Fun fact: Bone marrow has iron in it.Which means this whipped bone marrow recipe isone more way to bring meaty minerals into your baby’s diet.
Bone marrow is also fatty. And as an iron-rich fat, you can use it in sweet and savory dishes alike, making it a wonderful source of heme iron for babies who’d rather eat a sweet potato mash over liver pate or a lamb chop.
Why bone marrow rules my world
There are some foods for baby that I literally obsess over. These foods are largely underused and yet packed with many of the nutrients that babies need.
Liver is one. And bone marrow is another.
Bone marrow is found inside of bones. And it’s a production powerhouse, full of life-giving stem cells – pumping out red blood cells, white blood cells, bone cells, and fat cells.
Bone marrow also has vasculature moving blood to and fro. And where you find blood, you find iron.
Iron is a big deal for babies. It’s a meaty mineral that I love to love. You can find hints of my obsession all over the place – on Instagram, in blog posts, and in this online class for beginning solids.Chances are, your pediatrician is also interested in your baby’s iron levels.
But why?
- Iron is brain food. For example, research reveals that babies who are anemic before the age of two have lower scores in school achievement and cognition from 4 – 19 years of age.
- Iron supports myelination. It turns out you can find quite a bit of iron in the brain cells that produce myelin. Myelin-making brain cells = white matter in the brain…and white matter = intelligence.
- Iron deficiency cannot be undone. Even when corrected, low levels of iron during babyhood – or iron deficiency anemia – has been found to impact language development, motor development, and emotional development.
As with most things, there’s a balance to how much iron you give your baby.
Food naturally rich in heme iron (such as liver, cuts of beef and lamb, the dark meat of chicken, shellfish, and bone marrow)positively supports your baby’s iron levels. Even when eaten in small amounts, as babies do.
Bone marrow has roughly 2.7 mg of iron for every four tablespoons – which is equivalent to what you find in one tablespoon of liver. This is more iron than you’d find in pork, poultry, lamb, and some cuts of beef.
Beyond iron, Chinese medicine claims that bone marrow has some serious restorative mojo.
Bone marrow is known for its ability to deeply fortify the body. If your baby shows signs of “failure to thrive,” such as slow weight gain or not reaching developmental milestones,offer your baby bone marrowmore frequently and in the place of fats like butter and ghee.
How to pick + handle marrow bones
When roasted, bone marrow is a jiggly white and pinkish blob with brown ends (this is why we whip it).
While you can find plenty of marrow within the center of the bone, there are all sorts of nooks and crannies around the endsof the bone where marrow can get stuck.
You can get around those nooks and crannies (and the most bang for your buck) by asking for a long cut.
For example, show for canoe cut or the mid-portion of the bone that visibly has marrow packed in the center.
Also important: Avoidends or knuckles when buying marrow bones, which are mostly made of hard red marrow. Choose cuts from the center of the bone.
Should you soak your bones before roasting?
In Odd Bits, chef and author Jennifer McLagan suggests soaking bones in salted ice water to remove blood.
But blood contains iron. And since we’re celebrating this unctuous meat butter because it’s a fairly good source of iron, skip the soak.
Whipped bone marrow recipe
Cara Nicoletti – sausage maker extraordinaire – makes bone marrow look beautiful and presentable by WHIPPING it. With a whisk attachment. In a bowl. How easy is that? And the results are worth it.
If you follow the principles of baby-led weaning, use like you would butter or any other fat – for example, mashed into a starchy veggie, like sweet potato or squash.
If you are working with purees, add whipped marrow to your puree.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425 F. Place marrow bones, marrow side-up, on a baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes or until much of the fat has rendered out and marrow is pulling away from the sides.
- Remove from oven. Afterthe bones have cooled enough to touch, scoop the marrow out and into a bowl. Also, pour all fat from your baking sheet and into the bowl. Place it in the refrigerator.
- Once the marrow is cold (the fat should firm up), use a mixer with a whisk attachment to whipuntil the bone marrow is white and fluffy.
- Whipped marrow lasts 3 weeks in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer.
Have you made this bone marrow recipe before? What’s your favorite way to use it?
FAQs
Absolutely. Bone marrow is soft in texture and loaded with iron and healthy fats (including omega fats), both of which babies need loads of starting around 6 months old. Bone marrow is also packed with B-vitamins, antioxidant vitamins A and E, blood-healthy vitamin K, and immune-supportive minerals selenium and zinc.
Can 6 month old have bone broth? ›
Bone broth can be given to babies starting around 6 months old when you begin baby-led weaning. At this age, limit the amount to no more than 1-2 ounces/day as breastmilk/formula is still their main source of nutrition. Signs your baby is ready for solids include: Sitting up with minimal support.
