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How to puree apricots for baby food


Apricot Baby Food

byAmy Palanjian

Updated

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Learn how to make easy homemade Apricot Baby Food, with both puree and BLW options. Find storage tips and baby food combinations, too.

Apricot Baby Food

Turning fresh apricots into baby food, whether as a puree or a baby-led weaning food, is easy with this simple method. You can use this as a Stage 1 baby food or as an option for a baby food combination. It’s very versatile!

Follow along below for the full information on making this recipe, with tips, variations, and storage advice.

Ingredients You Need

To make this recipe, you’ll need just a few ingredients. Here’s what to have on hand before you start.

  • Apricots: Look for ripe, fresh apricots without blemishes. Apricots can be very, very tart, so the fresher, more local the better. (This is one circumstance where opting for local fruit, which is more likely to be picked when ripe versus underripe so it can withstand travel, makes a big flavor difference.)
  • Unsalted butter: This is used to cook the apricots in a pan, though you can use coconut or avocado oil if you prefer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process for making this baby food. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information.

  1. Cut the apricots in half and remove the pit. Cut into lengthwise pieces about 1/2-1 inch thick.
  2. Warm the butter in a pan to melt. Add the fruit.
  3. Cook until soft, stirring occasionally. Let cool and serve as a BLW fruit.
  4. Or, transfer to a blender and blend smooth. Serve or store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my apricot puree so tart?

Apricots are naturally tart, so you may need to add another less tart food, like apple, to balance it.

Can babies eat apricot?

Yes, after 6 months (or whenever baby starts solids), apricots are a nice option for a baby food.

Do you peel apricots for baby food?

No, you don’t have to peel the apricots. The skins blend into the puree very easily.

How do you prepare apricots for baby food?

If your apricots are very ripe and very sweet, you can simply puree the fresh fruit after you remove the pits. If they are not very sweet, which is often the case, it is better to saute them in a pan to caramelize the sugars a little and help the fruit soften. Then you can serve it as a BLW food or blend into a puree.

How to Store Baby Food

You can put leftover or meal-prepped baby food into baby food storage containers or reusable pouches and store in the fridge for 3-5 days. Or, you can also freeze baby food. I prefer to freeze it in ice cube trays, then transfer the frozen cubes to a storage bag to freeze for longer-term storage.

Favorite Baby Food Containers

I love the WeeSprout Jars, Beaba Clip Containers, and Squeasy Gear Pouches for baby food storage. You can find all of my favorite resources for baby food containers for more information.

How to Store

Store the puree or slices in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days, or freeze the baby food for longer-term.

Best Tips for Success

  • If you have the option, choose local, very fresh apricots if possible.
  • Remove the pits and cut lengthwise so the fruit is ready for BLW.
  • If the puree is very tart after blending, add a ripe banana or 1 cup applesauce to help even out the flavors.
  • To make an Apricot Baby Food Combination, mix with Avocado Puree, Peach Puree, Mango Puree, Sweet Potato Baby Food, or Strawberry Puree.

Related Recipes

I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please rate and comment to share.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 80kcal

Servings 4 -6

  • ▢ 1 pound apricots
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or avocado or olive oil)

  • Halve the apricots and remove the pits. Slice into 1-inch slices.

  • Add the butter to a skillet over medium heat. When melted, add the apricot slices and stir gently to coat. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is soft but still holding together. Remove from heat.

  • Let cool slightly and serve BLW-style.

  • Or, add fruit to a blender and blend until smooth, adding 1-2 tablespoons water, formula, or breastmilk until you reach the desired consistency.

  • Calphalon 5-Quart Pot

  • Vitamix Blender

  • Reusable Pouch

  • Store the puree or slices in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days, or freeze the baby food for longer-term.
  • If you have the option, choose local, very fresh apricots. (They may be less likely to be underripe and should have better flavor.)
  • Remove the pits and cut lengthwise so the fruit is ready for BLW.
  • If the puree is very tart after blending, add a ripe banana or 1 cup applesauce to help even out the flavors.
  • To make an Apricot Baby Food Combination, mix with Avocado Puree, Peach Puree, Mango Puree, Sweet Potato Baby Food, or Strawberry Puree.

Calories: 80kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 295mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 2272IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

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Apricot Banana Puree - Weelicious

Over the past few months one of my greatest joys has been not only having a new baby in our life, but getting to make her homemade baby food. Every Sunday when I head to the farmers market to buy food to go in school lunch, fruits for our smoothies or vegetables to add to a quick dinner I’m also thinking about which new foods to turn Gemma on to.

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I’m notorious for over buying fruits and why not? When you see fresh seasonal fruits pop up week after week at the market it’s hard to resist. In the past I’ve turned any soft fruits into homemade fruit leather, put in acai bowls or frozen them to add to smoothies, but now I had an even better use_ to make tons of baby food to feed to Gemma and freeze for weeks and months down the road. I know this Apricot Banana Puree seems super simple, but that’s the beauty of it. Especially when babies are starting new foods it’s great to keep it to one or two foods to try together so they learn to love the straightforward tastes of the foods you’re offering.

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For this beauty I bought a ton of apricots at the farmers market, added a bunch to lunch over the week, dehydrated a few dozen (one of Kenya’s weaknesses) and turned the remaining that had a few soft spots into this Apricot Banana Puree. It was the perfect use for such a naturally sweet fruit with a soft texture. I added some banana to give it some extra body and potassium, but you could puree the apricots on their own or add a touch of nutmeg to give it’s some oomph.

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Watch this Apricot Banana Puree video to see Gemma in one of her first videos (I want to eat her up) and catch a few homemade baby food tips along the way! If you make this recipe and feel like sharing it on social media, make sure to tag #weelicious so I can see your creation!

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Photos by Gerry Speirs

Save Recipe Print Recipe

Author: Catherine McCord

Prep Time 1 minute

Cook Time 1 minute

Total Time 1 minute

  • ▢ 3 ripe apricots, cut into chunks
  • ▢ 1/2 banana

Did you make this recipe?Mention @Weelicious or tag #weelicious!

Published August 4, 2022 by Catherine McCord

Categorized in All Recipes, Cook Time 10-15 mins, Dairy Free, Egg Free, First Foods, Freeze Well Recipes, Fruits, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Recipes 10-12 Months, Recipes 6-9 Months, Toddler Bites, Toddler Recipes, Toddler Recipes Videos, Videos

About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

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What is an apricot?

Contents:

Apricot is a fruit tree of the Plum genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruits of the tree are edible, they are also called apricots.

The most common type of this fruit throughout the world is the common apricot. This species includes most of the known varieties. There are 54 varieties of apricot in Russia. All of them are included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements.

Fruit ripening is due to climatic conditions. In the Mediterranean, apricots begin to ripen from March. In June, ripe and juicy apricot fruits can be enjoyed in Armenia and the Middle Caucasus. In Central Asia, apricots can be harvested at the end of June and July. In hilly areas in the upper zones, the harvest ripens a month later, and in the lower zones, the fruits ripen a month earlier.
In the southern parts of our country, early varieties of apricots are harvested at the end of June. Mid-season varieties ripen in mid-July. And late varieties in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea ripen by the end of July.

History of the apricot

The first mention of the apricot is in the Chinese chronicles of an emperor who lived 2200 BC. According to one version, the apricot originally appeared in China, in the Tien Shan region, and then spread to Central Asia, then to Europe. However, the homeland of the apricot has not been precisely established. According to another version, the birthplace of the apricot is sunny Armenia. In Russia, apricot appeared in the 17th century. This fruit was brought to our country from Western Europe.

Benefits of apricot in baby food

Apricot has a beautiful orange color, which means that it is rich in beta-carotene, which the child's body converts into vitamin A. But that's not all - apricots provide the child with a lot of vitamin C, as well as a lot of minerals, including iron and potassium.

The high levels of antioxidants in apricots help protect the body from various types of cancer and heart disease, and its high fiber content makes apricots very effective against constipation. Fiber stimulates the intestines, causing a mild laxative effect.

The laxative effect of apricots - especially dried apricots - can be quite strong. If parents want to use apricot to relieve constipation, then only a little should be offered at first, and gradually increasing the amount until the baby goes to the toilet. Giving your child too much apricot or apricot-based products at one time can cause a nasty bout of diarrhea .

minerals and vitamins apricot

Apricot fruits have a beneficial effect on digestion, help in the fight against flatulence and the treatment of dysbacteriosis. Also, these fruits have the best effect on the nervous system. Apricots have a useful vitamin composition:

  • calcium forms and strengthens bones;
  • magnesium normalizes metabolic processes;
  • potassium normalizes the work of the heart;
  • iron enriches the blood with oxygen, and also increases the level of hemoglobin, participates in the process of blood formation;
  • phosphorus restores cells, activates the brain;
  • ascorbic acid helps strengthen the immune system;
  • carotene improves the appearance of hair, nails and skin;
  • B vitamins help absorb iron.

In baby food, apricots are used as complementary foods, in the form of puree. This is a healthy and dietary product. Complementary foods will be prescribed by a pediatrician when the baby is six months old. Usually the baby gets acquainted with apricots at about 8-10 months, but everything is at the discretion of the parents. Since the introduction of this fruit into complementary foods depends on the season. If the baby is more than six months old during the apricot harvest period, then you can safely introduce the baby to the fruit. However, it must be borne in mind that the baby should be familiar with vegetables and at least one less allergenic fruit, for example, an apple. Only then is it worth introducing him to the apricot. We also take into account the peculiarity of the fruit - its laxative effect and at first we give a small amount to understand how the baby will react to the product.

