I recently wrote about the Beaba Babycook over at Cool Mom Picks - it’s completely converted me to making my own baby food, something I never expected to do on more than an occasional basis. Now I steam and puree at least one batch every day.

Problem is, if Oliver doesn’t eat it all within the next 24 hours, I have to pitch the leftovers. Without all of those impossible-to-pronounce preservatives, the shelf life of baby food is pretty brief.

So when I had a chance to check out Qubies, I jumped at it. Aussie mum Alexandra Wardle created these ingenious freezer trays when she was faced with similar storage problems after whipping up batches of purees for her then-baby boy.

What makes them different - and better! - than the old style ice cube trays?

I’ll start by describing how to use them. Pour the puree into the polycarbonate base*, leaving a little room at the top. Place the silicone lid (which has divider flaps that partition the puree into 30 ml “cubes”) on top of the base. Seal one end, then the other, and then seal along both edges of the base toward the middle (like a Tupperware lid). Pop the whole thing in the freezer.

Once the puree is solidly frozen, remove the Qubie from the freezer, grasp with both hands (you might want to use a towel to keep your hands from freezing) and twist - just like you would do to loosen the cubes in an ice cube tray. Then peel back the silicone lid.

The pictures show the individual portions remaining in the base, but mine always stay adhered to the lid and the divider flaps. But they pop right out when I bend the silicone lid, and I put them right into a freezer bag and stick them right back in the freezer.

So they’re different - and better! - because they’re user-friendly, conveniently sized, and completely contain the puree while it’s being frozen.

I’ve used Qubies for vegetable and fruit purees for Oliver, and I’ve used them for sauces and marinades that Kyle has made - which was especially useful as we often end up tossing the excess after a meal since they don’t keep well in the refrigerator for more than a day or two.

They’re the perfect complement to the Babycook, and I’d highly recommend them. Check out Qubies at their website - www.qubies.com.au - they may take a while to ship, but I assure you they’re well worth the wait!

*Polycarbonate plastic contains BPA (Bisphenol A).