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The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Puree + How to Make Baby Food

July 24, 2020 By Morgan Last Updated: December 15, 2020

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Vegetable puree for babies is as easy as steaming veggies and blending them up. Not only are they great for feeding your little or on a preloaded spoon with baby led weaning, but they’re perfect for hidden veggie recipes. With just a few steps, you can have affordable, delicious, and nutrition-packed veggie mash.

a spoon holding a scoop of bright green spinach puree with text how to make vegetable purees on the image

When parent hit the 6-month mark after their children are born, chances are they’re excited to try out solids. It’s an exciting time!

We introduced solids using baby led weaning, which I adored. So, it’s kind of funny that my love of pureed vegetables runs deep.  I didn’t even start looking into them until my boys were older. By then, they were becoming typical picky eaters. Soon I was blending up veggies and adding them to everything from smoothies to muffins to cookies.

Table of Contents

  • Vegetable purees for babies and picky eaters
  • Everything to know about Vegetable Purees
    • What is a vegetable puree?
    • What is puree used for?
      • Here are some of my favorite uses for veggie purees:
    • What are the best vegetables to puree?
    • How do you make homemade baby food?
    • How to store vegetable purees
      • Stored in fridge:
      • Can I freeze vegetable puree?
    • Vegetable puree must-haves
  • How to make spinach puree:
    • How to make baby food with fresh spinach
    • How to make puree with frozen spinach
    • Is raw or cooked spinach better for you?
    • Uses for spinach baby food
  • How to make Carrot baby food:
    • How do I puree carrots for baby?
    • Uses for carrot baby food:
      • Read more: how to serve carrots for baby led weaning
  • Cauliflower Puree
    • How to make cauliflower puree
    • How to use cauliflower mash:
  • Sweet potato baby food
    • How to make Sweet potato puree
    • Uses for Sweet Potato mash
      • Read more: how to serve sweet potato for baby led weaning
  • Beet Puree
    • How to make beet puree
    • Tips for using:
  • Butternut squash baby food
    • How to make butternut squash puree:
    • How to use:

Vegetable purees for babies and picky eaters

At any given point you can probably find one or two containers of brightly colored goo sitting in my fridge. This goo is my ultimate secret weapon.

Not only is it stupidly easy to make but they hold the same nutrition as the whole vegetable. But the real benefit is how easily you can sneak them into family favorite recipes.

If you’re here because you’re starting a homemade baby food journey, I’ve got you covered as well! We used combos of these on preloaded spoons for my youngest kiddo.

Here you’ll find how to make baby vegetable puree from the most common choices out there. Make sure you bookmark this page because you’ll want to come back to it often!

whole carrots sitting next to a container of bright orange carrot puree for babies

Everything to know about Vegetable Purees

If you’re new to the world of feeding littles, you might feel a little overwhelmed. A search delivers a million and seven results.

Let’s talk about the basics, okay?

What is a vegetable puree?

Short and sweet, they’re just vegetables that have been cooked until soft if necessary and mushed up until smooth.

You can steam, roast, or boil the veggies to get them to the desired texture. Then simply toss in the blender or food processor. It’s a simple way to get more vitamins and nutrients into everyday food or babies.

Many also use purees as a sauce or a way to add flavor to recipes.

It’s also the easiest way to make homemade baby food. Once they’re complete, you’re free to mix flavors, add in fruits – whatever you like.

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What is puree used for?

I use purees in hidden veggie recipes. These little secret weapons can also be used to add flavor and dimension to sauces, soups, and stews. Obviously, serving as food to babies just weaning to solids is the most common use.

Since we practice baby led weaning, we used them on preloaded spoons. We also still give them pouches for easy snacks for babies. With these purees you can make your own baby food pouches. (They have reusable ones online!)

We like this silicone squeezer or these fun animal print Squooshi reusable pouches.

Here are some of my favorite uses for veggie purees:

  • Veggie smoothies
  • Healthy cookies
  • Healthy cakes
  • Hidden veggie sauces
  • In meatballs to add moisture
  • In breads like banana bread
  • Stirred into scrambled eggs

What are the best vegetables to puree?

Really, any vegetable can be pureed. So long as it’s soft or gets soft when cooking, you’re good to go. You may need to add some extra liquid to thin it if the vegetable is starchy, like a potato.

My favorites are carrot, spinach, and cauliflower. Those tend to be the most difficult to get my kiddos to eat. I love that if I turn them into a puree, I can easily hide them into so many beloved recipes.

