5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (2024)

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Last Updated: March 26, 2024References

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For some people, a banana might be a completely new and foreign fruit, while for others it could be a part of their daily lives. Eating a banana is relatively simple: you find the right one, peel it, and eat it. But did you know that there are lots of other ways you can eat a banana? You can eat it in your cereal or in a smoothie. You can even eat it frozen, fried, or grilled!

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie[1]

  • 1 banana, peeled and sliced
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters) yogurt
  • ¼ cup (60 milliliters) milk
  • ¼ cup (65 grams) peanut butter
  • 5 to 7 ice cubes (optional)

Makes 2 servings

Frozen Banana Bites[2]

  • 1 banana, peeled
  • 1 cup (175 grams) dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter (optional)

Fried Cinnamon Bananas[3]

  • 2 bananas, peeled
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Grilled S'more Banana

  • 1 banana, peeled
  • 2 tablespoons miniature marshmallows
  • 2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons crushed graham crackers

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Eating Bananas

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  1. 1

    Acquire a ripe banana. for a banana that is yellow and lightly speckled with small brown or black spots. Some people prefer the firmer yellow-all-over stage; some prefer the softer, sweeter, stronger-flavored yellow-and-brownish stage.

    • If the banana is not ripe, you can leave it on a warm counter for a day or two.
  2. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (6)

    2

    Peel the banana. Some people prefer to peel the entire thing and then eat it, while others peel as they go. There's many ways to peel a banana. If you have not peeled one before, you might find one of these methods easy:

    • Peel the banana from the stem end. Snap back the stalk at the top of the fruit, then pull it downwards alongside the fruit. Pull the rest of the skin off in similar strips.
    • Peel the banana from the blossom end. This is the flat, brown stub at the end of the banana. Pinch just behind the blossom end to break it apart, then peel bits of it downward.
    • If you don't want the whole banana at once, cut it in half before peeling. Cover the half you won't be eating right away with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge.

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  3. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (7)

    3

    Remove the "strings." Bananas have fibrous strands between the skin and the fruit. These usually come off along with the peel, but sometimes they may stick to the fruit. Gently peel these off before eating the banana. They are not bad for you, but many people find them to have a bitter taste and odd texture.

  4. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (8)

    4

    Eat the banana. You can eat the banana bite by bite, peeling a little bit of it as you go. You can also peel it all at once, slice it with a knife, and eat it with a fork. You can even use it in smoothies, dip it in chocolate and freeze it, fry it, or even grill it! Here are some ideas to get you started:

    • Add a sliced banana to cereal or oatmeal.
    • Drizzle some honey over banana slices for extra sweetness.
    • Make a peanut butter banana sandwich on whole wheat bread.
    • Cut a banana in half lengthwise, and fill it with peanut butter. Put the banana back together, and eat it like a sandwich.
  5. 5

    Get rid of the skin. If you are in an in-closed area, such as a room, throw it away in a closed bag or closed trashcan, otherwise the banana will fill the room with its odor. Alternatively, you can also save the banana peel to use as compost in your garden.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Making a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

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  1. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (11)

    1

    Add a peeled and sliced banana into a blender. Slicing the banana up first will make it easier to blend and give you a smoother drink in the end. For an extra-thick smoothie, use a frozen banana.

  2. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (12)

    2

    Add the milk and yogurt. For a thicker smoothie, omit the milk and use ⅔ cup (165 grams) yogurt.

  3. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (13)

    3

    Top it off with peanut butter. If you don't like peanut butter, you can use another type of nut butter, such as almond. You can also use some chocolate sauce instead (start with 2 tablespoons, then add more if needed).

  4. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (14)

    4

    Blend the ingredients until smooth. If the smoothie is not thick enough for you, toss in 5 to 7 ice cubes.

  5. 5

    Pour into two tall glasses and serve immediately. You can garnish each glass with some whipped cream, or a swirl of chocolate and/or caramel sauce. [4]

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  1. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (17)

    1

    Cut the banana into ½-inch (1.27 centimeters) thick slices. Peel the banana first, and remove any fibrous strands. Cut the banana into thin slices with a sharp knife.

  2. 2

    Freeze the bananas for 1 hour. Cover a baking sheet with wax paper and spread the bananas across it in an even layer.

  3. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (19)

    3

    Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl. Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Give the mixture a stir, and heat for another 15 seconds. Stir it until all the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is smooth. If necessary, heat the mixture for another few seconds.[5]

  4. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (20)

    4

    Set the mixture aside and take out the bananas. If you'd like, you can glue two banana slices together with some peanut butter to make mini banana sandwiches. This is completely optional, but it makes quite the treat![6]

  5. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (21)

    5

    Dip the banana slices in the cooled chocolate. Once the chocolate has cooled, spear a banana slice onto a fork, and dip it into the chocolate. Use a spoon to help you pour chocolate onto any hard-to-reach areas.

