How to Make Homemade Baby Food With Pears

The sweet taste of pears are often well liked by babies and they are nutritious. Pears are high in fiber, a good source of copper and rich in vitamins C and K, according to the George Mateljan Foundation. Prepare your own homemade baby food out of fresh homegrown or store bought pears. Not only will you save money over pre-prepared commercial baby food brands, you can assure your baby's food contains the highest quality and freshest ingredients.

Homemade pear baby food in a bowl. Photo Credit Stitchik/iStock/Getty Images.

Step 1

Scrub cooking utensils and preparation surfaces with soap and hot water to reduce the possibility of contaminating the baby food with germs and bacteria.

Step 2

Wash your hands with soap and warm water to avoid transferring germs and bacteria from your hands to the food.

Step 3

Peel the skin off the pears using a potato peeler and remove the stems. Discard the skins and stems.

Step 4

Cut the pears in half using a paring knife and remove the center cores and seeds. Discard the cores and seeds.

Step 5

Cook the pear halves in a covered small pot filled with 4 teaspoons of water per pear, for three to five minutes or until the pears are easily pierced with a fork. The University of Maine recommends lightly cooking fresh pears before using them in a baby food recipe. Cooked pears are softer so they blend to a finer texture and are easier to digest.

Step 6

Puree the pears and cooking water in a blender until smooth. Add more water, if necessary, to obtain the desired baby food texture. If you do not have a blender, you can push the pears through a fine sieve and stir in in the cooking water.

Step 7

Cool your homemade pear baby food to room temperature before feeding to your baby. Store excess pear baby food in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, freeze the pear baby food in ice cube containers. Once frozen, toss the frozen pear cubes in a sealed freezer container. Defrost pear cubes in the refrigerator overnight, before feeding them to your baby.

Warnings

• Most babies can start eating pureed baby foods at four to six months of age, says Healthy Children, a service provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each infant is different, however, so talk to your baby's doctor before starting solid foods. Introduce new foods gradually, one at a time, so that you can identify possible food allergies. Discontinue feeding foods that cause upset stomach, rash, digestive upset, or any other unsual symptoms and see your doctor.

Things You'll Need

• Pears
• Potato peeler
• Paring knife
• Small pot with lid
• Blender or fine sieve

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