Approximately in July, August, fresh apricots, ripe according to the season, appear on sale. Therefore, it is better to make puree yourself. You can make it from dry apricots, that is, dried apricots, only the quality of this puree is much worse.

Feeding Recommendations

If you are introducing this product to your child's diet for the first time, to avoid allergies, you should start complementary foods with half a teaspoon, gradually increasing to 50 or 100 grams. If the child refuses to eat, you can add a little breast milk or baby food to the puree. If it is not possible to prepare mashed potatoes yourself, you can buy ready-made products in jars for baby food. For their preparation, only proven products are used. They are produced as a separate product - apricot puree, and can be combined with other fruits and additives, for example:

  • apricot and apple;
  • cottage cheese and apricot;
  • apricot and cream;
  • oatmeal and apricot;
  • banana and apricot;
  • peach, apple and apricot and others.

These recommendations will help mothers pay attention to the benefits of complementary foods and how to prepare them at home.

Apricot should be given to a baby up to 12 months in processed form, after which you can introduce him to fresh fruit. But the first time the fruit will need to be peeled. It is easy to do this, we sharply lower the apricot into boiling water, then put it into ice water, the skin will peel off by itself.

It is also an ideal fruit if picked from a naturally ripened tree. But apricots reach the market ripened in a box, i.e. they are plucked while still green, they ripen on the way to the market. Which is very inconvenient for the introduction of complementary foods, since the baby will not receive a huge amount of vitamins. Therefore, it is necessary to look for local apricots or from nearby settlements. I also draw your attention to the fact that many fruit trees were planted as landscaping in Russian cities earlier. Therefore, you can just go on a "hunt" with the baby. I don’t know about you, in our city in quiet peaceful courtyards you can find cherries, cherries, apricots, blackberries, nuts, etc. Moreover, when seeing a mother with a baby, compassionate grandmothers can take out a ladder to make it easier to collect.

apricot complementary food

Allergy to apricot

Reaction to apricot is rare, but it happens. There are two types of apricot allergy. One (with less severe symptoms) is associated with birch pollen allergy. People with this type of allergy can often eat cooked apricots, but not fresh ones.

The second type of allergy (with more severe symptoms) is associated with peach allergy. People with this type of allergy usually cannot eat apricots in any form. If a child has already been diagnosed with an allergy to peaches or nectarines, then most likely he will be allergic to apricots. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the introduction of apricots with the child's doctor.

In any case, it is necessary to introduce apricots into complementary foods carefully, observing the rules of waiting 4-7 days. Thus, if there are any signs of an allergic reaction, then it will be possible to remove apricots from the child's diet as the cause.

Dried apricots can cause a reaction if the child is sensitive to sulfites, especially if the child has asthma.

How to choose and store apricot

The best time to buy sunny fruit is during the high season, namely from late May to August. The skin of apricots is colored bright yellow or bright orange, often there is a red blush. Ripe apricots should be tight and firm, looking round and full. Apricots tend to spoil quickly, so it is better to choose fruits without flaws and dents. However, mashed apricots are quite suitable for preparing various dishes, such as sauces, purees, jams or pastries.

Ripe apricots should be stored in an airtight container in a cool place. They can be stored in the refrigerator for a week, while at room temperature - up to four days. If the apricots are not ripe, they can be folded into a paper bag for further ripening until the fruit is soft. Ripening occurs up to three days, and unripe apricots can be stored at room temperature for up to five days. Overripe fruits are not suitable for storage, so do not delay using such apricots.

Pesticides and apricots

Dried apricots are often pre-treated with sulfur dioxide to preserve their color and nutrients. The presence of this substance can provoke an allergy or an asthma attack. When choosing dried apricots, you should pay attention to their color: if the fruits are amber or caramel in color, then most likely the fruits have been treated with substances.

In order to delay the fungus infestation of apricots during storage, the fruits are treated, disinfected or cooled with ice water with or without the use of fungicides. Also, most apricots are treated with pesticides against diseases and pests during cultivation. Recognizing a processed fruit is quite difficult, so it is worth taking measures to remove chemicals from fruits (fresh and dried) such as washing apricots under running water with a fruit wash, soaking fruits in water or soda.

There is a perception that the markets sell organic fruits that have not been chemically processed, or the processing of fruits was minimal and not as toxic. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase apricots in such markets.

Freezing apricots

Apricots can be frozen, but this product can only be used for compotes, baking. Frozen apricot puree tastes fresh and watery.

