How long does baby food last?

It varies by item — the table on this page lists all 7 baby food products we track with their unopened, after-opening, and frozen windows from USDA FoodKeeper v128.

How do you tell if baby food has gone bad?

The general signs for this category: A lid that doesn't pop when you first open it; Off smell or a colour change; Mould, or contents that have separated; Any leaking, bulging, or rusted container. Never taste something to test it — when in doubt, throw it out.

Baby food: how long does it last?

7 baby food items with published storage times, 7 of them with a specific after-opening window.

Updated 2026-08-07 · Free · No sign-up

Item	After opening	Unopened / other	Store at
Cereal, dry mixes	1 month	—	Cool, dry pantry, sealed — refrigerating after opening is optional and mainly preserves quality
Dinners	2 days	—	Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Formula (prepared)	1 day	—	Cool, dry pantry, sealed — refrigerating after opening is optional and mainly preserves quality
Fruit	3 days	—	Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Jars or pouches	2–3 days	—	Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula	2 days	—	Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Vegetables (baby food)	2 days	—	Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below

Tap any item for its full storage table, spoilage signs, and storage tips. A dash means no figure is published for that situation — not that it keeps forever.

Spotting spoilage in baby food

A lid that doesn't pop when you first open it
Off smell or a colour change
Mould, or contents that have separated
Any leaking, bulging, or rusted container

General guidance for the category, not a per-product finding. When in doubt, throw it out.

Other categories

↥ Check a specific product →