How to Freeze Bananas
Want to freeze bananas? Follow these simple steps to prep, cut, and freeze fresh banana for smoothies or baking. Reduce food waste by freezing bananas!
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Have leftover bananas? With the right prep, you can extend the life of bananas by freezing them to enjoy later in things like smoothies or baked goods.
👉 Ready to learn how to freezing bananas to keep them fresh? Let’s do it!
🎥 How-to video
Watch me freeze bananas in this short video!
🍌 Why you should freeze leftover bananas
- Extended life expectancy: When bananas are stored at room temperature, they lose freshness quicker. They last longer when frozen and can be used in many ways even when frozen for months at a time.
- Ready-made for smoothies: Bananas are often used as a base for smoothies, but their freshness window is small when stored at room temperature. By freezing you’re also making them into a replacement for ice cubes, which means a smoother smoothie!
- Perfect for baking: Catching bananas at their peak ripeness is a challenge for baking, but by freezing bananas you can easily pull out ripe and frozen banana slices to add to fresh muffins or banana bread.
🧊 How to freeze bananas (step-by-step photos)
1️⃣ Step One: Peel bananas
While technically banana peels are edible, it’s best to peel them before freezing.
2️⃣ Step Two: Slice bananas (optional)
You can freeze bananas whole, but I’ve found it’s much easier to slice them into 1/2 inch slices and then freeze so you can grab as many or as little bananas slices as you need in the future.
3️⃣ Step Three: Flash freeze banana slices
Once you cut the banana slices, you could throw them all into a bag or container to freeze – but the problem is the slices will freeze together into one big lump.
The solution to this is to flash freeze them on a flat surface like a baking sheet for about 2 hours so they’re solid.
4️⃣ Step Four: Add to freezer bag for longer storage
Once the slices have frozen solid, add the banana slices to a freezer-friendly bag or container to store for longer use – usually 1-2 months.
❓ Questions + quick tips
Bananas can be frozen whole, however slicing them before freezing will make it easier to adjust how much you need after freezing. Freezing slices means you can use as much or as little banana as your recipes needs without food waste.
Bananas can typically last in the freezer for up to two months, though texture and flavor may degrade over time. I try to use frozen bananas within about a month to avoid freezer burn.
🥤 How to use frozen bananas in smoothies
If you’re making a smoothie with frozen bananas, simply grab the amount of frozen banana slices you need and add to a blender.
The great thing about using frozen bananas in smoothies is you won’t have to use ice! This will mean your smoothie will have a smoother and creamier texture.
🫠 How to thaw frozen bananas
- Thaw in the refrigerator: Softening bananas in a refrigerator can keep them cold while maintaining their freshness. Simply remove the amount of frozen bananas you need to the refrigerator in a bowl or on a plate and thaw for about 12 hours.
- Thaw in the microwave using the defrost option: Thaw frozen bananas in the microwave for a few minutes using the defrost setting. This is best for baking or other uses where soft bananas are ideal, because their texture will be mushy after freezing.
- Thaw on the counter at room temperature: You can also place frozen bananas in a bowl or plate on the counter at room temperature to thaw over the course of a couple of hours.
👉 Recipes for using frozen bananas
Want to use your frozen bananas? Try Triple Berry Banana Smoothie or Strawberry Spinach Smoothie.
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How to Freeze Bananas
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 silicone baking mat or parchment paper
- 1 freezer-friendly bag
Ingredients
- 1 single banana any size
Instructions
- Peel bananas: Remove the peel from 1 single banana before prepping to freeze.
- Slice bananas (optional): You can freeze bananas whole, but it’s much easier to slice them into 1/2 inch slices and then freeze so you can grab as many or as little bananas slices as you need in the future.
- Flash freeze bananas: Flash freeze bananas on a flat surface like a baking sheet for about 2 hours so they’re solid.
- Add to freezer bag for longer storage: Once the slices have frozen solid, add the banana slices to a freezer-friendly bag or container to store for longer use – usually 1-2 months.
Video