Radicchio
Ruby-red, bold and bitter. Wilted soft for babies, finely shredded for toddlers.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat radicchio from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve radicchio by age
6 months+
Cooked soft, then blended or very finely chopped
Cut out the firm white core, slice the leaves, then wilt them in a pan with a splash of water, or simmer them in a soup, until very soft. Blend or chop very finely and stir a little into mashed potato, sweet potato or a vegetable purée. Cooking softens the bitter taste and turns the leaves a darker, brownish red.
- Size
- Cooked until soft, then blended or very finely chopped and mixed into a mashed food, with no whole leaves left.
- Check before serving
- Squash a bit of cooked radicchio between your thumb and finger. It should be soft and limp, with no crunchy white rib left.
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, cooked, in dishes
Keep cooking radicchio until soft, then chop it finely and mix it into risotto, rice, mashed beans or an omelet (once egg has been introduced on its own). Before 12 months, the AAP advises cooking vegetables until soft, so keep raw leaves for later.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), cooked soft.
- Check before serving
- Each piece should be soft and limp, with no crunchy white rib.
12 months+
Finely shredded raw, or cooked
Keep serving radicchio cooked, or shred raw leaves very finely and mix a little into a soft dish, pasta or a mild salad. Cut out the white core and thick ribs. US and UK advice differs on raw vegetables for toddlers (see the US vs. UK note below).
- Size
- Finely shredded, or small pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). Never whole leaves.
- Check before serving
- Check the plate before serving: finely shredded leaf, no whole leaves and no thick white ribs.
18 months+
Shredded or small pieces in salads and dishes
Offer radicchio the way your family eats it, as long as it's shredded or cut small: in risotto, pasta or a mixed salad. If you grill or roast it, trim off crisp or charred edges. For raw radicchio, see the US vs. UK note below. Skip salty dressings and cheese-heavy toppings.
- Size
- Shredded, or bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Check the plate before serving: no whole leaves, thick ribs or crisp edges. Make sure your child sits down to eat.
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 radicchio
- 1
Throw away any damaged, wilted or slimy outer leaves.
- 2
Rinse the leaves under running water, rubbing them gently with your fingers. Don't use soap or produce wash. Pat dry with a clean towel. Bagged salad labeled pre-washed or ready-to-eat can be used without washing again.
- 3
Cut out the firm white core, then shred or chop the leaves.
- 4
For babies under 1, wilt or simmer the radicchio until soft, then blend or chop it finely. Don't add salt, and let it cool before serving.
How much to offer
Start with a small spoonful of cooked, finely chopped radicchio mixed into a food your baby already eats. Its taste is strong, so a little goes a long way. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Funny faces at the bitter taste are normal at first.
Common mistakes
Handing a baby raw leaves
The AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year and says most vegetables should be cooked until soft. Raw radicchio is crisp and hard for babies to chew. Wilt it, then blend or chop it finely.
Skipping the rinse
The CDC lists unwashed lettuce and other leafy greens as a riskier choice for children under 5. Rinse radicchio under running water, unless the bag says pre-washed. Washed and then cooked is safest.
Leaving the core and white ribs in
The white core and thick ribs stay firm and crunchy. Cut them out and use the softer red part of the leaf.
Serving a big pile of it
Radicchio is very bitter. Start with a little mixed into a mild food your baby already likes. Bitter vegetables often take 10 or more tries.
Where US and UK guidance differ on radicchio
United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting
Keep radicchio cooked soft before 12 months: the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year. For toddlers, the AAP advises holding back or changing raw vegetables until about 4 years, depending on the child, and the CDC says washed and then cooked vegetables are safest for children under 5. If you follow US advice, keep serving radicchio cooked, or shred it very finely with the core and ribs cut out.
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. It doesn't name salad leaves, so if you offer raw radicchio, wash it well, cut out the core and ribs, shred it very finely, and stay with your child.
We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.
Questions parents ask
Can radicchio be a choking hazard for babies?
Raw radicchio is crisp and hard for young babies to chew, and the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year. For babies, cook radicchio until soft, then blend or chop it finely. For toddlers, shred raw radicchio finely, cut out the core and thick ribs, and never serve whole leaves. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to radicchio?
Radicchio is not a common allergen. As with any new food, offer a small amount and watch for signs of a reaction.
Is radicchio healthy for babies?
Mostly water (about 93%). 100 g of raw radicchio has about 255 µg of vitamin K and 60 µg of folate. It wilts down when cooked, so a baby's portion is small. Radicchio is not a major source of iron (about 0.6 mg per 100 g raw).
Can babies eat raw radicchio?
Not before 12 months. The AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year and says most vegetables should be cooked until soft. From 12 months, if you offer raw radicchio, shred it very finely and cut out the white core and ribs. US and UK advice differs on raw vegetables for toddlers: see the US vs. UK note below.
Is radicchio too bitter for babies?
It's fine to offer, in small amounts. The NHS suggests vegetables that aren't sweet from the start, and says it can take 10 or more tries for a baby to get used to a new taste. Cooking softens the bitterness, and mixing a little into a food your baby already likes helps.
Is radicchio the same as red cabbage?
No. Radicchio looks a bit like a small red cabbage, but it's a type of chicory (FoodData Central lists it under the chicory plant, Cichorium intybus), with a much more bitter taste. Both are cooked until soft and chopped finely for babies.
Do I need to wash radicchio?
Yes. The FDA says to wash all produce thoroughly under running water before preparing or eating it, then dry it with a clean towel. If a bag of salad is labeled pre-washed or ready-to-eat, you can use it without washing again.
If your baby refuses radicchio
- Bitter vegetables often take 10 or more tries. Keep offering a little, alongside foods your baby already likes.
- Try a small amount cooked into risotto, mashed potato or sweet potato, where the taste is milder.
- 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 radicchio
- Keep radicchio and bagged salad in the fridge, at 40°F (4°C) or below.
- Cooked radicchio and dishes made with it keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Rice dishes, including risotto, are the exception: cool them within 1 hour, keep them in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat them only once.
- Reheat cooked dishes 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
- CDC: Safer food choices for children under 5
- FDA: Selecting and serving produce safely
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Help your baby enjoy new foods
- USDA FoodData Central: Radicchio, raw
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
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