When your baby is about 8 months or so, you can introduce one of nature’s most delicious treats—the strawberry. Babies tend to love the bright red color and sweet flavor. And as a parent, you’ll be happy to feed baby strawberries knowing they’re a great source of fiber and antioxidants; not to mention vitamin C. In fact, just eight strawberries contain more vitamin C than an orange!
By the way, this is how to introduce baby to new foods.
How to Make Strawberry Baby Food
When baby is ready for finger foods, you can prepare small pieces of ripe and soft strawberries for them to try. But if your baby still prefers traditional spoon-fed food, you can easily whip up a batch of strawberry puree using fresh or frozen strawberries.
Step 1: Wash strawberries
Fill your sink or a bowl with a mixture of three parts water and one part white vinegar, which helps to remove bacteria. Wash the strawberries in this mixture and then rinse them under cool running water; pat dry.
Step 2: Slice strawberries
Hull the berries and then slice each one into quarters.
If your strawberries are not quite ripe (or they’re frozen) you can steam them in a steamer for about three minutes. Then, rinse the strawberries with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Step 3: Puree or mash
Now your strawberries are ready to be pureed. Mix them in a blender, food processor or baby food maker like this until smooth. You can add water if the mixture is too thick. Or, if your baby is about 10 months old and prefers eating chunkier baby food, you can simply mash the prepared strawberries with a fork or potato masher and serve.
Can You Freeze the Strawberry Puree?
You can freeze strawberry puree for up to three months. Consider buying strawberries on sale and making a big batch of puree to freeze for future use. Place the puree in small, BPA-free containers (or try reusable pouches); and then when you’re ready to use one, simply thaw it overnight in the fridge.
Next, learn how to make Gerber baby food copycat recipes.
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Erica Young