Find out how to make quick and tasty Green Bean Baby Food that can be used for baby-led weaning or as a Stage 1 or 2 puree. You’ll also learn how to store the puree and mix it with other flavors to make tasty baby food.
As a parent one of the most exciting milestones is when your baby starts eating solid foods. Green beans are a popular first food for many babies. They are nutritious easy to prepare, and most babies seem to love the taste.
But how exactly should you prepare green beans for your little one? Can you just take a green bean straight from your garden or the store and hand it over? Definitely not! Green beans need to be cooked and prepared properly before serving to ensure they are safe for babies.
In this article, I’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to make delicious, nutritious green beans that are perfect for your baby We’ll cover
- When to introduce green beans
- Choosing fresh vs. frozen vs. canned
- Washing and prepping the beans
- Cooking methods
- Serving sizes by age
- Making green beans into purées or finger foods
- Flavor ideas and recipe inspiration
Let’s get started! This comprehensive guide has everything you need to know to make safe, tasty green beans your baby will love.
When Can Babies Start Eating Green Beans?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solid foods around 6 months of age. However, every baby develops at a different pace. Signs your baby may be ready for solids include:
- Good head and neck control
- Ability to sit upright with support
- Loss of tongue thrust reflex
- Interest in foods you are eating
Consult your pediatrician before starting any new foods including green beans. Once you get the green light green beans make an excellent first food due to their mild flavor and smooth texture when puréed.
Choosing Fresh, Frozen or Canned Green Beans
You have options when it comes to sourcing green beans. Here’s an overview:
- Fresh: More texture and flavor. Need to wash, trim ends, remove strings.
- Frozen: Pre-washed and pre-cut. Easy to use. May be less tender.
- Canned: Convenient but higher in sodium. Look for low-sodium or no-salt-added. Rinse before using.
I recommend starting with fresh green beans if possible. The extra steps are worth it for the superior taste and texture. However, frozen and canned are great backups when you’re in a pinch!
Washing and Prepping Fresh Green Beans
Give fresh green beans a good rinse under cool running water. Trim both ends and remove any strings. You can leave beans whole or cut into smaller pieces.
There are a few prep options:
- Whole: Good for grasping and chewing practice as baby gets older.
- Halved lengthwise: Easier for baby to handle.
- Chopped: 1/4-inch pieces for purées or finger food.
Cooking Methods for Green Beans
Green beans must be cooked thoroughly before serving to your baby. Some cooking methods include:
- Steaming: Retains color and nutrition. Cook 5-7 minutes until tender.
- Boiling: More water-soluble nutrients leached out. Cook 4-5 minutes.
- Roasting: Brings out sweetness. Toss with olive oil, roast 15-20 mins.
- Sautéing: Quick stovetop method. Use olive oil or butter.
Cook until very soft, tender, and easily mashed between fingers. Undercooked green beans can be a choking hazard.
Serving Sizes for Babies by Age
How much green bean purée or finger food to serve depends on your baby’s age:
- 6-8 months: 2-3 tablespoons puréed green beans or very soft pieces to gum
- 9-11 months: 4-6 tablespoons puréed, mashed, or chopped beans
- 12+ months: 1-4 ounces finely chopped or small pieces of beans
Introduce new foods one at a time and watch for reactions like rash, digestive upset, or food sensitivities. Offer small portions at first and let your baby determine how much to eat.
Making Purées or Finger Foods
Depending on your baby’s age and tolerances, you can serve green beans either as:
-
Purées: Use an immersion blender, food processor, or simply mash with a fork. Thin with breastmilk or formula if needed.
-
Finger foods: Cut cooked beans into thin strips or small pieces. Offer whole beans for babies 10+ months to practice grasping skills.