    • For an added touch, you can dip the banana slice into some crushed walnuts for extra protein.
  6. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (22)

    6

    Place the coated banana slice back onto the wax paper lined baking sheet. Keep dipping banana slices until you have none left.

  7. 7

    Put the bananas back into the freezer until the chocolate is set and the bananas are frozen. At this point, they are ready to eat. You can store them in small, plastic sandwich bags for easy snacking.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Making Fried Cinnamon Bananas

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  1. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (25)

    1

    Cut the bananas into ½-inch (1.27 centimeters) long pieces. Set the bananas slices aside, but have them ready for frying.

  2. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (26)

    2

    Melt the honey, butter, and cinnamon in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir them with a spatula as they melt so that they get mixed together. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, you are ready for the next step.

  3. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (27)

    3

    Toss in the banana slices and fry them for 4 minutes. As the bananas cook, they will start to caramelize and turn a golden brown color. If they start to burn too fast, however, turn the heat down.

  4. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (28)

    4

    Flip the banana slices over and fry them for another 4 minutes. They are ready when both sides are a golden brown color. Be sure to have a plate ready for serving.

  5. 5

    Serve the fired bananas immediately. You can serve them on their own, or with other foods, such as: French toast, ice cream, pancakes, or yogurt.[7]

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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Making a Grilled S'more Banana

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  1. 1

    Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If you don't have a grill, you can preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) instead.

  2. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (32)

    2

    Slice a peeled banana open, lengthwise, and place it on a sheet of tinfoil. Be sure that you are slicing the banana inside the curve. Do not slice it all the way open, however; you want the two halves to be connected at the bottom, like a hot dog.

  3. 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (33)

    3

    Fill the banana with the mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. The chocolate and mini marshmallows will make a small pile on top of the banana. You can layer them, like making s'mores, or you can mix them together first.

  4. 4

    Wrap the foil around the banana and grill it for 5 to 6 minutes. If you are using an oven, bake it for 5 to 6 minutes, and then broil it (uncovered) until the marshmallows are golden brown.

  5. 5

    Unwrap the banana and top it with the crushed graham cracker. This is that final touch that will make the banana more s'more like. If you don't have any graham crackers, you can use any cinnamon-honey flavored crackers or cereal.

  6. 6

    Let the banana cool, then eat it with a spoon. The s'more like flavor makes it an ideal camping trip treat!

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Expert Q&A

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  • Question

    What are the benefits of eating bananas?

    Roy Nattiv, MD
    Board Certified Gastroenterologist

    Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

    Roy Nattiv, MD

    Board Certified Gastroenterologist

    Expert Answer

    Bananas are believed to offer several health benefits, including potential antibacterial properties and they are also rich in vitamins. However, it's important to clarify that bananas are not typically considered a primary treatment for any medical condition. Instead, they are often categorized as complementary or alternative treatments. While they may provide some support for overall health, it's essential to rely on proven medical treatments and consult your doctor for specific health issues.

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  • Question

    Can the peel be eaten?

    5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (39)

    Community Answer

    They can be. Monkeys eat the peels, but they don't taste great. The peels, not the monkeys. Although I doubt monkeys taste great, either.

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  • Question

    Is banana skin toxic?

    5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (40)

    Community Answer

    No, they are not toxic but would taste terrible if eaten. Most people remove the peel before they eat the banana, but the skin can be used in cooking.

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      • Consider getting an "exotic" banana instead. Not all bananas are long and yellow; some are small, wide, or even colored differently.[8] For example, red bananas are smaller, softer, and sweeter than common yellow bananas, with a slight raspberry flavor.

        Thanks

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      • Eat a banana as a post workout snack to help regain lost energy.[9]

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      • Bananas are full of potassium, which can help reduce menstrual cramps![10]

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      Warnings

      • Bananas release ethylene as they ripen. This may cause any surrounding fruit to ripen faster than usual. Store your bananas away from the rest of your fruit to prevent this.

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      • Bananas (as well as other types of fruit) may cause bloating and gas.

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      • Avoid mistaking bananas for plantains. Plantains look similar to bananas, but are larger, firmer, and darker colored. They are also very starchy and not meant to be eaten raw; they are meant to be cooked or fried.

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      • Don't refrigerate a banana until it has ripened. It will stop ripening in the fridge and start turning brown instead.

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Roy Nattiv, MD.

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      About This Article

      5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (51)

      Co-authored by:

      Roy Nattiv, MD

      Board Certified Gastroenterologist

      This article was co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD. Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel. This article has been viewed 477,298 times.

      60 votes - 65%

      Co-authors: 194

      Updated: March 26, 2024

      Views:477,298

      Categories: Featured Articles | Eating Techniques

      Article SummaryX

      To eat a banana, first find one that’s ripe so it’s sweet and easy to digest. If it’s still green, it’s not ripe enough yet. When it turns yellow, the banana is ripe enough to eat. It will be sweetest when there are a few light brown spots on the peel. To peel the banana, snap back the stalk at the top of the fruit, then pull it downwards. Pull the rest of the skin off in similar strips. You can also peel the banana from the blossom end which is the flat, brown stub at the end of the banana. Pinch just behind the blossom end to break it apart, then peel the skin off the banana. Eat the fruit whole or cut it into pieces. For a healthy breakfast, add banana pieces to a smoothie, cereal, yogurt, or oatmeal. For something sweeter, dip whole or sliced bananas in melted chocolate.

