How to puree beef for baby food
Feeding Baby Beef | Beef Baby Food Recipes and Tips
When can I introduce Beef to my baby?
As mentioned above, most pediatricians in the United States recommend that beef, and other meats and proteins be introduced to a baby when he is between 8-10 months of age. This recommendation is changing however. In many European countries and the UK and Canada, national health services and many pediatricians recommend meats as one of baby’s first foods due to the level of heme iron in meats.
The premise is that offering your baby’s meats earlier rather than later helps him maintain proper levels of iron and ensures adequate levels of zinc and protein too.
The Goodness of Beef for Baby Food
Beef is high in protein and iron and also contains calcium and folate. It is one of the most easily digested of the meats you will feed to your baby. Chicken is most often recommended to be baby’s first meat. Turkey, like Chicken, is high in protein and iron. Turkey also makes a great first meat for baby.
Beef (100 grams – roasted eye of round, trimmed 1/8″ fat) – Protein 29.73 g
| VITAMINS | MINERALS |
How to select and store Beef for baby food
When selecting beef to make for your baby, select a cut that is mostly lean. You ideally want to purchase a cut of beef that has light marbling (lines of fat running throughout) as a bit of fat makes the meat more tender. Some cuts of beef that would be good for baby food are:
Eye of Round roast | Top Sirloin | Lean Fresh Ground beef
The best way to cook Beef for Baby Food
I always recommend cooking any food by baking or roasting it.
Baking helps retain the most nutrients with steaming being another method to retain nutrients.
Using a crock pot to cook and stew meats is another great way to cook beef. Keep in mind that nutrients will leach into the liquid that you add to the crock pot.
If your baby is not used to the taste of beef and you are making a plain beef puree, using the juice/liquid from the crock pot may make the flavor too strong. Strain the liquid if need be and use water to make beef puree instead. You may need to mix in a bit of fruit or veggie to the beef to help baby enjoy the first taste.
Poach:
To poach beef, it is easiest to first cut the beef into dices – think of stew meat.
Sometimes I sprinkle the beef with a bit of olive oil and then season it, stir to combine – and if I have time I brown it as well.
Add water or broth to a sauce pan – enough to cover the meat.
Bring the contents of the saucepan to a boil and then turn heat down to simmer.
Simmer for approximately 20 minutes. Fork test and cut into the meat if necessary to check for doneness.
Bake/Roast:
To bake or roast beef, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Lightly grease a baking sheet/roasting pan with olive oil
Place the beef onto the baking sheet/pan, lightly season if desired and if your baby has had spices – no salt!
Sometimes I rub the beef with a bit of olive oil and then season it – and if I have time I brown it as well.
Place baking sheet in the oven and bake until the juices run clear – baking times will vary depending on the size and cut of the beef you are cooking.
A general rule is that you should cook meat for 20 minutes per pound.
A 2 pound eye of round roast may take up to 45 minutes-1 hour or roasting time..
Crockpot::
Cut the beef into pieces or use stew beef. I like to also use eye of round or tenderloin. You may also braise or brown the beef prior to adding it to the crockpot if you wish.
This is not really necessary and if you are pressed for time, you may just skip it.
Add the beef to the crockpot and cover in liquid – broth, water or a combination of the two.
Turn crockpot to low and cook for 6-9 hours.
A Few Beef Baby Food Recipes
Beefy “Hash” (a twist on corned beef hash) – a great meal for self-feeders and everyone else too!
Ingredients:
- 6 large potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3/4 pound of thinly sliced stew beef cubes or 1/2 ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup beef broth (homemade or low sodium/low fat)
Directions:
Step 1: In a large deep skillet, over medium heat, combine the potatoes, beef cubes, onion, and beef broth.
Step 2: Cover and simmer until potatoes are of mashing consistency, and the liquid is almost gone.
Step 3: Add more liquid as needed.
Step 4: Mix well, and serve either mashed, pureed a wee bit or as finger food.
Beef Puree (Basic)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold and cooked boneless beef – chopped into chunks no bigger than 1 inch
- 1/4 c cooking juice or plain water
Directions:
Step 1: Place beef chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed.
