Why Parents Love Silicone Freezer Trays
Making your own baby food is one of the most empowering steps you can take as a parent. Instead of relying on store-bought jars and pouches (which often contain preservatives, added sugars, or high sodium levels), you’re giving your baby meals that are fresh, wholesome, and tailored to their needs.
But here’s the challenge: babies don’t eat much in the early months, and parents often want to prepare enough food for several days at a time. Pureeing a batch of carrots, apples, or peas is easy—but how do you store tiny portions for baby and larger portions for family meal prep without waste?
That’s where a silicone freezer tray comes in. Whether you need small cubes for a first taste or larger 1-cup portions for soups, stews, or meal prep, these trays let you freeze food safely, pop out portions with ease, and save time in the kitchen. Later, you can thaw exactly what you need—one cube for baby, or a full cup for the family.
In this guide, I’ll share:
- ✅ What makes a good silicone freezer tray
- ✅ 6 of the best silicone freezer trays for baby food
- ✅ Tips for prepping and storing homemade baby food
- ✅ FAQs parents ask about freezer trays
- ✅ My personal advice as a mom who used these trays daily
How to Choose the Best Silicone Freezer Tray for Baby Food
Before diving into product reviews, here’s what to look for when buying a silicone freezer tray:
1. Material Safety
Always choose trays made from 100% food-grade silicone that’s BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free. This ensures no harmful chemicals leach into your baby’s food, especially when freezing or reheating.
2. Ease of Use
One of the main reasons parents prefer silicone over hard plastic is flexibility. With silicone, you can press gently on the bottom, and the frozen food pops out effortlessly – no cracking, no fighting with ice cube trays.
3. Portion Size
Most silicone freezer trays come with compartments sized between 1 oz and 3 oz.
- 1 oz: Great for babies just starting solids.
- 2–2.5 oz: Ideal for older babies who eat bigger meals.
- 3 oz+: Perfect for toddlers or for freezing larger portions like soups and stews.
4. Lid Quality
A tight-fitting lid is essential. It prevents freezer burn, stops odors from seeping in, and keeps food safe and fresh. Look for trays with a hard plastic cover or a snug silicone snap-on lid.
5. Ease of Cleaning
Parenting is messy enough – you don’t want hard-to-scrub trays. Choose dishwasher-safe silicone trays for quick cleanup.
The 6 Best Silicone Freezer Trays for Baby Food
Here are six top-rated freezer trays that parents swear by:
1. WeeSprout Silicone Freezer Tray
- Capacity: 10 pods, each 1.5 oz
- Lid: Premium hard plastic, stackable
- Why Parents Love It:
- Each 1.5 oz section has 1 oz measurement markings
- Large portion sizes for growing appetites
- Easy to pop out cubes
- Doubles as a baking mold or snack tray
💡 Best for: Parents who want versatility—this tray grows with your child.
2. XOMOO Silicone Freezer Tray with Lid – Soup & Meal Prep Containers (2-Pack)
- Capacity: 8 large cubes, each 1 cup (8 oz) portion with 125ml/4oz and 250ml/8oz marks
- Lid: Excellent sealing and leak-proof properties
- Why Parents Love It:
- Oversized 1-cup cubes are perfect for storing large portions of baby food as your child grows, or for freezing soups, stews, smoothies, and family meal preps.
- Comes as a 2-pack, making it easy to batch cook and store a variety of foods at once.
- Made from BPA-free Food platinum grade silicone, durable, oven- and dishwasher-safe silicone, so it doubles as a baking mold once your little one outgrows purees.
- Built-in stainless steel frame to further enhance the durability of the tray.
- Flexible silicone makes it easy to release big cubes without hassle.
💡 Best for: Parents who want a freezer tray that starts with baby food but continues to serve the family for years—great for batch meal prep beyond the baby stage.