Flavor and Recipe Ideas
Here are some easy ways to jazz up basic green beans for your baby:
- Purée or mash with breastmilk, formula, or water
- Add a pat of butter or drizzle of olive oil
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese (after 12 months)
- Sauté with diced garlic
- Toss with lemon juice and dill
- Make “green bean fries” by coating in breadcrumbs and baking
- Mix into mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- Simmer in tomato sauce
Some of my favorite green bean recipes for babies include:
- Cheesy roasted green beans
- Green bean and carrot medley
- Green bean “frittata” baked with eggs
- Green bean and sweet potato mash
- Creamy green bean and potato soup
Feel free to get creative with herbs, spices, and other veggies. Just stick to one new ingredient at a time as you expand baby’s palate.
Make and Serve Green Beans Safely
Preparing green beans for your baby is easy and rewarding. Just follow these key safety tips:
- Wash fresh green beans thoroughly before prepping
- Cook until very soft with no hard chunks
- Cool to room temp before serving
- Start with small servings of one new food at a time
- Never leave baby alone while eating
- Watch closely for choking or allergic reaction
- Store leftovers promptly in fridge for up to 2-3 days
With this handy guide, you can whip up healthy, homemade green beans for your little one in no time. Introducing nourishing foods like green beans sets your child up for a lifetime of healthy eating. Have fun exploring new flavors and recipes together!
Green Bean Baby Food
Green beans are a great vegetable for babies because they are so common and can be flavored in a lot of different ways. I love making the puree and giving you a whole bean as a different texture experience. That way, you can pick the one that works best for you and your baby at this point in your breastfeeding journey.
Learn how to make a basic green bean puree, how to serve green beans as a BLW food, easy ways to mix green beans with other foods for babies, and how to make green bean finger foods by reading on.
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This baby food recipe can be made as a puree or as a baby-led weaning food. Here are the things you’ll need.
- If you don’t have fresh green beans, you can use yellow beans, French beans, or frozen green beans in this recipe.
- Olive oil: Olive oil gives food flavor and fat, and it makes it taste better.
You can pair the puree with other purees to make baby food. See the notes at the end of the recipe for more information.
Below is an overview of how to make this baby food recipe. Scroll to the end of the post for the full amounts and timing info.
- Put the green beans in a steamer basket that is set in water in a pot. Put the pot on medium heat. When the water starts to boil, put the lid on top of the pot.
- When you poke the green beans with a fork, they should be soft. Let cool slightly.
- Serve one at a time, baby-led weaning style.
- You can also put it in a blender with olive oil to make a puree. Blend until smooth.
Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
You can serve cooked green beans to a baby feeding themselves in the baby-led weaning style of eating. Green beans can be eaten by babies as long as they are soft and tender. They can start eating them around 6 months or whenever they start solids.
If you want to or where you’ll be, you can serve green bean puree on a baby spoon or in a reusable pouch. It stores well and is easy to vary the flavor as you like.
Green Bean Puree Stage 1 Baby Recipe How To
FAQ
How to give green beans to baby?
How to give beans to a 6 month old?
How long does it take to boil green beans?
Why won’t my green beans puree?
How do you cook green beans for a baby?
There are several different ways to prepare green beans for your baby. Here are some of our favorite ways: In a medium pot, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans to a steamer basket, cover, and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool slightly.
Are pinto beans good for baby food?
Yes. Beans are rich in iron and fiber, and are excellent for babies’ health. Pinto beans have a creamy consistency and can be eaten by older babies in their whole form. For younger babies, it’s best to mash them before consumption.
How do you puree green beans for baby food?
To puree the green beans I highly recommend purchasing a Vitamix Blender to make your baby food with. It is one of the best blenders and will blend baby food to a super smooth consistency to insure that you do not end up with green bean strings in the baby food that baby can gag on.
How long does it take to make green bean baby food?
To be ready to add green beans to the lineup, check out an easy way to make green bean baby food that won’t take longer than 10 minutes. Check off all of these before starting any recipes. At six months, your baby is just learning how to eat solid foods. You should introduce one new food every week just in case they have allergies.