Homemade Baby Food Stage 1: Carrot Puree

If you are new to making your own baby food take a look at Homemade Baby Food: How to Get Started. For a complete list of baby food recipes, click here. Also, follow me on Pinterest for links to even more great baby food recipes.

Carrots are easy for your baby to digest and are loaded with nutrients like Vitamin A and Vitamin C. You can see a complete nutritional breakdown here. When purchasing carrots, do not buy baby carrots as they are washed in a solution that often contains chlorine.

Introduction Age: 6-8 Months *Check with your pediatrician about when to start your baby on solid foods

Materials Needed:

• Steaming Basket
• Appliance to Puree, such as food processor or food mill (I use the Food Network 3-Cup Mini Food Processor)
• Ice Cube Trays (Can be found at the dollar store) 

Carrot Puree:

1. Thoroughly wash and peel carrots.
2. Slice carrots into thin discs.
3. Fill pot with enough water to reach bottom of your steaming basket.
4. Bring water to a boil and reduce to simmering.
5. Fill steaming basket with carrot slices.
6. Steam until soft (approximately 10-15 minutes).
7. Puree in your choice of appliance.
8. Thin puree as needed with filtered water. Do not use cooking water to thin as nitrates can be released as your cook.

To Freeze:

Spoon carrot puree into ice cube trays, cover with plastic wrap and freeze. Place frozen cubes into Ziploc freezer bag or freezer safe container.

To Thaw:

Remove cube(s) from freezer and place in container in refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Heat if desired and serve. Use thawed cubes within 24 hours or thawing. You may also thaw in microwave if you choose.

*Remember to use the 4 day wait rule when introducing new foods. Feed your child only 1 new food for a 4 day period to wait for any possible reaction.

Food Combinations:

Once your child has been introduced to several foods using the 4 day wait rule, you may begin trying different food combinations. Here are some foods that pair well with carrots:

• Apples
• Peaches
• Green Beans
• Peas
• Winter Squash
• Zucchini
• Sweet Potatoes
• Meats (Chicken, Beef, Pork)
• Brown Rice

*Remember to check with your pediatrician regarding your baby's readiness to begin solid foods and discuss any foods that may have an allergy risk for your child.

Some of the links on this website are "affiliate links." This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a commission