How long does bone marrow need to be cooked? ›
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put bones, cut side up, on foil-lined baking sheet or in ovenproof skillet. Cook until marrow is soft and has begun to separate from the bone, about 15 minutes.
Can babies eat baby marrow? ›
Avocado: Slice it up or mash it with a small amount of lemon juice. Baby marrow: Steam lightly and blend to a pulp, or hand your baby a piece to suck on – but watch them closely in case they bite off small pieces which could be a choking hazard.
Is bone broth OK for babies? ›
Yes, although as a drink, it should only be offered in small amounts after 6 months of age. If you'd like to serve bone broth on its own, be sure to only offer it in an open cup during a meal (1-2 ounces per meal is a good rule of thumb and no more than 4 ounces per day) and never put bone broth in a baby's bottle.
Do you have to soak bone marrow before cooking? ›
Marrow bones must be soaked for 12 to 24 hours in salted water to remove the blood. Place the bones in a large dish of ice water to cover, add 2 tablespoons of coarse sea salt, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours, changing the water 4 to 6 times and adding 2 more tablespoons of salt to the water each time.
Does bone marrow need to be fully cooked? ›
The marrow will be done when it is a nice golden-brown colour and springy to touch. You're looking for the marrow to slightly pull away from the bone – if it's too hard, they haven't been cooked for long enough. While the marrow cooks, grab some fresh bread and drizzle it with a little olive oil.
Should I eat bone marrow raw or cooked? ›
As long as the meat reaches a safe temperature, it's perfectly safe to eat the marrow inside the bones. Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb, and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source.
When can babies have yogurt? ›
You can introduce yogurt and cheese once your baby is six months old, as long as they continue to eat a variety of iron-rich foods. Let your baby enjoy the taste of plain unsweetened yogurt, or add fresh, canned or frozen fruit.
Can I give my 6 month old soup? ›
Many people like to serve soup or broth when babies 6+ months are sick. Remember – babies still need breast milk or formula as their main nutrition source, so keep broth or liquids other than baby's milk to no more than 1-2 ounces a day around 6 months and 3-4 oz a day around 9 months.
Miso can be introduced during the 7-8 month period, but as it is high in salt, try introducing your baby to miso soup first since it's more bland. Also, avoid miso-marinated meat or fish, as it can be pretty salty.
When should you throw out bone marrow? ›
Six Things to Remember about Raw Marrow Bones
- Limit chewing time to 15 minutes.
- Refrigerate the bone between chewing.
- Throw out the bone after three days.
- Supervise your pet when it's consuming a raw bone.
- Use a spot for chewing that you can easily clean up.
How often should I eat bone marrow? You should eat bone marrow twice per week for best results. It has important nutrients that we lack in our Western Diet that are beneficial for skin health, brain health, blood sugar, immunity ands stem cell formation.
How long do you boil bone marrow for broth? ›
Once the pot starts to boil, cover it and reduce the heat to low. Let the broth cook for at least 8 hours. During cooking, check on the broth every couple of hours to see if you need to add more water to submerge the bones. This is especially important if you are cooking for those long periods of time.
Can you give bone marrow to babies? ›
Food naturally rich in heme iron (such as liver, cuts of beef and lamb, the dark meat of chicken, shellfish, and bone marrow) positively supports your baby's iron levels. Even when eaten in small amounts, as babies do.
Can bone marrow be taken from a baby? ›
Who can be a donor? Stem cells–the healthy immature blood cells used in blood and marrow transplants–are harvested from a variety of donors: self, sibling, parent, relatives or non-related individuals, or are collected from the umbilical cord blood from a related or non-related newborn infant.
At what age can a child donate bone marrow? ›
How old do you have to be to donate bone marrow? A person must be at least 18 to donate because donation is a medical procedure and the person must be able to give legal informed consent. Also, because it's a voluntary procedure a guardian or parent can't sign a release or give consent for someone under age 18.
Is there an age limit for bone marrow? ›
This helps more patients find the match they need. Age: Potential donors are listed on the registry until their 61st birthday. However, doctors request donors in the 18 to 35 age group nearly 75 percent of the time. Research shows that younger donors provide the greatest chance for transplant success.
Fun fact: Bone marrow has iron in it.Which means this whipped bone marrow recipe isone more way to bring meaty minerals into your baby’s diet.
Cara Nicoletti – sausage maker extraordinaire – makes bone marrow look beautiful and presentable by WHIPPING it. With a whisk attachment. In a bowl. How easy is that? And the results are worth it.