Can Babies Eat Straw Mushrooms? From 9 Months
Straw mushrooms are the small, egg-shaped mushrooms common in Southeast Asian cooking and often sold canned. They suit babies from around 9 months, cooked thoroughly and chopped small. Rinse canned ones to cut the salt and cook them through. Not a common allergen.
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- When to introduce
- Around 9 months
- Common allergen?
- Not a common allergen
- Texture
- Cooked through and chopped small; springy
- Key nutrients
- B vitamins, fiber, potassium, some protein
Straw mushrooms, also called paddy straw mushrooms, are the small, plump, egg-shaped mushrooms you meet in Thai and Chinese soups and stir-fries. Fresh ones are hard to find outside Asia, so most people buy them canned, already peeled and cooked. They have a mild flavor and a slightly springy bite. They work for babies from around 9 months, the usual mushroom age, cooked thoroughly and chopped small. With the canned kind, a quick rinse helps wash off some of the packing salt before you cook and chop them for your baby.
Prep School: how to prepare straw mushroom for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
Is straw mushroom safe? Choking & prep
Straw mushrooms follow the standard mushroom guidance: best from around 9 months, cooked thoroughly and chopped small, never raw, because their flesh is chewy and springy and a choking risk1. Two extra notes. First, canned straw mushrooms are packed in salted brine, so drain and rinse them before cooking to reduce the salt, which babies should have very little of. Second, straw mushrooms are one of the more commonly misidentified wild mushrooms in some regions, with dangerous lookalikes, so use only shop-bought straw mushrooms and never anything foraged. Keep portions small, skip added salt, and supervise your baby while they eat.
Trying straw mushroom today? Log the first taste and whether it was a hit, a hard maybe, or launched across the room, dated and ready for the pediatrician.
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Nutrition
Straw mushrooms offer B vitamins, fiber, potassium, and a small amount of protein in a light, low-calorie food. Canned versions lose a little of their nutrition and texture compared with fresh, but they are convenient and still add flavor. As with other mushrooms, the main value for a baby is the savoury, umami taste that can lift plain grains and vegetables and gently broaden their palate, rather than any single standout nutrient.
Goes well with
Soft-cooked rice or congee · Soft noodles · Mashed tofu · Steamed and mashed vegetables · A little unsalted broth
Storage & freezing
Keep unopened canned straw mushrooms in the cupboard until the date on the tin. Once opened, transfer them to a covered container, refrigerate, and use within a couple of days. Fresh straw mushrooms are very perishable and should be cooked within a day. Cooked, chopped straw mushrooms keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days and should be reheated only once.
More vegetables to explore
Related reading
- Mushrooms for babies →
- 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 straw mushrooms?
Yes, from around 9 months, cooked thoroughly and chopped small. If using canned straw mushrooms, drain and rinse them first to cut the salt, then cook and mince them fine.
Are canned straw mushrooms okay for babies?
Yes, they just need a good rinse to wash off the salty brine, then thorough cooking and fine chopping. Canned ones are already peeled and partly cooked, which makes prep easy.
Why should I only use shop-bought straw mushrooms?
Wild straw mushrooms have dangerous poisonous lookalikes and are among the more commonly misidentified mushrooms. Buying cultivated or canned ones from a shop removes that risk entirely.
Do straw mushrooms need to be cooked for a baby?
Yes. Always cook mushrooms for babies. Cooking softens the springy texture and makes them easier to digest, then chop them small before serving.
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 July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.
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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