Beets overview

How to Prepare Beets for Baby

Beets is safe for babies from 6 months old. How you prepare it changes as your baby grows. Here is exactly what to do at each stage.

Choking risk: low

Low choking risk with appropriate preparation. Always supervise mealtimes.

Flavor guide

Raw beets are dense, crunchy, and intensely earthy with a faintly sweet minerality. Roasting concentrates their natural sugars and dramatically reduces the earthiness, leaving a sweeter, more rounded flavor with a tender, jammy texture. They pair well with apple, orange, yogurt, goat cheese, lemon, and warm spices like cumin.

1

6 to 8 months

Roast whole until fork-tender, then peel and cut into thick spears. Naturally sweet. Warning: will stain everything - bib recommended.

Serving ideas

  • -Roast or boil until very soft and cut into thick sticks
  • -Puree with apple or pear to mellow the earthy flavor
  • -Mash with yogurt and a squeeze of lemon
2

9 to 11 months

Dice into small cubes, roasted or steamed. Mix into grains or serve as finger food.

Serving ideas

  • -Dice soft cooked beets for self-feeding (embrace the mess!)
  • -Mix into risotto for a vibrant pink color
  • -Stir mashed beet into hummus
3

12+ months

Roasted, grated raw in salads, pickled (low sodium), in hummus. Very versatile.

Serving ideas

  • -Roast beet wedges as finger food
  • -Add to smoothies with berries and banana
  • -Make beet pancakes (grate into batter)

See what's safe for your baby's age

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Freezing Beets for baby

Roast whole until fork-tender, then peel and slice. Let cool completely, then freeze in a single layer before bagging. Thaw and serve as spears or dice.

Batch prep tip

Roast a batch of beets wrapped in foil, peel when cool, and freeze in cubes. Thaw for purees, finger food, or smoothie additions. Keeps 3 months.

Roasted Beet and Apple Puree

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -2 medium beets, scrubbed and halved
  • -1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and quartered
  • -1 tsp olive oil
  • -2 tbsp water

Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Cut beet in half, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap loosely in foil. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes until completely fork-tender.
  3. While beets roast, steam apple quarters for 8 minutes until very soft.
  4. Let beets cool, then peel and roughly chop.
  5. Combine beets, apple, and water in a blender and blend until smooth.
  6. Serve warm or chilled.

Freeze in ice cube portions for up to 3 months. The apple balances the earthy flavor and is a great intro for beet-hesitant babies.

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Growing Beets at home?

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If your baby was born early, enter their due date instead of their birth date to use adjusted age. How to calculate adjusted age.

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Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before introducing new foods.