First foods database

🧀 Parmesan for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat Parmesan? Yes, in small amounts cooked into hot food from about 6 months. Traditional Parmigiano Reggiano is made from unpasteurised milk and is quite salty, so use a light sprinkle melted into dishes, or choose a pasteurised Italian-style hard cheese.

From 6 monthsAllergen: MilkLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Calcium, Protein, Phosphorus, Vitamin A

How to serve parmesan by age

6 to 9 months

Finely grate a small amount over pasta, risotto or vegetables while they are steaming hot, so it melts in. A little goes a long way for flavour.

9 to 12 months

Use grated Parmesan in white sauces, bakes and vegetable fritters, cooking it until steaming hot.

12 months and up

Sprinkle a little over family meals. Pasteurised Italian-style hard cheese can be served cold; keep traditional Parmesan cooked into hot food for young children and keep portions small because of salt.

Choking safety

Grated Parmesan is low choking risk. Hard chunks and rinds are tough to chew, so always grate it finely and never give rinds to babies.

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

Traditional Parmesan is unpasteurised. For babies and young children, cook it until steaming hot or choose a pasteurised hard cheese.
Parmesan is high in salt; use it as a sprinkle rather than a main ingredient.

Introducing it as an allergen

It contains milk, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce milk

Easy ideas

Risotto finished with grated Parmesan
Broccoli and Parmesan fritters
Cauliflower cheese with a Parmesan crust

Goes well with

🍚Risotto riceFrom 6 months 🍝PastaFrom 6 months · Gluten 🥦CauliflowerFrom 6 months 🥦BroccoliFrom 6 months

Recipes with parmesan

🍆Baby aubergine and lentil moussakaFrom 9 months · Dinner · 85 min 🧡Butternut, sage and pea baby risottoFrom 7 months · Dinner · 40 min 🍚Cod and pea baby risottoFrom 7 months · Lunch · 30 min 🍋Creamy cannellini, kale and lemon orzoFrom 7 months · Dinner · 25 min 🍅Polenta fingers with tomato dipFrom 9 months · Snack · 30 min 🐟Sea bass with polenta fingers and tomato sauceFrom 9 months · Dinner · 45 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat parmesan?

Is Parmesan pasteurised?

Traditional Parmigiano Reggiano is made from raw milk. Many supermarkets sell pasteurised Italian-style hard cheeses that look and taste similar; check the label.

How much Parmesan can babies have?

A light sprinkle, roughly a teaspoon, melted into a hot meal is plenty. It is very flavourful and salty, so it works best as a seasoning.

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).