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      • 5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (52)

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      5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      5 Ways to Eat a Banana - wikiHow? ›

      How to Quickly Flush Your Bowels With Bananas. To cause a bowel movement, eat your entire amount of daily calories in bananas for one day. Eat ripe, yellow bananas, and try not to add anything else to them. If you can't do that, try eating a few bananas for breakfast and a banana after dinner.

      What are the different ways to eat a banana? ›

      Leftover banana recipes
      • Banana bread. A popular way of using up bananas is in a loaf or bread, and we have no shortage of recipes to keep you busy. ...
      • Baked bananas.
      • Banana muffins. ...
      • Microwave banana pudding. ...
      • Quick banana ice cream.
      • Banana smoothie. ...
      • Banana pancakes.
      • Banana fairy cakes.

      What is the banana bowel trick? ›

      How to Quickly Flush Your Bowels With Bananas. To cause a bowel movement, eat your entire amount of daily calories in bananas for one day. Eat ripe, yellow bananas, and try not to add anything else to them. If you can't do that, try eating a few bananas for breakfast and a banana after dinner.

      How many ways can you eat a banana? ›

      You can also peel it all at once, slice it with a knife, and eat it with a fork. You can even use it in smoothies, dip it in chocolate and freeze it, fry it, or even grill it! Here are some ideas to get you started: Add a sliced banana to cereal or oatmeal.

      Do we eat or lick bananas? ›

      If you lick a banana you get the taste of the banana, but you don't eat any of it. Similarly with an orange. You might lick your fingers, but if you eat soup by dipping your fingers in it and then licking off the soup you are not eating politely.

      Is it OK to eat banana first thing? ›

      That's not a problem on its own per se, since bananas also have fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients your body needs to thrive. But experts say that noshing on a banana first thing in the a.m., before you eat any other food, can potentially mess with your blood sugar levels—impacting your energy, mood, and more.

      What is the black thing at the bottom of a banana? ›

      For such a tiny, insignificant nub, the remains of the banana flower seem to have stirred up some real hatred among modern humans. Sometimes called the “fingertip”, it's entirely edible but often discarded because of its tough texture and bitter taste.

      What trick empties bowels every morning? ›

      In the morning, drink warm water with lemon to stimulate bowel movement and hydrate the body. Consume fiber-rich foods such as whole grains and fruits to improve digestion and regularity. Probiotics can help to improve gut health and regulate bowel movements.

      What trick empties your bowels? ›

      Sitting correctly on the toilet and using this technique can help you empty your bowel more easily. Lean forward on the toilet with your forearms resting on your thighs, your legs more than hip width apart and your feet raised up on a small foot stool. Repeat for up to 10 minutes only or until your bowel has emptied.

      What happens if you eat bananas every morning with an empty stomach? ›

      Eating bananas on an empty stomach can wreak havoc inside your heart. How? The balance between magnesium and calcium in the blood can be upset by bananas' high magnesium concentration. This imbalance can harm heart health.

      Why put lemon juice on bananas? ›

      Adding lemon or lime juice to peeled bananas can help preserve their freshness. Basically, the citrus slows down the oxidation process. Avoid exposing bananas to moist environments, it can lead to premature ripening. Keep them in an air tight container and store them in a freezer.

      Why do they say to eat a banana before bed? ›

      Certain nutrients in bananas are associated with sleep. For example, bananas contain tryptophan and vitamin B6, which are important for the production of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) that regulates sleep.

      What is the banana king? ›

      The once exotic fruit owes its ubiquity to one man, Samuel Zemurray—Sam the “Banana Man,” a Russian immigrant to New Orleans who gambled on the freckled bananas other companies discarded, getting them to market before they turned to mush.

      How to eat bananas when you don't like bananas? ›

      Bananas couldn't possibly be a more versatile snack. Besides the fact that they come with their own carrying case, they're perfect eaten out of hand, sliced into yogurt, swirled into oats, baked into bread, or slathered with nut butter.

      Why do we only eat one type of banana? ›

      The cultivated fruits, whether Cavendish or any of the popular varieties of cooking bananas, typically have no seeds. The lack of seeds means that from a genetic standpoint we have been eating the exact same kind of banana for some fifty years.

      What makes bananas taste better? ›

      Furthermore, less ripe bananas contain higher levels of starch and therefore have a “starchier” taste. As they ripen a more distinctive fruity flavour develops accompanied melon, pineapple, candy and clove flavour notes. Yellow bananas have higher sugar concentrations and therefore taste sweeter.

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