First foods database
🍈 Jackfruit for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat jackfruit? Yes, from about 6 months. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and tropical, while young green jackfruit is cooked as a savoury, shreddy meat alternative in curries and stews.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Potassium, Fibre, Vitamin B6
How to serve jackfruit by age
6 to 9 months
Mash soft ripe jackfruit pods with the seed removed, or blend cooked young jackfruit into sauces. Offer soft cooked shreds as finger food. Ripe jackfruit has a strong sweet smell and flavour, a bit like banana and pineapple.
9 to 12 months
Serve finely chopped ripe jackfruit or soft cooked jackfruit in mild curries and stews. Mild jackfruit curry with rice is a good family meal.
12 months and up
Offer jackfruit in family meals, such as mild pulled jackfruit wraps.
Choking safety
Ripe pods can be chewy and stringy, and the large seeds are a choking risk. Remove seeds, chop the pods small or mash, and cook young jackfruit until very tender. The latex sap around the fruit is sticky, so oil your knife when cutting.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Tinned jackfruit in brine can be salty; rinse it well. Choose fruit in juice rather than syrup.
- Jackfruit is low in protein, so pair it with beans or lentils when using it as a meat swap.
Easy ideas
- Mild jackfruit and chickpea curry
- Ripe jackfruit mashed with banana
- Pulled jackfruit in a tortilla wrap
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat jackfruit?
Can babies eat jackfruit? Yes, from about 6 months. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and tropical, while young green jackfruit is cooked as a savoury, shreddy meat alternative in curries and stews.
Can babies eat jackfruit seeds?
Only cooked, peeled and mashed, and not whole. Many parents simply skip them.
Is jackfruit a good meat substitute for babies?
It has the texture of meat but little protein or iron, so serve it with pulses, tofu or eggs. Many shops sell young jackfruit in tins, ready to cook into curries and wraps.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).