Life
Introducing your baby to solid foods is always quite the adventure, but it might be easier than ever with the help of a super-popular kitchen appliance. In fact, these baby food recipes to make in your Instant Pot just might change the way your think about how you feed your baby in general.
Using your Instant Pot to create baby food is a smart idea for so many reasons. This user-friendly pressure cooker has become a favorite in many families. For instance, part of the Instant Pot's success is due to its speedy cooking times, because everything from dried beans to rice can be prepared in a fraction of the time it normally would. Plus, the Instant Pot is relatively easy to use once you get the hang of it. Throw everything in the pot, set it, and go. You don't have to keep an eye on a hot stove, which is especially helpful when you're watching a demanding little baby. And unlike pre-packaged baby foods (which definitely have their place in many families), you can keep track of everything that goes into each meal.
Read on for some Instant Pot baby food recipes that just might turn this gadget into your new best friend.
1
Easy Sweet Potatoes
Want to whip up a ton of sweet potatoes for your baby in no time? No problem. Kaylee Eylander's Instant Pot baby food sweet potatoes recipe will have you all set in just a few minutes, and it's the perfect thing to whip up for babies of all ages, even ones that are just starting on solids. Eylander is actually a whiz at making baby food in the Instant Pot, so check out her site for more recipe ideas.
2
Quick Apple Sauce
Applesauce is a quintessential kid food, but you don't have to buy it by the jar. Instead, check out the Instant Pot apple sauce recipe from A Beautiful Plate. It's so quick and simple, you may never go back to the store-bought stuff.
3
Green Beans
The Instant Pot also makes a great veggie steamer. According to its website, fresh whole green beans can be steamed in the Instant Pot in only 2 to 3 minutes. For extra mushiness, throw the steamed beans in a blender before serving the cooled product to baby. Bonus: steaming frozen green beans only takes 3 to 4 minutes, so definitely keep your freezer stocked with a couple bags at all times to make this easy baby snack on the fly.
4
Carrots
Carrots are another classic baby food. The bloggers at Recipe This have a great recipe for steamed carrots in the Instant Pot that will have your baby eating more veggies in no time. The finished carrots are super easy to mash up into baby-friendly bites. Consider leaving out the salt and pepper for the youngest ones, though.
5
Peas
Steamed, pureed green peas are a baby food staple. Love and Scribbles has a fantastic way to make peas in the Instant Pot that are totally baby-food friendly. In no time your baby will ask for more peas, please. Well, hopefully.
6
Butternut Squash & Cauliflower Soup
Your baby can enjoy this classic fall flavor any time of year. The recipe for Butternut Squash & Cauliflower Soup from Chicago Jogger looks amazing, although you may want to omit some of the spices at first, and ease them in once you know she's got a more curious palette. Seriously, though, this one could do double duty as an adult dinner, too.
7
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast
If you want to introduce your baby to meats, this is a great start. The Instant Pot shredded chicken breast recipe from Family Fresh Meals is a cinch to make. When it's done, just add in a little extra broth and blend it up into baby food consistency.
8
Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe
Oatmeal is such a comforting, filling food. Introduce your baby to the good stuff with Foodie Crush’s Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe For Steel Cut Oats Or Rolled Oats. It can even be refrigerated for up to 5 days, so your kid can have oatmeal at the ready.
9
Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Whip up some delicious mashed potatoes in no time. The Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes from Family Fresh Meals is ready to go in about 30 minutes. Plus, there’s just something so special and tasty about homemade mashed potatoes.
10
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Introduce your baby to the tasty flavor of squash. The Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash recipe from DIY Candy is a cinch to prepare. If your baby is still getting used to solids, then feel free to puree it before serving.
11
Perfect Instant Pot Quinoa
The recipe for Perfect Instant Pot Quinoa from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe cooks up nice and fluffy. It may not be the first thing you want to give your baby, but once they've graduated past sweet potatoes and avocados and you're starting to experiment with grains, it's a foolproof way to cook this nutritious food. Who knows, maybe your child will develop a taste for this healthy grain from a young age. Feel free to add more liquid to make this watery and more of a porridge.
12
Brown Rice In The Instant Pot
If your baby is ready to sample finger foods, why not rice? The Instant Pot Brown Rice recipe from Oatmeal With A Fork is super-fast and simple. It’s a great introduction to this grain and you can add mild spices early on to exhilarate their palette.
13
Instant Pot Black Beans
Thanks to the magic pressure cooker, it’s possible to make up a batch of beans without pre-soaking them. Plus, the Instant Pot Black Beans recipe from Well Plated by Erin is super-simple (although you may want to cut down on the spices if you’re making a batch just for baby). Depending on how advanced they are in eating solids, you might also want to mash them up a bit before feeding it to your baby.
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