a better alternative to plastic pouches of preservative-packed baby food?

Flash freezing.

We choose to flash freeze our baby food products because there’s serious science behind it.

What is flash freezing?

Also known as blast freezing, flash freezing uses a special freezer to quickly freeze food within an hour to preserve its moisture, flavour, and texture.

By rapidly cooling food in a blast freezer, it minimizes ice crystal formation and cellular damage.

Does flash-freezing lower the nutrient value of food?

Absolutely not.

Fast-freezing minimizes cellular damage, which means it retains its nutritional value.

In fact, according to Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, flash freezing may even retain more nutrients than grabbing fresh fruits and veggies from inside your fridge.

“...studies have shown if you can flash-freeze something, it will retain its nutrients better because it retains its cellular integrity so the cells don't get deformed," says Dr. Kopecky.

Watch the 1-minute video explanation below:

(Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network)

And, when we compare preservative-packed baby food pouches – which need to be used within 24 hours of opening and can potentially sit on a shelf at room temperature for up to a year in a plastic pouch – flash freezing is leaps and bounds ahead.

Why flash-frozen is better than baby food pouches

• Nutrient-dense – Flash-freezing locks in essential vitamins and minerals, providing your baby with optimal nutrition from whole foods.
• Zero preservatives/additives – Blast-freezing creates a naturally longer shelf-life to stay fresh without the need for any preservatives or additives.
• Locks in flavour – Flash-freezing puts that freshness, flavour, texture, and moisture on ice – ready to rock your baby’s tastebuds once it’s thawed.
• Reduces food waste – Blast-freezing allows you to give your baby custom portion sizes and lets you save the rest for another day.
• On-the-go convenience – Last-minute coffee date? Sunny pathways you just gotta hit? Flash-freezing frees you to take nutritious, mess-free baby food on the go during any outing!

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~Tannis

Co-owner of Boom Baby Food Co, and mama to two healthy teeny bops!