I am aware that freezing bananas does not require advanced scientific knowledge. You’ve probably put some brown bananas in the freezer with the intention of using them later to create banana bread or a smoothie.
There are a number of really easy ways to freeze bananas, but make sure to do so when the banana is fully ripe and flecked with brown spots because this signifies the fruit is at its sweetest. Control food waste or make your food last longer by learning how to freeze bananas.
Try out these easy ways to freeze bananas.
Best Bananas to Freeze
Bananas that are ripe or overripe are the best to freeze; as a result, they should seem quite yellow and have at least a few brown or black spots. They are also good to freeze, If they’ve ripened all the way to brown.
1. How to freeze bananas as a whole
The bananas need to be peeled, transfer into a freezer-safe bag or container, and put in the freezer.
Although frozen bananas in their skins are okay to eat, the quality of the fruit may suffer because the fruit won’t keep as fresh. Banana peels also become mushy and black after freezing, which makes it a little more difficult to remove them. Therefore, we advise peeling the fruit in advance to save yourself some hassle when you’re ready to utilize it.
2. How to Freeze bananas as slices
The bananas need to be peeled and slice them crosswise into 1/2 inch-thick slices before freezing. Then, arrange them onto a tray and freeze for about two hours, or until the slices are frozen solid. In order to prevent the individual pieces from clumping together, flash-freezing is crucial in this step. Afterward, move the frozen pieces to a freezer-safe container or bag and put the freezer back to use. Don’t forget to label it as well!
3. How to Freeze mashed bananas
Bananas that have already been mashed can be frozen. The banana should be peeled, mashed, and put into a freezer-safe bag. Remove all of the excess air from the bag and seal it before putting it in the freezer. Ensure that the bags are frozen flat on their sides and it is best to use the frozen bananas within six month.
Also READ this article on how to how To Keep Bananas Fresh For Longer
How to thaw frozen bananas
Plan ahead of time to thaw the frozen bananas as most recipes require them.Bananas can defrost at room temperature in about two hours or in the microwave in a few seconds.
- Put the bananas in a bowl or on a plate and give them a few minutes to thaw/ defrost. Putting them in the bowl is quite helpful since they will surely leak some liquid.
- Put the bananas in a plastic bag. Submerge the bananas bag of in a bowl of cold water and leave for about 10 minutes.
- Put the frozen bananas in a microwave and set it on low for about 3-4 minutes or set the microwave on the defrost setting.(In order to control the liquid from running off, put the bananas in a microwave bowl)
Uses of frozen bananas
Whole frozen bananas straight out of the freezer are best for eating or recipes that require whole bananas. Sliced bananas and mashed bananas are perfect for making banana bread and smoothies.
Banana smoothies
Whole bananas are excellent for adding to smoothies. If you freeze the fruit, they can even replace the ice in your morning brew. For this, throw the bananas into a blender, It’s ideal to cut them into little pieces before freezing so that blending is simpler.
Banana bread
Banana bread is a traditional option for baking with frozen bananas and is a tasty way to use up roughly three medium fruits.
