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Introducing your baby to solid foods is an exciting time, and sweet potato puree is a great stage 1 baby food to start with. One of the first solid foods I fed my little ones was sweet potatoes, and they’ve honestly been sweet potato lovers ever since. Puree is creamy and delicious, and not to mention packed with nutrients essential to your baby’s growth and development.
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I remember with my first child that the journey of introducing solid foods felt a little daunting. I wanted to feed my little one the best, most nutrient dense foods and there wasn’t a ton of information online at the time about how to do it, so I did a ton of research to figure it all out. It’s part of the reason why I started Weelicious in the first place – to share with you just how simple it can be to make homemade baby food. There’s a reason tons of parents choose homemade sweet potato puree as one of the first foods for their baby. Read on to see why!
Reasons to Love Sweet Potato Puree
- Nutritional Powerhouse: Sweet potatoes are one of nature’s best gifts. They’re loaded with essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A,C and potassium that are great for your baby’s overall health.
- Gentle on Tummies: Sweet potatoes have a naturally creamy texture that’s gentle on delicate baby tummies. Plus, they’re easy to digest, making them an ideal choice for babies who are just starting their solid food journey.
- Versatile: One of my favorite things about puree is that it’s super versatile making it the perfect base to pair up with a variety of flavors. Go sweet and fruity with apples and bananas or savory with chicken and carrots.
Ingredients
The great thing about making sweet potato puree is that you don’t need a ton of ingredients. Here’s all you need:
- Sweet Potatoes
- Water (if steaming or boiling)
- Optional: Breast milk or formula for added creaminess
- Optional: cinnamon for flavor depth
How to Make Sweet Potato Puree for Baby
- Prep the Sweet Potatoes: Start by washing the sweet potatoes. Once the sweet potatoes are clean, peel and then chop into smaller chunks. If baking, leave the potatoes unpeeled and whole.
- Choose Your Cooking Method:
- Boiling: Place the sweet potato chunks in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook until they’re fork-tender, which usually takes around 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your chunks.
- Steaming: If you prefer steaming, place the sweet potato chunks in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam until they’re soft and easily pierced with a fork, about 20-25 minutes.
- Baking: For fewer steps (and a slightly sweeter flavor), you can also bake the sweet potatoes. Pierce the skins of the sweet potatoes a few times with the tines of a fork, then place on a sheet tray. Pop them in a preheated oven at 400°F for 45-60 minutes, or until they’re tender all the way through. Allow to cool to the touch then peel the skins before pureeing.
- Puree to Perfection: Once your sweet potatoes are cooked, it’s time to transform them into a silky smooth puree. Transfer the cooked potatoes to a blender or food processor, add a splash of water, breast milk, or formula, and blend until you reach your desired consistency.
How to Store Sweet Potato Puree for Baby
One of the best things you can do is learn how to store your homemade baby food properly. It’ll save you so much time and money in the long run. Here’s how to store sweet potato baby puree
Storing Sweet Potato Puree in the Fridge
- Place your freshly made puree in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to three days for convenient meals throughout the week for your little one. For longer storage, you should freeze the baby food.
How to Freeze Sweet Potato Puree
- I love freezing puree in silicone ice cube trays for smaller portions or these 4 ounce glass airtight containers. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
How to Warm up the Frozen Sweet Potato Puree
- The best way to thaw frozen puree is to leave it in the fridge overnight. For a little quicker thaw, you can let the container defrost in a cold water bath.
FAQs
Absolutely! Sweet potato puree pairs well with a variety of flavors, so feel free to get creative and mix it up with other fruits and vegetables. Or with grains like rice or quinoa for a delicious stage 2 baby food.
Your baby can typically start eating sweet potatoes around 4 to 6 months of age, once they show signs of readiness such as sitting up with support and showing interest in food. Always introduce one new food at a time and consult with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
Yes, if you need to thin out puree, you can do so by adding a splash of breast milk or formula until you reach your desired consistency.
Puree Combinations for Baby
Experiment with different flavors to jazz up your sweet potato puree! You could keep it simple by adding some spinach or apple puree, but here are a few of my other favorite baby food combinations.
- Corn, Apple and Sweet Potato Puree
- Chicken with Sweet Potato and Apple Puree
- Chicken with Sweet Potato and Carrots Puree
There you go! A complete guide on how to make sweet potato baby food. Sweet potatoes make a fantastic first food for your little one. They’re healthy, easy to digest and incredibly versatile. There’s a reason why it’s a lot of parents’ top choices for baby’s first foods! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about making sweet potato puree and tag me on social media if you make this recipe! Happy cooking!
Sweet Potato Puree for Baby
Equipment
- Sheet Tray
Ingredients
- 2 medium yams, washed
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup breast milk, formula or water, optional
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Poke several holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork.
- Place on a sheet tray and bake for an hour.
- When sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, peel off the skin and scoop insides into a food processor with remaining ingredients.
- Puree until smooth.
- Cool and serve.
Notes
- For some extra flavor depth, use coconut milk (full fat or light) as the liquid in this recipe. My kids loved that!
- To Store: Store leftover puree in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, freeze the puree.
- To Freeze: Spoon puree into silicone baby cube trays or airtight glass containers and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat when ready to serve.
- Other Cooking Methods:
-
- Boiling: Place the sweet potato chunks in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook until they’re fork-tender, which usually takes around 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your chunks.
- Steaming: If you prefer steaming, place the sweet potato chunks in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam until they’re soft and easily pierced with a fork, about 20-25 minutes.
