Mustard greens
Frilly, peppery leaves that mellow as they cook. Simmer soft, chop fine.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat mustard greens from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve mustard greens by age
6 months+
Cooked and blended into soft foods
Strip the leaves off the stems and thick center ribs, simmer them until very soft, then blend or chop very finely. Stir into mashed potato, sweet potato, lentils or white beans and serve on a pre-loaded spoon. Cooking softens the peppery taste.
- Size
- Cooked, then blended or very finely chopped and mixed into a mash or purée, with no whole leaves or stems left.
- Check before serving
- Lift a spoonful and look for leaf pieces or bits of stem. If you see any, blend or chop it again.
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+
Finely chopped in dishes
Stir finely chopped cooked mustard greens into rice, lentils, mashed beans or scrambled egg (once egg has been introduced). Mixing them into other foods is easier for babies than loose leaves.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), mixed into soft foods.
- Check before serving
- Squash a piece between your thumb and finger. It should be soft, not chewy or stringy.
12 months+
Chopped cooked greens in family meals
Serve chopped cooked mustard greens in soups, stews, dhal, bean dishes or stir-fries cooked until soft. Take your child's portion out before adding salt, soy sauce, chili or salty meats.
- Size
- Chopped pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), mixed into dishes.
- Check before serving
- Check for chewy pieces or bits of stem before serving.
18 months+
Cooked, chopped or blended in dishes
Keep serving mustard greens cooked until tender and chopped into family dishes, or blended into sauces and soups. Raw mustard leaves, including the baby leaves in salad mixes, are hard to chew, so they're best cooked for young children.
- Size
- Chopped pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or blended into dishes.
- Check before serving
- Check for chewy pieces or bits of stem before serving.
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 mustard greens
- 1
Rinse each leaf under running water, gently rubbing both sides. Mustard greens can be gritty, so check the folds.
- 2
Strip the leaves off the stems and thick center ribs, and throw those away.
- 3
Simmer the leaves in unsalted water for about 10 to 15 minutes, until very soft. Don't add salt.
- 4
Let them cool, squeeze out the extra water, then blend or chop very finely and stir into a food your baby already eats.
- 5
First time? Pick a day your baby is well, at home, when you can watch them for a couple of hours afterward.
How much to offer
Start with a teaspoon or so of cooked mustard greens mixed into a familiar food. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Funny faces at the peppery taste are normal at first.
Common mistakes
Leaving the stems in
Mustard green stems and thick ribs stay tough and stringy even after cooking. Strip them off and use only the leaves.
Serving raw leaves
Raw mustard leaves are hard for babies to chew, and the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year. Cook them until very soft, then blend or chop them finely.
Using pickled or salted mustard greens
Pickled and salted mustard greens are preserved in salt, and the NHS says babies should not eat salty foods because salt isn't good for their kidneys. Use fresh or frozen mustard greens for your baby.
Stopping after a few refusals
Bitter or peppery vegetables often take 10 or more tries. Offering them from the start may help prevent fussy eating later.
Questions parents ask
Can mustard greens be a choking hazard for babies?
Raw mustard leaves are hard for babies to chew, and the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year. Remove the stems and ribs, cook mustard greens until very soft, then blend or chop them finely and mix them into soft foods. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to mustard greens?
Mustard greens are not one of the US top 9 allergens. They are the leaves of a mustard plant, and the NHS lists mustard among foods that can trigger an allergic reaction. In the UK, mustard is one of the 14 allergens food businesses must declare, and the Food Standards Agency says this covers the mustard plant and products from it, including the leaves, for every type of mustard. So mustard greens count as mustard. If your child has a mustard allergy, don't offer mustard greens until their allergist says it's OK. Otherwise, offer a small amount the first time and watch for signs of a reaction.
Are mustard greens healthy for babies?
Cooked mustard greens provide vitamin K (about 593 µg per 100 g), vitamin A (about 618 µg per 100 g), vitamin C (about 25 mg per 100 g) and calcium (about 118 mg per 100 g). They aren't a major source of iron: about 0.9 mg per 100 g.
Can babies eat mustard greens?
Yes, from around 6 months, cooked until very soft and blended or finely chopped into other foods. The AAP says foods for babies should be soft or puréed, and the NHS suggests offering vegetables that aren't sweet from the start.
Can babies eat raw mustard greens?
Cook them for babies and young children. Raw mustard leaves are hard to chew, and the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to hold back or change until about 4 years, depending on the child. Rinse them well, cook them until soft, then blend or chop them.
Are nitrates in mustard greens a worry for babies?
Not for babies starting solids. The CDC's ATSDR reports that the AAP suggests avoiding home-prepared spinach, beets, green beans, squash and carrots until a baby is at least 3 months old, and solid foods aren't recommended before around 6 months anyway.
Can I use frozen mustard greens?
Yes. Frozen chopped mustard greens are handy. Cook them until very soft, then drain them and chop them finely, picking out any bits of stem.
If your baby refuses mustard greens
- Bitter or peppery vegetables often take 10 or more tries. Keep offering a little, alongside foods your baby already likes.
- Blend them into foods your baby already likes, such as mashed potato, lentils or sweet potato.
- 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 mustard greens
- Keep fresh mustard greens in the fridge, at or below 40°F (4°C).
- Cooked mustard greens keep 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, chopped mustard greens can be frozen in an ice cube tray for 3 to 4 months (blended purées within 3 months). Thaw them in the fridge and use them within 24 hours. 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
- AAP: When can babies start solid foods?
- AAP: Choking prevention for babies and children
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- Food Standards Agency: Food allergen labelling and information requirements, technical guidance
- CDC (ATSDR): Who is at most risk from nitrates and nitrites
- USDA FoodData Central: Mustard greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
- FDA: 7 tips for cleaning fruits and vegetables
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
More first foods
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