Cabbage overview

How to Prepare Cabbage for Baby

Cabbage 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 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.

1

6 to 8 months

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.
2

9 to 11 months

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.
3

12+ months

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

See what's safe for your baby's age

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Braised Cabbage and Apple Mash

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -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

  1. Boil potato in unsalted water for 12 to 15 minutes until completely tender. Drain and set aside.
  2. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add cabbage and apple.
  3. Pour in broth, cover, and braise for 15 to 18 minutes until cabbage is very soft and apple has broken down.
  4. Combine braised cabbage mixture with cooked potato in a blender.
  5. 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.

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Growing Cabbage 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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Your baby will be ready for these next

Save these for when you need them, or get a personalized list by age.

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Ready at 6 months

Spinach

Ready at 6 months

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Ready at 6 months

Bok Choy

Ready at 6 months

Related

Can babies eat cabbage?All foods safe at 6 monthsPrintable first foods checklist

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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.
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