How to Cook Apples for Baby-Led Weaning
Servings: servings
If your baby is ready to start eating solid foods, you're in the right place! Learn how to cook apples for baby in 5 different ways to incorporate variety and find the method that's just right for your baby's age and stage.
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Sauteed:
- Cut slices of apples (I like to use an apple cutter to cut the slices and then cut each apple slice in half lengthwise). Sauté the slices over medium heat with 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil or butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes. Sometimes it helps to add a bit of water to the pan as well to help soften the apples.
Steamed:
- Cut apples into sticks that resemble French fries. I like to use a crinkle cutter as the grooves help baby to better grip the apple strips, but you can also use a knife. Place the apple sticks into a steamer and steam for 4-5 minutes or until softened and tender.
Mashed or Pureed:
- Cook diced apple or apple slices in a pan or bake them until tender. Place the cooked apple in a mini blender or food processor. Blend them until they reach a mashed consistency (there can still be some small chunks). You can also add a bit of water if needed and blend them until pureed into an applesauce. You can then stick the mashed apple to a spoon and allow baby to feed him/herself with the spoon.
Shredded:
- Appropriate for older babies who have developed a pincer grasp, around 9 months+. Grate a peeled or unpeeled apple using the largest holes on your grater. You may need to squeeze the excess liquid out of the apple shreds using a paper towel if they’re really watery.
Matchsticks:
- For babies 12 months+, you can skip the cooking of the apples and simply cut the raw apple into really thin strips that resemble match sticks.
Notes
- Adjust by age. Part of baby-led weaning is about knowing when and how to serve foods in an age-appropriate way. Babies can start eating solid foods at 6 months of age. I recommend offering the first three methods for younger babies (sauteed, steamed, or pureed apples). Older babies at 9 months can have grated apple pieces, and you should wait until 12 months to slice the apples into finger food style matchsticks.
- Monitor while eating. It's incredibly important to monitor your baby while they're eating. Small pieces of food are a common choking hazard, and it takes time for your baby to learn how to eat solid foods. Always stay near to observe and help if needed.
- Watch for allergens. Although apples are not a common allergen, it's always good to monitor your little one for any reactions. Learn more about apple allergies here.
- Remove apple seeds. No matter how you prepare them, be sure to remove the seeds from the fresh apples before cooking or serving. This is easiest with an apple corer!
- Choose the right varieties. Technically, you can serve any kind of apples to your baby, but some may be more palatable than others. Really tart options like Granny Smith might not be very enjoyable in your homemade baby food. Varieties like Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Gala are all really well-tolerated by kids.
Nutrition
Calories: 24kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 0.5mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
