From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Can Babies Eat Kohlrabi? Raw Choking and Prep
Kohlrabi is a crunchy cabbage relative that stays firm when raw, so raw chunks are a real choking risk. The fix is simple: peel the thick skin, then cook it until soft or shave it paper-thin, from around 6 months.
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- When to introduce
- Around 6 months
- Common allergen?
- No (not a top-9 allergen)
- Texture
- Cooked soft, or shaved paper-thin (never raw chunks)
- Key nutrients
- Vitamin C, fiber, potassium
Can babies eat kohlrabi? Yes, from around 6 months, but not as raw chunks. Kohlrabi is a pale green or purple bulb from the cabbage family, with mild, slightly sweet white flesh that tastes a bit like a cross between broccoli stem and a crisp apple. Here is the catch: raw kohlrabi stays firm and crunchy even after you peel it, so raw sticks and cubes are hard for a baby to manage. Peel off the thick, fibrous skin first, then either cook it until soft or shave the flesh paper-thin.
Why it matters: Kohlrabi's crunch comes from firm, water-storing cells that stay rigid even after peeling, so babies without molars cannot gnaw it into a safe pulp, which is why any raw crunchy food like apple or carrot raises the same concern.
Prep School: how to prepare kohlrabi for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Is kohlrabi safe? Choking & prep
Kohlrabi stays firm and crunchy when raw, so raw chunks are a real choking risk. The CDC flags hard, raw produce as one of the classic choking shapes for young children1, and raw kohlrabi is exactly that texture, so cook it until soft or shave it paper-thin, leaving nothing hard for your baby to try to gnaw on. Always peel off the thick, fibrous skin first, since it is tough and not pleasant to chew. As a cabbage relative it can be a bit gassy for some babies at first, so start small and see how your baby does. Around 6 months, when your baby is showing readiness for solids, cooked-soft kohlrabi is the easy default. Keep your baby seated, stay within arm's reach, and there is no need for added salt.
Trying kohlrabi today? Log the first taste and whether it landed as a yummy, meh, or yucky, so future you remembers how the funny little bulb went over, dated and ready for the pediatrician.
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Nutrition
Kohlrabi offers vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, and it is naturally low in calories. The vitamin C helps your baby absorb iron from foods served alongside, which is handy at this stage. As a member of the cabbage family it also brings the same gentle, mild-cruciferous flavor as broccoli stems, so it is a nice early way to introduce that group of vegetables without much bitterness.
Goes well with
Sweet potato · Lentils · Cheese · Apple · Plain yogurt
Storage & freezing
Refrigerate cooked kohlrabi in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze cooked portions for up to 3 months. Keep a whole raw bulb in the crisper drawer for a week or two; store cut raw pieces in water and use within a day or two, since they dry out.
More vegetables to explore
Related reading
- Choking hazards for babies →
- First vegetables for babies →
- How to cut food for babies →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
Can babies eat kohlrabi?
Yes, from around 6 months, but not as raw chunks. Peel off the thick skin, then serve it cooked until soft or shaved paper-thin. Skip thick raw sticks and cubes for babies and young toddlers, since raw kohlrabi stays crunchy and is a choking risk.
Raw kohlrabi vs cooked kohlrabi for babies?
Raw kohlrabi is crisp and firm like a broccoli stem crossed with an apple, which makes thick sticks and cubes hard for a baby to manage. Cooked kohlrabi is soft and easy to chew. For babies, cooked-soft pieces are the safer default; if you serve it raw, shave it paper-thin rather than into sticks or chunks.
How do I cut kohlrabi for baby-led weaning?
Peel the bulb first, then avoid thick raw sticks, cubes, and coin shapes. Better options: cooked-soft pieces that squish with gentle pressure; paper-thin raw shavings made with a peeler or mandoline; or finely grated raw kohlrabi stirred into a soft food like yogurt, mashed potato, or apple puree. Save thin matchsticks for older toddlers who chew well.
Baby-friendly ways to serve kohlrabi?
Cooked-soft kohlrabi mashed with sweet potato, tender pieces alongside lentils, paper-thin shavings folded into yogurt, or grated fine and mixed with grated apple. For older toddlers who chew well, a thin shaving to nibble. Skip added salt; the mild, slightly sweet flavor stands on its own.
Is kohlrabi a choking risk?
Raw kohlrabi is, because it stays hard and crunchy even when peeled and babies without molars cannot gnaw it into a safe pulp. Cooked soft or shaved paper-thin, that risk is largely removed. It is the same shape-and-hardness logic that applies to raw apple and carrot.
Do I need to peel kohlrabi?
Yes, always peel it for a baby. The outer skin is thick and fibrous, tougher than the flesh, so trim it right down to the pale inner flesh before cooking or shaving.
Should I cook kohlrabi for babies?
For babies around 6 months, cooked-soft kohlrabi is the easy default because it is simple to chew and swallow. Raw is fine only when shaved paper-thin, and better suited to older babies and toddlers. Steam, boil, or roast the peeled flesh until it gives easily under gentle pressure.
Can kohlrabi make my baby gassy?
It can for some babies, since kohlrabi is a cabbage relative and cruciferous vegetables are sometimes a little gassy. It is nothing to worry about; just start with a small amount and see how your baby does, cooking it soft can help too.
Is kohlrabi a common allergen?
No, kohlrabi is not one of the top-9 allergens, and a true allergy is uncommon. Still, offer it on its own the first time like any new food so you can watch how your baby responds.
What does kohlrabi taste like?
Mild and slightly sweet, a bit like a broccoli stem crossed with a crisp apple, without much of the bitterness of other cabbages. That gentle flavor makes it easy to pair with fruit or fold into other foods.
Sources
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
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Start tracking for freeLast 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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