Can Babies Eat Cabbage?
By Sarah, founder of SowAndSpoon · Reviewed April 2026
Yes, safe from 6 months
Choking risk: low
Raw cabbage is too tough and fibrous for babies. Cook until very soft. Shredded and well-cooked cabbage poses low choking risk.
Not a common allergen
Babies can eat cabbage from 6 months. Cabbage provides vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and fiber. Red cabbage has more vitamin C and anthocyanin antioxidants than green.
Flavor guide
Raw cabbage is crisp and mildly peppery with a faint bitterness that can be sharp in green varieties and milder in savoy. Slow braising or steaming transforms it into a silky, sweet vegetable with almost none of the raw sulfurous bite. It pairs naturally with butter, apple, caraway, carrot, potato, and mild cheeses.
How to Prepare Cabbage by Age
Steam or braise until very soft. Thinly sliced leaves cooked down completely. Mix into other soft foods.
Serving ideas:
- -Braise shredded savoy cabbage with a pat of butter and a peeled apple until completely soft, then blend smooth. The apple mellows any bitterness and adds a natural sweetness babies respond to well.
- -Mix very finely shredded cooked cabbage into mashed potato with butter and a little cheese.
- -Blend well-cooked cabbage into a smooth white bean puree with olive oil for a gentle, plant-based iron pairing.
Well-cooked strips or pieces. Can be added to soups, stews, or soft stir-fries.
Serving ideas:
- -Chop soft-cooked cabbage into small pieces and mix into fried rice or soft noodles.
- -Stir into a mild soup with potato and leek.
- -Saute shredded cabbage with butter until very tender and fold into soft scrambled eggs.
Coleslaw (raw, shredded), sautéed, in stir-fries, stuffed cabbage rolls.
Serving ideas:
- -Add to stir-fries, tacos, or dumplings
- -Make coleslaw with yogurt dressing
- -Stuff cabbage leaves with rice and meat
Braised Cabbage and Apple Mash
From 6 monthsIngredients
- -2 cups savoy or green cabbage, finely shredded
- -1 small apple, peeled, cored, and diced
- -1 tbsp unsalted butter
- -1/4 cup water or unsalted vegetable broth
- -1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced
Steps
- Boil potato in unsalted water for 12 to 15 minutes until completely tender. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add cabbage and apple.
- Pour in broth, cover, and braise for 15 to 18 minutes until cabbage is very soft and apple has broken down.
- Combine braised cabbage mixture with cooked potato in a blender.
- Blend smooth for 6-8 months, or mash together with a fork for a textured version for older babies.
Savoy cabbage gives the mildest, sweetest result. Freeze in portions for up to 2 months.
Growing Cabbage at Home
Stores very well after harvest - can last weeks in the fridge.
Ready in ~70-120 days from planting.
Cabbage is a cost-effective crop to grow. One head feeds a family for days and stores in the fridge for weeks.
Per AAP and WHO guidelines, most fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be introduced from 6 months as part of complementary feeding. Always consult your pediatrician before introducing new foods, especially allergens.