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Can Babies Eat Farro? Cook the Chew Out

A nutty ancient wheat grain that stays chewy even when cooked, so simmer it almost to porridge and mash it until about age 4. Contains gluten, so introduce it deliberately.

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When to introduce
Around 6 months
Common allergen?
Yes (wheat, a top-9 allergen, contains gluten)
Texture
Simmered soft and porridge-like, then mashed
Key nutrients
Fiber, plant protein, iron, magnesium

Farro is an ancient variety of wheat with a nutty flavor and a satisfying chew, and that chew is the one thing to plan around for babies. Even fully cooked, farro grains hold onto a little firmness, so the trick is to simmer it longer than the package says, until it is very soft and almost porridge-like, then mash it or pulse it so no whole kernels are left. Because farro is wheat, it contains gluten and counts among the top-9 allergens, so introduce it on its own for a few days while you watch for any reaction. Once it is soft and broken down, its warm nutty taste folds beautifully into mashed vegetables, soups, and grain mashes. Farro comes in whole, semi-pearled, and pearled forms, and the more pearled it is, the faster it softens, which is handy when you are cooking for a baby.

⚠️ Farro is naturally chewy even after cooking, so simmer it well past al dente until soft and porridge-like, then mash it, since the AAP advises that first foods be soft or pureed to prevent choking1; farro is also wheat, a top-9 allergen that contains gluten.

Why it matters: Grains that stay chewy after cooking need to be simmered soft and mashed, because a baby without molars cannot break a firm, springy texture down safely.

Prep School: how to prepare farro for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

6 monthsFarro starts as a spoon food even for baby-led weaning: simmer it until very soft and almost porridge-like, mash it into a thick vegetable mash, and let your baby work at it from a loaded spoon. Since farro is wheat, offer it on its own the first time, earlier in the day, and watch for a couple of hours.
12 months+Cook farro well past al dente, then mash it or pulse it in a food processor so no whole kernels remain, and fold it into mashed beans and vegetables so it clings together for small fingers to scoop. Keep mashing or pulsing it until about age 4.
18 months+Offer soft farro pulsed or mashed so there are no whole kernels, stirred through soups and grain bowls your toddler can eat alongside you, kept low in salt. Keep mashing or pulsing it until about age 4.

🥄 Purées

6 monthsSimmer until very soft and almost porridge-like, then mash and stir into a vegetable puree or soft mash so it is easy to swallow. Since farro is wheat, offer it on its own the first time, earlier in the day, and watch for a couple of hours.
12 months+Serve farro mashed, or pulsed in a food processor so no whole kernels remain, in small spoonfuls or folded into soups and mashed beans and vegetables. Keep mashing or pulsing it until about age 4.
18 months+Soft farro, pulsed or mashed so there are no whole kernels, folded through soups and grain bowls, kept low in salt and still cooked well past al dente. Keep mashing or pulsing it until about age 4.

Is farro safe? Choking & prep

The main thing to get right with farro is texture, because it stays a little chewy even when it is fully cooked, and a firm, springy grain is harder for a baby to gum and swallow than a soft one. Simmer it well past the al dente stage until it is very soft and almost porridge-like, then mash it so nothing stays rubbery, since the AAP advises that first foods be soft or pureed to prevent choking1. Keep mashing or pulsing it until about age 4, because the CDC lists whole grain kernels of cooked barley, wheat, or other grains among choking hazards for young children3 and the USDA lists whole-grain kernels among the foods that cause choking in children under 45. The other point is allergy: farro is a form of wheat, so it contains gluten and is one of the top-9 allergens. Introduce it on its own, ideally earlier in the day, and watch for a couple of hours for any hives, swelling, or vomiting, then repeat it over a few days as you would any new allergen food. Call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away if any of these show up soon after a food, on their own or together: swelling of the lips, face, eyes, or tongue; swelling or tightness in the throat, or trouble swallowing; vomiting; hives that spread beyond the mouth and face; trouble breathing, noisy breathing, or wheezing; a cough that keeps going; a hoarse voice; skin or lips that turn pale or blue; or a baby who goes floppy or limp, or is suddenly sleepy or hard to wake. If the only sign is a new rash or a few hives around the mouth or face, stop the food, watch your baby closely, and call your pediatrician. If anything else about your baby worries you, call 911. Keep salt out of the cooking water, since babies under one do not need added salt2, and always serve your baby seated upright and within arm's reach.

