Hare
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- high
Iron-rich · very lean · cook thoroughly
When can babies eat hare?
When to start
Hare can be offered once your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months.
Hares live in several parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. There are more than thirty species. None of them has been domesticated, unlike the rabbit. The meat is usually counted as red meat. It has a strong, gamey taste, different from rabbit meat. Slow cooking in liquid improves the texture. In dishes like lepre in agrodolce, Hasenpfeffer and jugged hare, the meat is cooked in vinegar or wine. For your baby, cook a separate portion if the dish uses wine or a lot of vinegar.
Why it matters
Information on hare is limited. Nutritionally it is close to rabbit. Hare supplies protein and iron, and it also has omega-3, zinc, choline, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. They help prevent anemia and support the development of the nervous system.
This meat has little fat of its own, yet growing babies need a good amount of fat. Cook it in olive or avocado oil and serve it with a rich sauce.
How do you prepare hare for babies?
Cook the meat thoroughly, to an internal temperature of at least 160 F (71 C). Slow cooking and braising in liquid keep it from drying out. Remove skin and bones.
If the meat is dry, shred it and moisten it with cooking liquid or sauce. Cured, smoked, or glazed hare products and jerky wait until after the first birthday, because they are high in salt and nitrates.
Wild game
If you got the meat from a hunter, make sure it was hunted, processed, and cooked with care. If you have any doubt about the quality, do not serve it to your baby.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · Thick strip of meatstrip
Cut: Finger strip
Offer slow-cooked meat as a thick strip, about as wide as two adult fingers side by side. At this age a larger piece suits better, as it is simple to hold and to move in and out of the mouth. Remove skin and bones. A bit could break off inside the mouth. Do not step in right away. Give your baby time to work it forward.
6 months · Shredded or finely choppedmash
Shred the meat or chop it very fine. Stir it into vegetable purée, porridge, or yogurt. Your baby can eat it by hand or with a pre-loaded spoon.
9 months
9 months · Bite-sized tender slicescube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Serve tender meat from a stew, braise or confit in slices small enough to bite. If the meat is dry, shred or chop it fine. Moisture helps swallowing, so add a little cooking liquid, a spoon of sauce, or a mash.
12 months
12 months · Bite-sized piecescube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Serve bite-sized pieces from thinly sliced meat. Skip large chunks and cubes, which raise the choking risk. Make the portion similar to yours in shape and size. Take out all cartilage and bones until your child is old enough to find them and avoid them.
12 months · Thick strips and sausagestrip
Cut: Finger strip
Thick strips from a confit or braise are an option. Give hare sausage in moderation, cut lengthwise into quarters so it is no longer round.
Is hare a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Hare is very lean and turns tough when cooked the wrong way. Cook it slowly in liquid. Remove skin, bones, and cartilage, and skip large chunks and cubes.
Meat is a common choking risk. Hare is very lean, so it may turn tough and chewy, depending on the cooking method. To lower the risk, cook the meat slowly in liquid, then cut it to suit your baby's age.
Stay within reach while your baby eats. Set up a safe eating space.
No cubes or large chunks
Skip large chunks and cubes after 12 months too. Remove bones and cartilage.
Is hare a common allergen?
Hare is not a common allergen.
Some tick bites are linked to alpha-gal allergy. Alpha-gal is a sugar found in the meat of mammals other than primates. In this allergy, the reaction begins 3 to 8 hours after eating red meat. People with alpha-gal allergy may also react to tiny traces of that sugar in dairy, gelatin, and mammal organs such as liver. Mammal fat holds most of the allergen, so evidence suggests some patients tolerate hare and other very lean meats.
Offer a small amount for the first few meals. If there is no reaction, raise the amount slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about hare
Can babies safely eat hare meat?
Yes, if the inside reaches at least 160 F (71 C) when cooked, and the pieces suit your baby's age. It does not cause 'rabbit starvation' when eaten within a balanced diet. That condition comes from eating only lean game meat and is extremely rare.
Can babies eat wild hare?
Yes, if it is cooked thoroughly. The hunting, processing, inspection, and cooking all need to be done with care. If you have the slightest doubt about quality, do not serve it.
Does hare help with baby's poop?
No. It is rich in protein but has no fiber, which can slow digestion. Stool patterns differ a lot from baby to baby. Talk to your pediatrician if you are worried.
Sources for this page
- Cordain L, Miller JB, Eaton SB, Mann N, Holt SH, Speth JD. (2000). Plant-animal subsistence ratios and macronutrient energy estimations in worldwide hunter-gatherer diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1093/ajcn/71.3.682
- Commins SP. (2020). Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2020.1782745
- Rodríguez-Calleja JM, García-López I, García-López ML, Santos JA, Otero A. (2006). Rabbit Meat as a Source of Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens. Journal of Food Protection. doi:10.4315/0362-028x-69.5.1106
- Tushingham S, Barton L, Bettinger RL. (2021). How ancestral subsistence strategies solve salmon starvation and the “protein problem” of Pacific Rim resources. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. doi:10.1002/ajpa.24281
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com