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 I give my 6 month old bone marrow? ›
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.
How long does whipped bone marrow last in fridge? ›
You can refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze for up to 6 months. Just like butter, it'll become hard when chilled. Let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours to soften before serving.
How long does bone marrow need to be cooked? ›
Cooking bone marrow
You can keep them natural with a sprinkling of salt and pepper, or add a herbed mix of parsley and garlic. Put the tray in a preheated oven at 350ºF/180ºC for about 15-20 minutes. The marrow will be done when it is a nice golden-brown color and springy to touch.
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.
How healthy is baby marrow? ›
Moreover, it offers a healthy dose of potassium and contains small amounts of vitamin C, B vitamins, folic acid, calcium and beta-carotene. While technically a mature fruit, baby marrows are predominantly treated as vegetables in the culinary world, typically prepared in savoury dishes or served as a side.
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.
Once the marrow is cold (the fat should firm up), use a mixer with a whisk attachment to whip until the bone marrow is white and fluffy. Whipped marrow lasts 3 weeks in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer.
How fast does bone marrow go bad? ›
It was found that bone marrow cells stored in Dry Ice were almost entirely destroyed after 3 years of storage, while bone marrow cells in liquid nitrogen were largely intact after 3-year storage.
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.
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.
Do you have to soak bone marrow before cooking? ›
Soaking the bones before roasting bone marrow isn't necessary, but it can help remove any remaining blood. Add the marrow to a bowl of salted ice water and place it in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four hours, replacing the liquid with fresh water every four to six hours.
Is bone marrow better cooked or raw? ›
Marrow Bones are best enjoyed spread on toast, eaten after roasting, in bone broth or a rich stew-like ossobuco. Raw Bone Marrow is gowing in popularity amongst the ancestral and carnivore diet communities. Frozen/ Raw Marrow Bones for dogs are a healthy, natural and stimulating treat.
Can bone marrow be eaten rare? ›
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.
How healthy is cooked bone marrow? ›
Bone marrow is full of collagen, which improves the health and strength of bones and skin. It is also rich in glucosamine, a compound that helps against osteoarthritis, relieves joint pain, and reduces inflammation in the joints.
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? ›
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.
At what age can someone donate bone marrow? ›
Joining the national bone marrow registry
They accept donors between the ages of 18 and 60. But because bone marrow transplant is most successful with younger donors, people ages 18 to 44 are preferred. Donors must be in excellent health.
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.