How do you make homemade baby food?

The process is truly simple. First, cook the vegetable to soften. Then, blend in a high-speed blender until smooth.

Alternately, you can process in a food processor, or blend with an immersion blender. Cool and either serve or store – it’s truly that simple.

You may need a bit of liquid to get the baby food moving – it’s one of ym favorite uses for breast milk! But you can use water, formula, etc.

How to store vegetable purees

Stored in fridge:

Store in a container in an airtight container for up to one week in the fridge. Personally, I like glass because many purees can stain plastic. I use a dry erase or grease pen to remember dates they were made.

Can I freeze vegetable puree?

Sure can! Add puree into a silicone ice cube mold.

When frozen solid, remove and add to a large zip top bag with the name and date on it. Remove as much air as possible, seal, and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Vegetable puree must-haves

  • A high speed blender. I have this Blendtec which I love, but before this I used a cheap, “normal” blender. If you blender isn’t high speed, you might just need a little more time blending.
  • A food processor, immersion blender, food mill, or even a plain old potato masher. (Though, a potato masher won’t get the puree as smooth, obviously.)
  • Glass containers. I like to store my purees in the fridge in glass containers. I’ve had issues with spinach, carrot, and beet purees staining plastic containers.
  • Silicone molds. When I’m looking to freeze the mush, I use silicone ice cube trays. They come out super easy and then I can put all of the cubes into a freezer bag and store.

Okay, so we’ve got the basics down – now how to make them! Below you’ll find the down low on all of my favorite purees. These are the vegetables you’ll find most often in my fridge. I like the keep 2-3 varieties on hand at all times. This way, I never have an excuse NOT to use a veggie.

How to make spinach puree:

There are two ways to make spinach baby food: with fresh or frozen spinach.

How to make baby food with fresh spinach

  • Clean your greens and dry well.
  • If using baby spinach, simply add to your blender. If using mature spinach, remove any tough stems before adding.
  • Blend in a high-speed blender until smooth, stopping to scrape sides every so often. If the mixture gets stuck, add one tablespoon at a time of clean, filtered water.

How to make puree with frozen spinach

  • Defrost spinach. This can be done in a pot over low heat, in a microwave, or by leaving overnight in the fridge.
  • Add to a blender and blend until smooth, adding water as needed if the mixture is too thick.

Is raw or cooked spinach better for you?

According to the Vegetarian Times, “Both fresh and cooked spinach contain about the same amount of macronutrients in a 100-gram serving.”

So it’s really up to you. Cooked spinach is easier for the body to digest and extract nutrients, though. Because of that, if you don’t have a texture preference, I’d go with cooked.

a stack of green spinach pancakes topped with blueberries and maple syrup streaming onto the top

Uses for spinach baby food

  • Spinach pancakes
  • Spinach muffins
  • Healthy Chocolate Cookies
  • Easy Spinach Smoothie
  • Veggie Pesto Pasta Sauce

How to make Carrot baby food:

Carrots are a hated veggie in my house so any chance I can get to hide them is a blessing!

How do I puree carrots for baby?

  • First, clean and peel raw carrots. You can also use baby carrots to save time.
  • Then, chop into smaller, 1-inch chunks. Place into a steamer basket and steam until super soft, 10 minutes or so.
  • You can also roast your carrots or you could even just defrost frozen ones. Steaming them is typically the easiest, but roasting brings out a sweetness that is delicious!
  • Toss your soft carrots into the blender (or your machine of choice) and blend until smooth. Add water (or if using in a sweet recipe, use juice) to thin as needed.
a large mason jar wrapped in a blue and white gingham napkin overflowing with hidden vegetable spaghetti sauce
Hidden vegetable spaghetti sauces hide carrots and other vegetables into tomato sauce to get a serving of vegetables in picky eaters without the hassle

Uses for carrot baby food:

Carrot recipes for kids are my favorite way to use carrot puree. Here are my all-time favorite ways to use it.

  • Carrot cookies – using puree instead of shreds makes for a less detectable veg!
  • Easy Carrot muffins
  • Orange Carrot smoothie
  • Hidden Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce

Read more: how to serve carrots for baby led weaning

Cauliflower Puree

Cauliflower, similar to broccoli, is a hard sell to kids. Typically it has a very distinct smell that can throw off even the most adventurous eater. But while cauliflower might look and smell ehh, it’s packed with nutrients that you don’t want to miss out on! Not to mention, it makes a great addition to low carb family meals.