However, if you want to freeze an apricot, then you need to choose good ripe fruits that get rid of stones and are divided into 2 halves. These halves are placed in bags and frozen in quick freeze. The main thing is to freeze in a completely empty chamber and then immediately put it in an airtight bag and store only with other fruits. Apricots love to absorb foreign odors, so a fruit with a meat smell, I don’t think a child will like it.

Whole fruits can be frozen, but it is inconvenient to use the product with a stone in the future. You can also freeze apricot puree, both in large quantities and after complementary foods, for example, the remains of baby puree. The main thing to remember is that all frozen blanks are made without sugar. You can use frozen apricots in compotes, fruit drinks, kissels, with porridge, in pastries, etc. You can store a whole frozen product for about 1 year, and frozen mashed potatoes - 3 months. Defrost and refreeze is strictly not recommended.

Dried apricot fruits

Modern dried apricot fruits are called dried apricots. You can buy it in the market or in a store, but its beautiful appearance is alarming. The fact is that when dried, apricots are sprayed with sulfur dioxide (E220), so this product is bright orange in color and does not darken. But children may have an allergic reaction to this substance, so it is better not to introduce a baby under 3 years old to store-bought dried apricots. However, everything happens in life, so if you want to feed your baby with beautiful bright dried apricots, then you should soak it for 20 minutes before use.

Also, if a child has received dried apricots, it should be taken into account that it can stick to the palate and teeth, which makes chewing difficult. Therefore, it is best to introduce the baby to dried fruit after 3 years, when he will not be able to choke and will calmly respond to food particles sticking to his teeth and palate.

Dried apricot at home is more useful, unpresentable, dirty brick. From such dried apricots, amazing compotes are obtained, and in this form the fruit can be stored for more than one year. Although the shelf life is exactly 1 year, it can be stored at home for up to 3 years in glass jars, the main thing is to fry in the oven once a year so that parasites do not start. It is parasites that reduce the shelf life of dried apricots, so it is worth taking it out and looking at it periodically, because if there is a hint of living creatures, the entire product goes into the trash can.

Canned apricots

Apricots do well in canning. You can make jam, marmalade, apricot puree and jams from them, but everything is cooked with sugar. Without sugar, apricot puree is fresh and should be stored in the refrigerator. But in its pure form, sugar-free apricot puree cannot be given to a child, so you should mix it with a banana, or something fresh. Canned apricots with sugar will keep for about a year.

Contraindications

1). Since apricot contains a large amount of sugars, people with diabetes should not get carried away with this fruit.

2). You should not eat an apricot on an empty stomach: it can cause irritation of the gastric mucosa, as well as exacerbation of ulcers or pancreatitis.

3). When eating apricots, allergic reactions are possible, in particular in children. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce this fruit carefully, observing the reaction of the child's body.

4). It is not recommended to eat apricots after milk, fatty and hard-to-digest foods, as these fruits can cause indigestion.

5). Do not consume more than 15 apricots per day, as this can cause diarrhea, dizziness, decreased blood pressure and heart rate.

Preparing fresh apricot puree

To prepare one serving of puree, you need to take about 100 grams of apricots, remove the stones. Then pour water and put to boil. If the fruits are ripe, then it is better not to add sugar, since apricots are quite sweet and contain easily digestible sugar. Cook for approximately 10 minutes. Put the boiled apricots on a sieve and wipe. Then bring to a boil again and cool. This cooked puree is suitable for single use. It is not recommended to keep it.

Proposed way of consuming apricot in baby food

Apricot in baby food should be offered in the form of baby puree, in any variety of baked goods, with any cereals. You can also mix apricots with yoghurts and cream cheese. Use apricot jam or jam with pancakes and pancakes. Also, the sweet and sour taste of the fruit is ideal for meat, such as chicken. As a finger food, apricot is also suitable. You can choose ripe varieties that melt in the child's mouth and he will not be able to choke on them. You can also use an apricot in a nibbler until the baby has learned to eat in pieces.

Apricot pit

Apricot pit poses a danger to the child, as he can choke on it. If a cherry or sweet cherry stone can safely pass through the esophagus and come out with feces, then a large apricot stone can get stuck. Therefore, up to 2-3 years old, a child should be given pitted apricots and gradually learn to extract the core on their own. After 3 years, the child is able to independently remove the stone and eat an apricot. Although, as I wrote earlier, it is still worth controlling the eating of stone fruit until the age of 5.

Apricot drink

Apricot drink can be given to a child after the fruit has been safely introduced. You can cook your baby a regular compote of dried apricots, or juice with pulp, fruit drink or jelly. Compote is cooked, as usual, in boiling water we throw thoroughly washed dried apricots or fresh apricots and cook for 5 minutes. Sugar can be omitted, like apple compote, it will be sweet in itself. For juice, apricot puree is used, to which a little water is added for a liquid consistency and boiled for about 3-5 minutes.

Apricotes

300 g

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