Step 2: Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Step 3: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby. You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.
Beefy Apple Purée (Basic)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold and cooked boneless beef chopped into chunks no bigger than 1 inch
- 1/4 c cooking juice or plain water
- 1/4 cup applesauce
Directions:
Step 1: Place meat chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed.
Step 2: Slowly add water, then applesauce, then water etc. and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Step 3: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby.
Sweet Potato Beef Shepard’s Pie
Ingredients:
- 2 & 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed (or 2 tablespoons pre crushed garlic)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef stock (make your own.)
- 2 eggs, beaten (if using egg yolks only for those under 12 months old, use 4 egg yolks)
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 4 baked and mashed sweet potatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
Step 1: Brown the beef in a large skillet then remove the beef and place it in a bowl for later.
Step 2: In a medium sized saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter and then saute the onions and garlic until they are clear. Remove the saucepan from the stovetop and stir in flour (like you would when making a roux). Gradually stir in the beef stock. Bring the mixture to boiling, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Gradually stir in eggs (or egg yolks). Add the sauce, rosemary, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to meat; mix well.
Step 3: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray an baking pan with non-stick vegetable spray. (We like to use a light coating of pure olive oil.)
Step 4: Spoon half the meat mixture into prepared pan.
Step 5: Puree the sweet potatoes in food processor with remaining butter, nutmeg and pepper. Spread 1 cup puree over the meat. Add the remaining meat mixture and then spread over the remaining pureed sweet potatoes.
Step 6: Bake for 35 minutes or until heated through.
Baby Beef Stew
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cubed cooked beef
- 1 peeled potato
- ¼ cup shelled fresh or frozen peas
- 1 peeled carrot
- 1 stalk of celery
- 1/4 cup uncooked pasta (try di’talini as it’s small and makes for great finger food.)
- 4 cups of water
Directions:
Step 1: Wash vegetables thoroughly and chop very fine.
Step 2: Simmer the veggies for 20 minutes or until softened
Step 3: Add the pasta and cook for 10 minutes longer or until very soft. Drain but save the water.*****
Step 4: Mash or puree the mix until it is of a consistency adequate for your baby.
Cheesy Beefy Shepard’s Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup beef or veggie stock (make your own stocks.
) - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 cups mashed cooked white Russet potatoes
- 1 cup shredded Colby longhorn cheese (optional)
Directions:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lightly grease (use olive oil) a 2 quart baking dish.
Step 2: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir and cook ground beef, onion and celery until juices run clear. Drain. Pour mixture into baking dish with vegetable soup and thyme; stir well. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
Step 3: Bake 20 minutes and remove from the oven. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted.
Some Foods Good to Mix With Beef
- Apples
- Pears
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Green Beans
- Peas
- Sweet Potato
- White Potato
- Barley
- Lentils
- Pasta
- Rice
Remember, always consult with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby.
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Freezing Times for Homemade Meat Purees and Baby Food Cubes
Baby Food Cubes May Be Safely Kept in the Freezer for 3 Months. It is preferable, but not an absolute must, to use the cubes within 1 month however. Meats are more unstable when frozen so it is best to use Meat Purées as soon as possible.
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Basic Beef Baby Food Puree (6+ Months)
This homemade Basic Beef Baby Food is a great addition to your baby’s favorite purees for extra protein and flavor! It’s an incredibly simple recipe with big flavor and nutrition! It’s perfect as a Stage One Baby Food – 4-6+ months.
Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Beef Baby FoodBeef, it’s what’s for baby’s dinner! Beef puree, that is.
😉
This beef puree is loaded with so many great nutrients that your baby needs in order to thrive – protein, iron, calcium and folate.
And while it may seem counter-intuitive and perhaps weird (or at least it did to me), beef puree 🥩 is a great first food for your baby.
Just because it’s a nutrient-dense puree doesn’t mean your baby needs bowls upon bowls of it. Since beef puree has a somewhat intense flavor, a few spoonfuls added to your baby’s favorite veggie or fruit puree should be enough.