How to make cauliflower puree

My favorite way is to cook the vegetable in milk and then blend, like in my veggie Alfredo sauce. Here’s how:

  • First, cover your cauliflower (fresh or frozen is fine) in milk in a small pot.
  • Cover, and bring to a simmer, cooking for about 10 minutes or until super smooth.
  • Blend the cauliflower, using some of the milk as needed to thin.
a blue bowl with cauliflower alfredo sauce using veggie puree

How to use cauliflower mash:

  • Add to mashed potatoes to reduce calories and carbs
  • Make my veggie Alfredo sauce
  • Try a healthier mac and cheese
  • Try out this Pina Colada Smoothie

Sweet potato baby food

Probably the easiest puree to make, sweet potato mash can be made without any machines. Be it roasting or steaming, this simple vegetable cooks up super soft and smooth. This makes them perfect for being turned into creamy goodness.

How to make Sweet potato puree

Personally, I tend to veer towards using roasted potatoes. In this case, the process is super simple.

  • First, clean and prick the potato.
  • Next, bake in a 350-400 degree oven for about an hour or so, depending on size until super soft. I usually bake while I’m cooking something else.
  • Allow to cool before scooping out the soft flesh and putting into a bowl. Mash until smooth, adding liquid as needed.
an overhead picture of sweet potato muffins with a cinnamon sugar top on parchment and marble base.

Uses for Sweet Potato mash

  • Healthy Sweet Potato Muffins
  • Creamy smoothies
  • Cupcakes and cakes – anything you would use pumpkin in can use sweet potato.
  • Add sweetness and thickener to sauces and soups

Read more: how to serve sweet potato for baby led weaning

Beet Puree

This veggie tends to have only two camps: love it or hate it. Personally, I’m not the lovely beet’s biggest fan. Something about the earthy taste never made me jump for joy. Not to mention, the mess they can leave does not buy it brownie points. That being said, it’s a great one to sneak into recipes, which is why I love this vegetable puree.

How to make beet puree

Pureeing beets is as simple as adding to the machine of your choice and letting it go. I buy precooked beets in the refrigerated grocery section of my store. You could easily use roasted or blanched beets, peel, and then blend.

a close up of a chocolate healthy donut recipe topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles
This healthy baked donut recipe is secretly packed with veggies – making them healthy veggie donuts!

Tips for using:

Since they aren’t a “fan favorite” this vegetable is the perfect applicant to be put into hidden veggie recipes. Here are some f my favorites –

  • These healthy chocolate donuts are a favorite and you definitely can’t taste them.
  • Stirred into sauces and soups with hearty flavors or red wine. I love beef stew with some beef puree.
  • A beet smoothie is a great option, plus the color is amazing.

Butternut squash baby food

Butternut squash is one of my favorite vegetables. I love the sweet flavor and I can easily inhale an entire tray of it roasted by myself. Like sweet potato, this one is super simple to make and in many cases won’t even need a machine.

This mashed butternut squash recipe is also perfect for babies!

How to make butternut squash puree:

  • Preheat your oven to 400
  • Prick the squash all over with a fork or tip of a knife.
  • Bake for about an hour or until a knife can easily go through the neck of the squash.
  • Allow to sit for a bit – it will be super hot inside! Carefully cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Throw them away.
  • Scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork.
  • If you want to cook the squash faster, you can cut in half lengthwise. Scoop the seeds out, and place cut side down and bake for at least 30 minutes, depending on the size.

Alternately, you can microwave the squash. Again, dock the squash so it doesn’t explode and microwave for 10-20 minutes, pending the size.

They also sell pre cut, steam in a bag butternut squash in the freezer section of most grocery stores. Those would work really well also!

How to use:

Use butternut squash puree just as you might a pumpkin puree or sweet potato puree!

  • I’ve subbed butternut squash in these muffins in the past and they came out great.
  • Soft cookies
  • Butternut squash soup
  • I also love it served as just a mash, like this mashed butternut squash.
  • Add sweetness and creaminess to sauces.

So tell me – do you feel confident about trying your hand at making your own purees? Which vegetable do you want to try first? Let me know in the comments!

Filed Under: Baby, Baby Led Weaning, Parenting, Picky Eaters

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Hi! I’m Morgan!

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