From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Porcini Mushrooms for Babies: How to Serve
Also known as cep, penny bun.
Porcini are meaty, nutty mushrooms often sold dried. Rehydrate dried ones first, cook thoroughly, and chop small from around 9 months.
Free, no account needed. Takes about 10 seconds.
- When to introduce
- Around 9 months
- Common allergen?
- No (not a top-9 allergen)
- Texture
- Cooked fully soft, chopped small
- Key nutrients
- B vitamins, selenium, and a little fiber
Can babies eat porcini mushrooms? Yes, from around 9 months, cooked soft and chopped small. Porcini (also called cep or penny bun) are famously meaty and nutty, one of the most flavorful mushrooms around. You will often find them dried, which is actually handy: a small handful, soaked in warm water until soft, adds huge savory depth to a baby's rice or pasta. Rehydrate dried porcini first, cook everything through until tender, then chop small so your little one gets all that nutty flavor safely.
Why it matters: Porcini bring an intensely nutty, savory depth that lifts simple baby meals like rice and pasta. Rehydrated, cooked through, and chopped small, they are a flavorful, convenient pantry mushroom to explore.
Prep School: how to prepare porcini mushroom for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Is porcini mushroom safe? Choking & prep
Cook porcini thoroughly until fully soft, then chop small, since firm mushrooms are a choking risk and cooking aids digestion. If using dried porcini, soak them in warm water until soft before cooking, and you can strain and use the soaking liquid for extra flavor. Only use trusted cultivated or reputably sourced dried porcini, never wild mushrooms you cannot positively identify. Keep salt light for baby.
Log Porcini mushroom as a try and see how your baby likes it.
Log porcini mushroom today →Free, no account needed. Takes about 10 seconds.
Nutrition
Porcini provide B vitamins, the mineral selenium, and a little fiber, with an especially rich, nutty, umami flavor. That deep savoriness makes them a great way to add taste to baby meals without extra salt.
Goes well with
Soft rice · Creamy pasta · Polenta · Mashed potato · Chicken · Peas
Storage & freezing
Store fresh porcini loosely in a paper bag in the fridge and use within a few days. Dried porcini keep for months in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, which is why the dried form is so convenient. Cooked porcini keep in the fridge for two to three days.
More vegetables to explore
Related reading
- Best first vegetables for babies →
- How to cut food to prevent choking →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
Can babies eat raw porcini mushrooms?
No. Porcini should always be cooked thoroughly and never served raw. Raw mushrooms are firm and a choking risk, and cooking makes them easier to digest.
Is porcini a common allergen?
No, mushrooms are not one of the top-9 allergens. As with any new food, introduce porcini on its own and watch for any reaction the first few times.
Do I need to rehydrate dried porcini before giving them to my baby?
Yes. Soak dried porcini in warm water until fully soft, then cook and chop small. Never serve them dry or crunchy, since that texture is a choking risk.
Are cep and penny bun the same as porcini?
Yes. Cep, penny bun, and porcini are all names for the same prized nutty mushroom, sold both fresh and dried.
Can I use the porcini soaking liquid?
Yes. Strain it through a fine sieve to remove grit and stir it into rice, sauces, or soups for extra savory flavor, keeping added salt low for baby.
Sources
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
Track it in YummyYucky
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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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