I often think about how to freeze bananas at home, because this fruit tends to go bad quickly. There are many ways to do this, but you should know that each way can yield different results and could alter how your bananas taste and look.
If you like to bake, then you know how useful frozen bananas can be. They go well in various things, including banana bread, pancakes, muffins, cereal, and smoothies. But before you freeze your fruit, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing it safely.
How to Freeze Bananas in 5 Easy Steps!
Step #1: Slice them first
This is ideal when you are looking to use your bananas in a smoothie, a dessert, ice cream, or applesauce. To do this, you should peel the bananas and slice them into smaller pieces.
Step #2: Place your slices on a baking sheet and freeze them
Once your slices are ready, place them on a baking sheet or plate and freeze them for at least an hour, maybe two.
Step #3: Store your slices in a sealed bag
After your slices are frozen, you can place them in a resealable plastic bag or an airtight container. You want to make sure to label and date your bags so you know when to use them.
Step #4: If you want to skip the slicing, freeze them whole
When you want to use your bananas as a base, maybe for banana bread or muffins, you can freeze your bananas as large pieces or whole. There is no need to preserve the shape of the fruit if you are going to mash them anyway.
You should peel the bananas before you freeze them. You can cut them in half vertically, or freeze them as they are. All that is left to do is store them in a sealed plastic bag that you date and label clearly.
Step #5: When you want to make things even easier, mash your banana
We all run short on time sometimes, so why not make things easier for the next time you are cooking or baking? All you have to do is prepare your bananas before you freeze them.
Overripe bananas are very easy to mash before freezing. To do so, peel and mash the bananas, and then scoop this mash into a resealable plastic freezer bag. You should squeeze out the extra air, and freeze the mash flat.
It is a good idea to label your bag not just with the date you freeze it, but also the number of bananas, whether it is a cup or more of mashed up bananas. This will be helpful next time you are about to make or cook and need a scoop of banana mash.
But, when is the right time for freezing bananas?
This is a good question! Not everyone knows exactly when a banana should be frozen. Once you freeze this fruit, it will stop ripening, so it is a good idea to wait until your banana is looking overripe and then freeze it.
The riper the banana, the sweeter it will be, which is a great thing when you are trying to freeze them for baking or sweetening purposes. When you see that your banana is turning a bit brown and gets mushy, it is the right time to freeze it and save it for later use.
You can save yourself a lot of trouble and money if you freeze your bananas early! Plus, they keep in the freezer for up to six months, so you can use them as often or as little as you want.
What about thawing the frozen bananas?
If you froze your bananas in pieces, all you need to do is set them outside to thaw at room temperature. The same goes for whole bananas, but you may need to turn the bag around so that the banana thaws evenly.
When you store mashed bananas in the freezer, you can run cold water over the sealed bag to speed things up. This is a good method because it helps thaw everything evenly since it is a ball of mashed bananas that could take a while to thaw entirely.
Finally, if you are in a rush, you can thaw bananas in the microwave. This is not recommended, especially if you need the banana pieces to look presentable. Instead, use this method with your mashed bananas and right before cooking with them. The time it will take to thaw in the microwave varies depending on the number of bananas you are using.
It truly is bananas how easy it is to freeze this fruit! Don’t worry about letting your bananas go to waste. Now you know exactly how to preserve them adequately and so that the flavor and texture remain intact. Enjoy your frozen bananas in smoothies, desserts, bread, cake, and many other recipes!
