Have a bunch of bananas that are getting a little too brown? No worries! Here's how to freeze bananas so you can make delicious smoothies anytime!
Use these bananas to make a banana smoothie without yogurt!
If you are like me, you go to the grocery store and get a bunch of bananas thinking the kids will eat the bananas, but guess what. They aren't in the mood for bananas this week! Don't throw out those spotty bananas! They are great to use in smoothies, in milkshakes, like my chocolate banana milkshake. You can also add to a blender to make a delicious, creamy ice cream (or nice cream as some people call it), and lots of other recipes!
In this post, I'll show you how to freeze banana slices or whole bananas. After you know how to freeze bananas, you won't be wasting food anymore!
How Long Do Fresh Bananas Last?
Once you bring a bunch of bananas home from the supermarket, it might seem like they go bad quickly. Buy bananas when they are still a little bit green. In a day or two, they will turn yellow and be perfect to eat. After about 3-4 days they will start getting spotty and by day 5 on the counter they are likely too brown to eat, but they are perfect to freeze and add to recipes.
To keep bananas fresh at room temperature longer, here are a few key tips!
- Separate the bananas from the bunch. When the bunch of bananas is together, they tend to all to ripe at the same time. By separating them, you are slowing down the ripening process and they will last longer at room temperature.
- Use a banana hanger. Have you ever seen those little contraptions that hang bananas? There's a reason those are a thing! They promote air circulation and reduce the risk of the bananas getting bruised and brown faster.
- Keep bananas away from apples. Apples give off a gas called ethylene gas which promotes ripening. This is great when you have a banana that is really green that you want to ripen, but if apples are close to a bunch of yellow bananas, the apple will cause it to ripen too quickly.
Can You Freeze Bananas?
Definitely! Bananas are a really great fruit to freeze! They are easy to freeze and they freeze fast. Then you can keep them in a freezer safe container for up to 6 months to use in your favorite recipes.
How To Freeze Banana Slices
Peel the bananas and discard the peel. Place the peeled bananas on a cutting board. Cut the bananas into one inch slices. Place the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze the baking sheet for at least 2 hours.
Once the banana slices have frozen solid, carefully remove the baking sheet from the freezer. Be careful when holding the baking sheet as it will be very, very cold and might burn your hard. I removed the baking sheet from the freezer with an oven mitt. Take the banana slices and place them in a Ziploc bag. Keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
The reason we are laying the bananas in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet is because we are flash freezing the bananas. This ensures that the bananas don't freeze in one large chunk. You can grab 3 slices or two cups of bananas easily when the slices are frozen separately.
How To Freeze Whole Bananas
To freeze whole bananas, peel the banana and place it on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze the baking sheet for at least 2 hours or until the banana is frozen solid. Once it is frozen, place it in a gallon sized Ziploc bag.
Lynn's Tip!
Make sure to clearly label the Ziploc bag or airtight container with the frozen bananas. A sharpie is a great option so you know how long the bananas have been in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Unpeeled Bananas?
Yes! You can, but the peel is difficult to get off when it is frozen and it turns black. The inside of the banana is perfect in the peel frozen, but I have always found it easier to peel and slice the bananas before freezing them.
How To Use Frozen Bananas
Frozen bananas are perfect in smoothies! It makes the smoothie cold and icy without watering the smoothies down. Here are some of my favorite smoothies that can use frozen bananas.
- Banana Berry Smoothie
- Banana Orange Smoothie
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie Without Milk
- Blueberry Smoothie without Yogurt
- Raspberry Smoothie
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure you keep them in an airtight container. They turn brown when they are exposed to air in the freezer.
You can do either, but freezing without the peel makes it easier to grab some banana slices and add them to a smoothie or to snack on.
A Ziploc bag is best because it does not take up much room in the freezer, but you can use a mason jar or any type of airtight container. It's really important that it's an airtight container. If air gets to the bananas they will go brown quickly.
How To Freeze Bananas
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Knives
Ingredients
- 4 overripe Bananas
Instructions
- Remove the peel from the bananas. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the bananas on a cutting board and cut the bananas into one inch slices.
- Put the banana slices on the prepared parchment paper lined baking sheet. Flash freeze the bananas by putting the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 2 hours or until they are frozen solid.
- When they are frozen solid, remove the banana pieces from the freezer and put them in a gallon sized Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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