Is it your first time making homemade baby food? If you answered yes, then I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on How to Make Homemade Baby Food. The detailed article goes over all the essential information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, knowing when your baby is ready for solids, introducing purees, making the best first foods for baby, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.
Beef Puree Video
Watch this video to see how easy it is to make your baby homemade Beef Puree!
Reasons to Love this Beef Puree- simple yet flavorful
- packed with protein
- great to add to any other fruit or veggie puree that baby loves
- baby food for 4-6 months and up
- stage 1 baby food
- freezer-friendly
- homemade
Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!
- Beef: Since beef is the star of the show in this puree, we are going to start with a good piece of meat. We are going to use 8oz of chuck stew meat or cubed sirloin beef. You can also easily scale up this recipe if you want more than 12 ounces of baby food.
- Broth: To get that rich, deep beef flavor, we will cook our beef in beef broth. I recommend using a low-sodium, sodium-free, or free-range beef bone broth for this recipe.
You can also use any of those variations above with a vegetable broth as well. If you don’t have any of those on hand, you can use water. - Oregano: We are adding dried oregano to give the puree a little more complex taste. This can easily be omitted if you prefer or you can substitute in dried parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme or cilantro.
Grass-Fed Beef: I recommend using grass-fed beef for this recipe, if possible. Grass-fed beef will have more healthy fats, more free Omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fats), vitamins A, E, and B as well as more antioxidants.
Health Benefits of Beef
- Protein: Beef is an excellent source of protein, which is essential for proper growth and development of all organ systems and maintaining and repairing tissues. It is considered a complete protein, meaning it has all of the amino acids that are needed to make protein.
- Iron: Beef is a good source of iron, needed for making red blood cells, neurodevelopment and preventing iron deficiency anemia, and zinc, needed for growth and development and supporting the immune system.
- B12: Beef is also high in B12, which is essential for brain development and healthy red blood cells.
- Choline: can also be found in beef, which is also important for brain growth and development.
- Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring the cubed beef, broth, and oregano to a boil over medium heat.
- Simmer: Turn the heat down to low and cover the saucepan. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the beef is just cooked through. Let it cool slightly.
- Puree: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a blender or food processor and puree until you reach your desired consistency, adding broth in 1/4 cup increments if needed.
- Eat: Serve to your baby plain or added into another puree.
- Freeze: Store a small portion in the fridge and freeze the rest for another meal.
These tools will make it a lot easier for you to make this healthy Beef Puree.
For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.
- Saucepans
- Blender or Food Processor
- Freezer Tray
- Storage Containers for Fridge
- Stasher Bag
- bib with catch pocket
- Saucepans
Frequently Asked Questions
When can baby eat beef puree?
Babies can have beef as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Can beef be baby’s first food?
Yes, beef can 100% be baby’s first food if you want it to be.
It is recommended to wait to introduce the top eight allergen foods to baby once a few other well tolerated foods have been introduced, but otherwise foods can be introduced in any order so choose whatever you are most excited for baby to have.
Is beef a common allergen for baby?
No, beef is not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.
Does beef cause constipation for babies?
No, beef itself is not known to cause constipation in babies, however it won’t really help with constipation either since it lacks fiber. If baby is eating too much meat, it could replace fiber-rich foods, which could cause constipation.
You can store this puree in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FreezerThis puree can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Spoon puree into a freezer storage container. Do not overfill.
- Place the lid on the storage container or cover with a piece of saran wrap, and label with the date and recipe name.
- Place the tray into the freezer and let it freeze completely — preferably overnight.
- Pop out the baby food cubes and place them in a ziplock baggie or stasher bag. Don’t forget to relabel the baggie or stasher bag for future reference.
Need more information on how to store your baby foods? Head over to my Best Baby Food Storage Containers – Plus 6 Tips on Freezing and Thawing post!
Label Tip: Don’t forget to label your purees before you place them in the fridge or freezer with the name of the puree and the date you made it. Take it from me; by the end of the week, you will completely forget what is in your freezer and how long it’s been there. 😉
Great Beef Combination PureesWhile this beef baby food is great by itself, it can be a little intense for some babies.
