Baby Food

How long does an opened jar of baby food dinner last in the fridge?

2 days
Fridge, opened — USDA FoodKeeper guidance for dinners

An opened jar of baby food dinner holds 2 days in the fridge — the meat in it is why these are the shortest-lived jars on the shelf.

How long does it keep?

Fridge, opened 2 days

Can it sit out?

Unopened, a baby food dinner is shelf-stable. Once opened, treat it as perishable — the FSIS 2-hour rule applies.

Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).

The 2-hour rule, in full →

How to tell if a baby food dinner has gone bad

  • A lid domed upward, or one that hisses out instead of popping in
  • A fermented, yeasty smell when the jar opens
  • Watery liquid separating out on top of the puree
  • Mold specks around the rim or under the lid

When in doubt, throw it out.

Spoon a portion into a bowl and feed from that — a jar you’ve fed straight from is finished when the meal is.

Quick answers

How long does an opened jar of baby food dinner last in the fridge?

An opened jar of baby food dinner holds 2 days in the fridge — the meat in it is why these are the shortest-lived jars on the shelf.

How long can a baby food dinner sit out?

Sitting out isn’t the safety question for unopened a baby food dinner — once opened, the FSIS 2-hour rule applies. Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).