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Pear puree is a favorite food among early eaters. Its sweet taste and creamy texture make it a yummy treat that will keep little ones wanting more!

When it comes to homemade baby food, I always say the easier the better.

Choosing to make your own foods instead of sorting through (sometimes highly processed) jars at the store is a healthy option that will make you feel good about how you’re nourishing your baby.

The life of a parent or caregiver can be extremely busy, but we know that making your own baby food is well worth the extra effort. That’s why we’ve prepared this easy pear puree recipe, with hardly any prep time, to help you get to mealtime faster with a nutrient rich solid food that your baby actually wants to eat.

This simple recipe post will show you exactly how to pick out, cook, store and freeze those delicious pears, so you have everything you need to serve them up anytime. You might just find yourself sneaking a spoon or two as well!

What you will need

To make pear puree you’ll only need a few tools and a couple of simple ingredients. This recipe calls for:

• Saucepan: Any saucepan is just fine for this recipe as long as it’s large enough to hold the amount of pears you’ll be boiling with enough water to cover the pears.
• Kitchen knife: You’ll want a good knife to carefully de-stem and cut up the raw pears into small cubes.
• Blender or food processor: A good blender or food processor makes big difference in the ease of making your own homemade puree recipes.
• Baby food jars: Glass jars are our go-to for serving our baby food recipes. You can portion out your pear puree right after blending and store it in your fridge for short term meals.

For ingredients, you’ll need:

• Pears: Any type of pear is just fine for this baby food recipe. We used the very common Bartlett pears, which are a juicy variety with that classic pear flavor. Feel free to experiment with different kinds like the firmer, sweet and citrusy d’Anjou pears, or the bronze colored Bosc pears, known for their slightly nutty flavor.
• Milk: Milk helps to easily create a rich and creamy puree. It also helps us get extra nutrients in the pear puree. Feel free to use anything from breastmilk to whole milk, or your own preferred liquid. If you’re following a dairy free approach, feel free to use a splash of juice, or even water to make your pear purees.

Benefits of pear baby food

Fruits and vegetables are great options for the whole family, and pears are no exception. Pears especially pack valuable nutrition in these areas:

• Fiber: dietary fiber is helpful in maintaining a healthy digestive system and fighting against constipation
• Vitamin C: vitamin C helps build a strong immune system for your baby and protects against infection
• Copper:  copper is a mineral that plays a role in immunity, cholesterol metabolism, and nerve function

How to make homemade pear puree

1. Slice pears into 1-inch pieces

Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the pears in half, and then in half again. Make sure to remove the stems and any seeds. The skin is safe to eat and should blend up with no issues, so while you can break out your vegetable peeler for this recipe, you don’t have to peel them.

Chop the pears into pieces about 1 inch in size. This will make the cooking process easier, allowing the pears to boil evenly once you add them to heat.

2. Boil the pears until tender

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, boil the cubed pears for about 4-8 minutes or until very tender. Cook pears well to make for a really smooth consistency in your pear puree. Feel free to experiment with different ways to cook your pears besides boiling. Steaming pears is another popular method that helps lock in nutrients.

3. Blend pears with milk until smooth

Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked pears from the stovetop directly into the blender or food processor. Add milk and blend until smooth. If the puree seems too gritty after 2-3 minutes of blending, you can add additional milk to smooth it out. Try adding in one tablespoon of milk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

4. Transfer for serving and storage

Once you reach the desired consistency, you can transfer the puree pear to bowls for serving and storage. Make sure the pear puree has cooled to a safe to touch temperature before feeding it to your baby.

How to store pear puree

Making baby food in bulk and storing it for later is one of my favorite time savers. Pear puree can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Can I freeze pear puree?

Yes. Pear puree can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Using a freezer-safe storage container or freezer bag makes it easy to save food that’s being stored long term. Filling ice cube trays with baby food and covering them in plastic wrap is as an easy and convenient freezing method. Once frozen, you’ll want to transfer the pear cubes to an airtight freezer bag, like a Ziploc bag, for longer term storage. Freezing your leftovers in an ice cube tray helps you to easily keep track of portion sizes so when meal time comes, you can just pop out as many of the cubes as you need at the moment.

You do not need to reheat your pear baby food purees for the next mealtime. Just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

When can my baby eat pears?

We recommend introducing pear puree to your baby at around 7 months. Check out our food introduction guide for more information about which foods are appropriate for which ages, from sweet potato puree to avocado, and more!

Be sure to talk to your pediatrician about what foods and introduction timelines will be best for your own family.

Choosing the best pears for pear puree

When making pear puree, you’ll want to look for pears that are ripe and ready to eat. To test the ripeness of a pear, you can apply slight pressure near the pear’s neck. If the pear slightly gives to the pressure, it’s juicy and ready for you to make this recipe. A pear that is soft anywhere else is likely overripe and won’t be as tasty. You should also look for pears that are free from dark spots and cuts in the skin.

Pears are in season in the United States from late summer until about mid-autumn (around August until about October). These are great months for finding the freshest, juiciest pears at your local farmer’s market.

Can I make pear puree with canned pears?

Yes. Canned pears can be a little more economical than fresh pears, and they can be more convenient to puree because you can skip the step of chopping the raw fruit. Additionally, canned pears may be easier to find during the months when pears are not in season.

Just keep in mind that pears are usually canned in corn syrup. This adds a lot of sugar, which you’ll want to avoid for baby food recipes. If you’re going to puree pears from a can, choose either pears in 100% juice or pears in water for a healthier option.

Another important consideration is that canned pears will have even more moisture than home cooked pears. Because of this, you may not need much additional liquid to create a smooth puree. Blend the canned pears together and check the consistency before adding to the puree. If the texture isn’t quite right, add liquid, one tablespoon at a time, until the smooth consistency is reached.

What difference does organic make?

Organic fruits and vegetables are generally considered safer for consumption because they are specifically grown without the use of harmful pesticides. This purer form can also carry more health benefits. For example, organic pears were found to have more Vitamin C than their non-organic counterparts. The price difference between organic and conventional pears is also relatively minimal, making them a solid choice for this recipe.

Do pureed pears turn brown?

Many fruit will turn brown after it’s cut open as a result of oxidation. All that really means is that the inside of the fruit has been exposed to air, and while it may look unappetizing, it’s still perfectly safe to eat. You can prevent the browning by adding just a splash of fresh lemon juice to your puree before blending.

More delicious recipes

No matter what stage of feeding you’re in, we have plenty of healthy baby food recipes that will nourish and satisfy! Check out:

• Sweet Potato Puree
• Turnips Baby Food
• Avocado Baby Food

Tips to make the best pear puree for baby

Your pears will already have a good amount of moisture by the time they come off of the stovetop. You shouldn’t need a lot of liquid to get them to blend smoothly so add it little by little, keeping an eye on the texture as you blend.

You don’t have to peel your pears, but you might consider straining the pear puree if you don’t have a powerful blender that will break down the skin. If you choose not to peel, and it’s not well blended, the pear skin can become a choking hazard. It’s best to make sure no extra skin is present before feeding the pear puree to your baby.

Because of their sweet flavor, pears tend to be one of many babies’ favorite purees. You can use pears as a base and mix in experimental new foods, like turnips, to help introduce them. 

While it’s completely optional, you can enhance the flavor of the pear puree with just a little bit of seasoning. An older baby might enjoy a dash of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom.