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Celeriac for Babies: When and How to Serve It

Celeriac, or celery root, is knobbly on the outside with a mild celery flavor inside. Peel it, cook it soft, and mash or offer strips from around 6 months.

When to introduce
Around 6 months
Common allergen?
No (not a common allergen)
Texture
Peeled and cooked soft, mashed or in strips
Key nutrients
Vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, potassium

When can babies eat celeriac?

Celeriac, also called celery root, is a knobbly brown root with a mild, gentle celery flavor tucked inside. It looks intimidating but cooks into a soft, comforting food. It can join your baby's plate around 6 months. The key steps are trimming away the tough, uneven skin and cooking it until soft, since raw celeriac is firm and a choking risk.

How to prepare celeriac for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées, by age

6 monthsPeel away the knobbly skin, cut into chunks, and boil or roast until fork-soft, then mash smooth or offer soft, thick strips.
9 monthsServe soft-cooked celeriac in small pieces for self-feeding, or blended into a puree with potato.
12 months+Offer soft-cooked celeriac in small pieces, or mashed into family dishes, still without added salt.

Is celeriac safe? Choking & prep

Raw celeriac is firm and dense, which makes it a choking risk, so cook it until soft before serving it to a baby. Peel away the knobbly, uneven skin thoroughly, since it is tough and traps grit. Boil or roast the flesh until fork-soft, then mash it or cut it into soft strips or small pieces. There is no need to add salt to your baby's portion.

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Nutrition

Celeriac provides vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and potassium in a mild, savory package. The vitamin C helps your baby absorb iron from foods served alongside. Its gentle celery flavor is a nice way to build your baby's palate without much fuss.

Goes well with

Potato · Apple · Chicken

Storage & freezing

Refrigerate cooked celeriac in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze in portions for up to 3 months.

More vegetables to explore

🥬
CeleryAround 9 to 12 months
🥒
ChayoteAround 6 months
🥬
Collard greensAround 6 months
🌽
CornAround 9 to 12 months
🥒
CucumberAround 6 months
🍆
EggplantAround 6 months

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

When can babies eat celeriac?

Around 6 months, peeled and cooked until soft, then mashed or served in soft strips.

Is celeriac the same as celery?

They are related. Celeriac is grown for its knobbly root, which has a mild celery flavor, rather than for the stalks.

Can babies eat raw celeriac?

No, raw celeriac is firm and dense, which is a choking risk. Peel and cook it soft before serving.

Is celeriac a common allergen?

No, celeriac is not a common allergen. Introduce it on its own so you can watch how your baby does.

Sources

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How we write these: from widely published pediatric guidance (AAP, NIAID 2017 guidelines, the LEAP study), with sources cited on every page. Pending review by a pediatric professional.

This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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