Asparagus
A ready-made finger food. Cook the spears soft and let them grab.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat asparagus from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve asparagus by age
6 months+
Whole soft-cooked spears
Choose thick spears, snap or cut off the tough woody ends, and peel the lower part of the stalk. Steam until very soft, then offer whole spears. Or mash soft-cooked asparagus and serve it on a pre-loaded spoon.
- Size
- Whole thick spears with the woody ends trimmed, about the length of an adult finger or longer (7–10 cm, 3–4 in), so your baby can grip one end.
- Check before serving
- Squash the thickest part of a spear between your thumb and finger. It should flatten easily. If you have to press hard, cook it longer.
US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.
9 months+
Small soft pieces
Chop soft-cooked spears into small pieces, or stir them into pasta, risotto or scrambled egg (once egg has been introduced on its own). Cutting across the spear shortens any stringy fibers.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Each piece, including the stalk end, should squash flat between your thumb and finger.
12 months+
Soft spears, pieces or in dishes
Serve soft-cooked asparagus with family meals, or in frittatas, pasta and soups. Soft-cooked is still safest for young toddlers.
- Size
- Small soft pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or soft whole spears.
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test: soft enough to flatten with gentle pressure.
18 months+
Cooked spears or in family meals
Keep serving asparagus cooked until tender: steamed, roasted or grilled until soft all the way through, not crisp. Hold back raw asparagus for now.
- Size
- Bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or chopped into dishes.
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test, especially with roasted or grilled asparagus.
Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.
How to prepare asparagus
- 1
Rinse the asparagus under running water, rubbing gently around the tips.
- 2
Snap or cut off the tough woody ends. For thick spears, peel the lower half of the stalk with a vegetable peeler.
- 3
Steam for about 5 to 8 minutes, until a knife slides through the thickest part with no resistance.
- 4
Do the squash test, then let it cool before serving. Don't add salt to the cooking water.
How much to offer
Start with one or two spears. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Lots of licking, squashing and dropping is normal at first.
Common mistakes
Cooking it crisp-tender
The texture adults like is too firm for babies. It should squash between your fingers, stalk included.
Leaving the woody ends on
The bottom of the stalk stays tough and stringy even after cooking. Snap it off, and peel the lower stalk of thick spears.
Choosing thin spears for young babies
Thin spears can be hard to grip and break into small pieces. Thick spears, cooked soft, are easier to hold.
Stopping after a few refusals
Vegetables that aren't sweet often take 10 or more tries. Offering them from the start may help prevent fussy eating later.
Where US and UK guidance differ on asparagus
United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting
Keep serving asparagus cooked soft. The CDC lists pieces of hard raw vegetables as a choking hazard, and the AAP advises holding back or changing raw vegetables until about 4 years, depending on the child.
United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting
The NHS lists soft cooked vegetables as finger foods for babies. From 12 months, its snack list includes cooked or raw vegetables, but raw asparagus is firm and stringy, so cooked soft is still the safer choice for toddlers.
We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.
Questions parents ask
Can asparagus be a choking hazard for babies?
Raw asparagus is firm, and the CDC lists pieces of hard raw vegetables as a choking hazard. Cook it until very soft, so the thickest part squashes easily between your fingers. Trim the woody ends and peel thick stalks so there are no tough, stringy pieces. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to asparagus?
Asparagus is not a common allergen.
Is asparagus healthy for babies?
Cooked asparagus is a source of folate and vitamin K: about 149 µg of folate and 51 µg of vitamin K per 100 g. NIH recommends 80 µg of folate a day for babies 7–12 months and 150 µg for children 1–3 years.
Can babies eat asparagus tips?
Yes. Once cooked, the tips are the softest part of the spear. Check the whole spear with the squash test, especially the stalk end.
Can babies eat raw asparagus?
Not yet. Raw asparagus is firm, and the AAP advises holding back or changing raw vegetables until about 4 years, depending on the child. Serve it cooked until soft.
Can I use frozen asparagus?
Yes. Frozen asparagus works well. Cook it until it's very soft and passes the squash test.
If your baby refuses asparagus
- Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering a little, alongside foods your baby already likes.
- Try it chopped into pasta, egg or rice instead of as a whole spear.
- Eat some yourself at the same meal. Babies copy what they see.
- Funny faces don't mean they dislike it. They're getting used to a new taste and texture.
Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.
Buying and storing asparagus
- Keep raw asparagus in the fridge, at or below 40°F (4°C).
- Cooked asparagus keeps for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Rice dishes are the exception: cool them within 1 hour, keep them in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat them only once.
- Cooked spears can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Reheat only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot, then let them cool before serving.
- Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).
When to talk to your doctor
Contact your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if:
- You notice mild signs of an allergic reaction after eating, such as a few hives or a little vomiting. See signs of a reaction.
- You're worried about how much your baby eats, their growth, or they refuse most solid food for weeks.
Call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) now if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, can't cough or cry, has lips, mouth, tongue or throat that suddenly swell, or becomes pale, bluish, floppy or unresponsive. Also call if hives come with repeated vomiting.
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Helpful guides
Sources
- CDC: Choking hazards
- AAP: Choking prevention for babies and children
- AAP: When can babies start solid foods?
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Help your baby enjoy new foods
- USDA FoodData Central: Asparagus, cooked, boiled, drained
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Folate
- FDA: 7 tips for cleaning fruits and vegetables
- Food Standards Agency: Home food fact checker
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
More first foods
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