3. OXO Tot Baby Blocks Freezer Storage Containers
- Capacity: Tray with six 2 oz containers and Tray with four 4 oz containers
- Lid: Leak-proof, individual snap lids
- Why Parents Love It:
- Perfect for travel or daycare
- Individual cubes make defrosting simple
- Containers transition easily into toddler snacks
- Microwave-safe Containers are great for heating food and serving baby on the go
💡 Best for: Families on-the-go who need sealed containers for daycare or trips.
4. NUK Homemade Baby Food Silicone Freezer Tray
- Capacity: 9 pods, 1 oz each
- Lid: Snap-on plastic lid
- Why Parents Love It:
- Great starter size for first tastes
- Affordable and compact
- Soft silicone makes cube removal easy
💡 Best for: Parents starting baby-led weaning or early spoon-feeding.
5. Mumi & Bubi Solids Starter Kit
- Capacity: Two trays, 21 pods each (1 oz)
- Lid: Plastic lid for stacking
- Why Parents Love It:
- Batch prep a week’s worth of food at once
- Easy-release design
- Made in New Zealand with high-quality plastic
💡 Best for: Busy parents who love prepping large batches at once.
6. Samuelworld Silicone Baby Food Storage Trays
- Capacity: 9 pods, 2.5 oz each
- Lid: Flexible silicone lid
- Why Parents Love It:
- Affordable compared to premium brands
- Multipurpose (can be used for baking or ice cubes later)
- Wide pods make scooping easy
💡 Best for: Parents looking for budget-friendly but durable trays.
Tips for Using a Silicone Freezer Tray
Here are some mom-tested hacks to make your baby food journey easier:
- Cool before freezing: Let purees cool before pouring into trays to prevent condensation.
- Label clearly: Use freezer-safe labels or masking tape with the date and food type.
- Pop and store: Once frozen, transfer cubes into a labeled freezer bag for longer storage.
- Defrost safely: Thaw in the fridge overnight or warm gently in a bowl of hot water. Never microwave directly in silicone trays unless labeled safe.
- Mix and match: Combine different cubes (like peas + sweet potato) to create variety as your baby explores new flavors.
FAQs About Silicone Freezer Trays
❓ How long can I store baby food in a silicone freezer tray?
Frozen purees are safe for up to 3 months if properly sealed. For best taste and nutrition, aim to use within 1 month.
❓ Can I use silicone freezer trays for breast milk?
Yes! Many parents use silicone trays for small amounts of breast milk, especially when building a freezer stash. Just be sure to transfer cubes into freezer bags once solid.
❓ Are silicone freezer trays dishwasher safe?
Most high-quality trays are top-rack dishwasher safe. Always check manufacturer instructions.
❓ Can I bake in a silicone baby food tray?
Yes—most trays double as muffin or snack molds. This makes them useful long after your baby outgrows purees.
Personal Experience: Why I Recommend Silicone Freezer Trays
When my daughter first started solids, I underestimated how little she’d eat at first. I’d steam and blend a whole batch of carrots, only to realize she’d eat one tiny spoonful. Without freezer trays, the rest would have gone to waste.
Using a silicone freezer tray completely changed things for me. I’d batch cook on Sunday, freeze purees in neat little cubes, and every day just pop out what I needed. It saved me time, money, and most importantly—reduced stress.
Even now, years later, I still use those trays for baking muffins, making yogurt bites, and even freezing smoothie cubes. They were truly one of the best baby gear investments I ever made.
Final Thoughts
Homemade baby food doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools—like a silicone freezer tray—you can simplify mealtime, reduce waste, and feel confident knowing exactly what your baby is eating.
Whether you’re starting with small 1 oz trays for early solids or using larger 1-cup trays like the XOMOO Silicone Freezer Tray for soups and bulk meal prep, there’s a freezer tray that fits your family’s needs. This dual-purpose approach allows you to prep food for both baby and the rest of the family, making mealtime easier and more organized.
👉 My recommendation? Start with two types of trays:
- One with small 1 oz pods for first foods.
- One with larger 1-cup pods for batch meal prep and family meals.
That way, you’re always ready for the next stage of feeding while maximizing convenience and minimizing waste.