I recommend mixing it into one of your baby’s favorite purees as an introduction to the rich taste of beef. Here are some great purees to mix with the beef puree:
- Apples
- Sweet Potato
- Pear
- Carrot
- Broccoli
- Pea
- Mango
PUREE FEEDING TIPS
- Follow your baby’s lead – when feeding purees from a spoon, sometimes there’s a tendency to keep offering bites past the point of your baby being full. Always follow your baby’s cues for when they are done eating. Turning away from the spoon, closing her mouth, or pushing food away are all signs that your baby is finished with the meal.
- Try adding a little seasoning or spice to purees – babies like flavor! Or consider changing the temperature of purees from time to time, to slightly warmed or slightly chilled. Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience!
- Throwing spoons is a common phase that all babies go through at one point or another.
One of the best ways to handle spoon throwing is to ignore it and keep feeding your baby as usual (with an extra spoon you already have at the table). If your baby ends up also throwing back up spoons #2 AND #3, simply encourage your baby to eat with their hands until they appear to be finished with the meal. ***Give baby plenty of opportunities to practice putting items in and taking items out of containers outside of mealtimes.
- Use a Slotted Spoon: When transferring the cooked beef from the saucepan to the blender, make sure to use a slotted spoon so you don’t add too much broth into the puree from the start. You only want to add broth if needed while blending. I had to add a 1/4 cup of broth to the blender while I was pureeing this beef.
- Reheat Gently: If you are freezing some of this beef puree, reheat it in 20-second intervals. You don’t want to recook the beef.
- 8 ounce beef chuck stew meat, or cubed sirloin beef
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth, low or no sodium
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring beef, broth and oregano to a boil over medium heat. Turn to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until beef is cooked all the way through. Let cool slightly.
Transfer: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a blender or food processor, reserve broth.
Puree: starting on low and working your way up to high-speed, puree the beef until you reach your desired consistency, adding in broth in 1/4 cup increments if needed. I had to add in just 1/4 cup of broth to get the consistency seen in this photo.
Eat: serve to baby plain or added into another puree.
Freeze: store a small portion in the fridge and freeze the rest for another meal.
Age: 4-6 months and up
Yield: 12 ounces
Storage: Fridge – store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Saucepan
Blender
Bumkins Baby Bowl
Freezer Tray
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About recipe
Difficulty: average
I want to tell you and offer to cook mashed beef and vegetables for your crumbs at home. Very tasty and healthy mashed beef and vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes and cauliflower. Your kid will be very happy with such a yummy.
Add to shopping list or
Portions
- 3 +
beef beef
200 g
boiled potatoes boiled potatoes
1 pcs
frozen broccoli frozen broccoli
100 g
cauliflower cauliflower
100 g
carrots carrot
100 g
water water
1 l
1
Prepare all the necessary ingredients.
Peel potatoes, cut into pieces. Grate carrots on a coarse grater. Rinse the beef and cut into small pieces to cook faster.
How to quickly clean the insides of a fish
2
Put the beef in a saucepan, cover with water, cook for 1 hour.
3
Place vegetables in a saucepan, cover with water and boil for 20 minutes.
4
When the beef is boiled, transfer to the vegetables and cook for another 25 minutes.
5
Transfer everything to a bowl and beat thoroughly with a blender.
6
Cool down and feed your baby. Enjoy your meal.
If you liked the recipe, you will find 109 more in my profile recipes. Here is one of my latest: Chicken with mushrooms and vegetables under sour cream in a pan.
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How to cook meat puree for babies
Pro nutrition
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- Parents
Babies will have to try baby meat puree not earlier than 7-8 months.
At this age, the child grows and develops intensively, and the iron reserves that he accumulated while he was in his mother's tummy and during breastfeeding are depleted in his body. It is during this period that it is recommended to introduce baby meat puree into his diet. Meat is the main source of complete animal protein, which is necessary for a growing man to protect against infections, normal development and formation of teeth and bones. Properly prepared meat puree for the first feeding contains easily digestible iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins. It also contains extractives that stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and the digestive system.