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Nutrition

Whole farro is a whole grain. Pearled and semi-pearled farro have had some of the bran removed, so they soften faster but are no longer whole grains. Either way, farro brings fiber, plant protein, iron, and magnesium. The iron in farro is plant iron, and pairing it with a vitamin C food like tomato or bell pepper helps the body take it up more easily. Its fiber supports digestion, so introduce it gradually alongside plenty of fluids, especially in the early days.

Goes well with

Butternut squash · Peas · Chicken · Tomato

Storage & freezing

Cooked farro keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.4 Refrigerate it in a sealed container, or freeze cooled portions in small amounts to thaw and warm through for future meals. Cooked farro tends to firm up as it chills, so add a splash of water or broth and warm it well to bring the soft texture back before serving.

More grains to explore

🫓
Flour tortillaFrom about 12 months
🌾
FreekehAround 6 months
🍞
French toastFrom about 9 months
🍚
Fried riceFrom about 9 months, homemade, with your baby's portion taken out before the soy sauce; takeout from about 12 months, as a few spoonfuls
🌾
FonioAround 6 months
🌾
Foxtail millet6 months+

Introducing this allergen

Related reading

Common questions

Is farro gluten-free?

No. Farro is a form of wheat, so it contains gluten and is not safe for a gluten-free diet. Introduce it deliberately as a wheat and gluten food while you watch for any reaction.

Why does farro need to be cooked so soft?

Farro stays a little chewy even when it is fully cooked, and that firm, springy bite is hard for a baby to gum and swallow. Simmering it longer than usual until it is almost porridge-like, then mashing it, makes it much easier and safer to manage.

Is farro a common allergen?

Yes. As a wheat grain, farro falls under the top-9 allergens and contains gluten. Offer it on its own for a few days when you first introduce it, and watch for signs of a reaction.

At what age can babies have farro?

Around 6 months is a reasonable time to start, once your baby is comfortable with other soft grains and purees. There is no need to rush; the key is cooking it soft enough to mash.

How is farro different from other wheat?

Farro is an ancient variety of wheat with a nuttier flavor and chewier texture than modern refined wheat. Whole farro is a whole grain and pearled farro is partly refined, but both are still wheat and still contain gluten.

What is the difference between farro and bulgur?

Both are wheat and both contain gluten, but bulgur is parboiled cracked wheat that cooks fast and turns soft and fluffy, while farro is a whole or pearled wheat grain that stays chewy and needs longer, softer cooking for babies.

Which type of farro is best for babies?

Pearled and semi-pearled farro have some of the outer bran removed, so they soften faster, which makes them a little easier to cook down to a baby-friendly texture. Whole farro works too; it just needs a longer simmer.

Can I mix farro into other foods for my baby?

Yes, and it is a great way to serve it. Once farro is soft and mashed, its nutty taste blends nicely into vegetable purees, soups, and mashed beans, which also makes it easier to gather on a spoon.

Does farro have iron?

Yes. Farro provides plant iron along with fiber, protein, and magnesium. Serving it with a vitamin C food helps your baby's body absorb that plant iron more effectively.

Sources

  1. AAP HealthyChildren: Starting Solid Foods
  2. NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
  3. CDC: Choking Hazards (Infant and Toddler Nutrition)
  4. FoodSafety.gov: Children Under Five, Safe Storage of Puréed and Solid Baby Food (homemade baby foods: 1 to 2 days refrigerated, 1 to 2 months frozen)
  5. USDA WIC: Infant Nutrition and Feeding guide (Table 5.1, Common Foods That Cause Choking in Children Under Age 4, lists whole-grain kernels)

Further reading

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized 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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