If you are a banana lover, then you have come to the right place!
I love bananas because they are just so versatile. You can use them in refreshing smoothies and milkshakes.
You can bake delectable cakes and loaves of bread with them.
You can even use them to make healthy pancakes, ice creams, and sorbets, and throw them on top of cereals.
They are also the perfect grab-and-go snack!
With that said, there’s one thing that I simply don’t like about bananas and that is that they are pretty perishable.
Even if I try to eat a few of them as is and use a bunch of them in baked items or smoothies, the rest always become too overripe and mushy to eat.
Moreover, you don’t always have the time to churn out baked goods or make smoothies.
So, what should you do with ripe bananas that are on the verge of becoming too mushy?
The best hack is to throw them in the freezer.
This way, you can use them whenever you want in your dishes and beverages.
Read on to find out how to freeze bananas in three different ways.
Can You Freeze Bananas?
Yes, you can definitely freeze bananas!
They are incredibly easy to freeze and you can freeze them in three different ways – whole, sliced, and mashed.
So, let’s see how to freeze bananas!
You can also learn how to store bananas here!
How To Freeze Bananas
Here are three ways in which you can freeze bananas:
How to Freeze Whole Bananas
If you plan on using bananas in baked goods, then you can freeze them whole.
Note that there is a crucial step here and that is to peel the bananas first.
Here’s how you can freeze whole bananas:
- Choose ripe bananas with brown spots on them.
- Peel all the bananas and put them on a baking tray lined with wax paper to flash freeze.
- Take the tray out of the freezer and transfer the whole bananas into a freezer bag.
- Seal the freezer bag, label it with the date, and put it in your freezer.
How To Freeze Banana Slices Or Chunks
If you plan on using frozen bananas in smoothies and milkshakes, then you can cut them into slices or chunks.
Here’s how you can freeze banana slices:
- Choose bananas that are ripened.
- Peel the bananas and cut them into small half-inch slices or break them with your hands into bigger chunks.
- Put the slices in a cup and measure them.
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper and put the chunks or slices of bananas in a single layer on it.
- Put the baking sheet in your freezer and flash freeze the banana slices or chunks for at least two hours.
- Take the sheet out of your freezer and put the frozen chunks or slices in a heavy-duty freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
- Label the bag with the cup measurement of the bananas inside the bag and the date.
How To Freeze Mashed Bananas
If you plan on using bananas in banana bread, then you can mash them and then put them in the freezer.
Here’s how you can freeze mashed bananas:
- Choose ripe bananas with brown spots.
- Peel the bananas and put them in a large bowl.
- Use a fork to mash them.
- Measure out the banana into half cups at a time.
- Put the mashed bananas in a heavy-duty freezer bag and squeeze out all the air from the bag.
- Write the cup measurement of bananas on the bag and the date.
- Put the bag in your freezer.
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How Do You Freeze Bananas Without Them, Turning Brown?
Frozen bananas turn an unsightly brown color when they have been exposed to too much air in the freezer.
This happens when you store bananas in a container or plastic bag that is not properly sealed.
So, to prevent bananas from turning brown in your freezer, you need to peel the bananas.
Dip them in some lemon juice.
If you are keeping banana chunks in the freezer, then break them with your hands rather than cutting them with a knife.
Use heavy-duty freezer bags with tight seals to store your bananas.
This will prevent air from entering the bags and browning of your frozen bananas.
How Long Do Frozen Bananas Last In The Freezer?
It’s best if you use them within six to eight months.
This is because the longer they are in the freezer, the likelier it is that they will develop freezer burn.
Do I Have to Peel Bananas Before Freezing Them?
Although you can freeze bananas without peeling them, it can be pretty time consuming and a bit annoying to remove the peels.
Furthermore, when bananas are frozen inside their peels, the peels tend to turn dark and mushy.
This is why you will save a lot of time if you simply peel the bananas before freezing them.
Why Should I Flash-Freeze Bananas?
If you just throw your unfrozen whole bananas or banana slices in a freezer bag and put it in your freezer, the bananas will freeze together and form one large clump.
It will be difficult to break apart if you need to use only a limited amount of bananas for your dish.
This is why you must flash freeze the bananas to ensure that the slices remain separate from each other.
This way, you can take out as many as you need for your recipe without any hassle.
When Is The Right Time To Freeze Bananas?
Once you freeze bananas, they won’t continue to ripen.
So, it’s best to let the bananas ripen before you prep them for freezing.
The riper the banana is, the sweeter it will be since the starches turn into sugar.
This is why if you plan on using frozen bananas in baked goods, try to freeze fully ripened bananas.
They will naturally add sugar to your baked goods and allow you to cut back the amount of sugar you will have to add to your dish.
How To Defrost Frozen Bananas
For whole frozen bananas and banana slices frozen in a freezer bag, simply take out as much as you need from the bag and set them on a plate and set it on your kitchen counter to thaw at room temperature.
The time it takes for the bananas to thaw depends entirely on the size of the banana chunks.
For mashed bananas that are stored in a bag, you can speed up the thawing process by running some water over the sealed bag.
What Can I Use Frozen Bananas For?
Frozen bananas can be used in a wide array of smoothies such as the classic strawberry and banana, the tropical pineapple, mango, and banana, or the ever-popular peanut butter and banana smoothie.
You can also use frozen bananas for sorbets, ice creams, banana bread, pancakes, cakes, etc.
The options are endless and beyond delicious!
The Bottom Line
I hope you enjoyed reading this guide on how to freezer bananas.
Do try the methods that I have outlined above and for the best results, use frozen bananas within 6 months of freezing them.
If your recipe calls for mashed bananas, then make sure to thaw the banana slices on the counter before adding them to your dish.
How to Freeze Bananas in Three Different Ways
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Ingredients
- Ripe bananas
- Baking tray
- Wax paper
- Freezer bag
- Marker
Instructions
- Choose ripe bananas with brown spots on them.
- Peel all the bananas and put them on a baking tray lined with wax paper to flash freeze.
- Take the tray out of the freezer and transfer the whole bananas into a freezer bag.
- Seal the freezer bag, label it with the date, and put it in your freezer.