It is worth remembering the rules for the introduction of complementary foods. A new product is introduced gradually (over 5-7 days) starting with a small amount. It should be given in the morning to mark an unwanted reaction. Complementary foods are given from a spoon before breastfeeding or formula milk.
When feeding with mashed meat, start with a portion of 3–5 g (that’s 1/2 teaspoon), so that, gradually increasing its size, reach 60–80 g by 1 year. you can buy in the store, ready-made. Is it worth it to "fool around" with home cooking? It's up to you. There is no single answer to the question of which meat purees are best for your baby. But we think you will agree that a homemade recipe guarantees confidence in every ingredient. Yes, and cooking mashed potatoes at home is not difficult.
Puree meat for the first feeding: recipe and step-by-step instruction
You will need:
-
Glass or ceramic cup capacity 200-500 ml
- 9000 9
plastic or metal spoon
-
meat cutter
-
plastic cutting board (more hygienic, wood is much more difficult to clean, causing germs to accumulate)
-
blender
-
actual piece of meat
1. Choosing meat
For the first feeding, it is recommended to choose hypoallergenic rabbit or turkey meat, which are easy to digest and contain little fat.
Lamb and lean veal and beef are also not forbidden. Pork for babies will be too fatty and can cause a malfunction in the digestive system, chicken quite often causes allergic reactions.
It is recommended to buy meat for baby meat puree in a trusted store. Since any meat must pass veterinary control, the seller must carry a certificate confirming this procedure. Give preference to whole cuts of meat (not in cubes), fresh and juicy in appearance, not weathered. The cut of a piece of meat should be even, pink. A dark red or whitish cut indicates that the meat was either stored incorrectly, or is far from the first freshness.
To help a mother who is worried about the question “what to feed her baby”, we have prepared a material “What to feed a baby: a baby’s nutrition diary from birth to a year”
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2. Preparing meat
Before preparing the meat puree for the first feeding, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the meat under running cold or warm water.
Remove fat, veins, skin, films from it and free it from bones.
Then cut a piece of about 10 cm from the whole piece of meat. Meat puree, like other foods for babies, should not be stored. For this reason, at one time you will need a very small piece of meat. The remaining meat can be cut into larger pieces and put in the freezer. Just keep in mind that any food for babies can only be thawed once. A defrosted product cannot be re-frozen: temperature changes create a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogens. So every time, intending to prepare meat puree for feeding, we take out 1 piece of meat from the freezer. For the first time, this amount is more than enough.
3. Rules for cooking meat for baby puree
Put the meat in a pot of cold water (remember, it must be filtered or bottled) and wait until it boils. After 5 minutes, drain the water (this is necessary to get rid of fat and extractives that make digestion difficult) and fill the meat with new water, it should cover it.
Cook the meat until tender over low heat for about 2 hours (turkey, veal and lamb should be cooked until tender for 1-1.5 hours). If the water boils away, add it again. And remember that kids do not need to salt and add spices to the meat.
Find out how to make a menu for a one-year-old baby here: “Almost an adult menu: what to feed a child from one to two years old”
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cut it into small pieces. Then grind the pieces in a blender.
To make puree a homogeneous consistency, similar to thick porridge, add a few tablespoons of mixture or vegetable broth to it (meat broth is not allowed for babies!).
Ready-made meat puree can be mixed with vegetable puree, which is already familiar to the baby. So the child will more easily accept the new product. You can also pour a few drops of vegetable oil into the meat puree (7-month-old children are entitled to 5 ml).
The first serving of meat puree should be 0.5 teaspoon. Pay close attention to your child's reaction. If everything is in order, after a week you can increase the portion. By the year the child should already consume portions of 60-80 g of meat. It is best to feed baby meat puree at lunchtime.
Read also: “When a child begins to chew and how to prepare for this”
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- Parents
- Photo
- Parents
Each mother has its own recipe for the pure . We will present some of them.
Homemade beef mash for babies
What you need: 40 g beef, water, 1 teaspoon butter
Cleaned meat, free of bones, membranes and sinews, cut into small pieces. Stew the pieces in a small amount of water until fully cooked, about 2 hours.
