One thing is for sure; bananas are good for baking. Nothing goes with a morning coffee quite like some freshly toasted banana bread. There are all kinds of baked goods that can be improved by bananas, like muffins, breakfast bars, brownies, waffles and even cakes.
But fresh bananas can be a difficult fruit to work with, particularly for cafes and eateries that buy bananas in bulk. Not only do bananas take a few days to ripen to the point where they can be used in baked goods, but the window in which you can use the bananas before they spoil is also very tight, lasting approximately 2-3 days. This can result in both food and money being wasted.
Are frozen bananas a viable alternative though? Freezing bananas makes them easier to preserve, extending their lifespan from a few days to a few months. However, there are many that believe that frozen bananas have their taste and nutritional qualities adversely affected by the freezing process, making them less ideal for baking than fresh bananas. The question remains; are frozen bananas good for baking?
Do Frozen Bananas Work for Baking?
The short answer is Yes.
The longer answer? Not only do frozen bananas work for baking, but they arguably work better for baking than fresh bananas. Not only does the freezing process not affect the taste or the nutritional value of the bananas, but defrosting bananas makes them softer and therefore easier to mix into batter.
How to Use Frozen Bananas for Baking
Before any baking can be done, the bananas need to be defrosted. This can be achieved in multiple ways, such as:
- Leaving them in a bowl to thaw on the kitchen counter.
- Thawing them in the microwave on low for three to four minutes (or using the defrost setting).
- Placing them in a bag and then submerging the bag in warm water for about 10 minutes.
It’s worth noting that, regardless of the method you use, it’s important to keep the bananas in a container, as the defrosting process tends to result in a build up of water that can cause a mess. Once the bananas have been defrosted, you can add them to the batter of your baked good of choice (as per the recipe, of course).
How to Store Frozen Bananas for Baking
Freezing bananas is as simple and straightforward as you think it is. Simply take your bananas, place them in a freezer bag and then place them in a freezer. Anyone can do that, but did you know that bananas can be refrozen?
If you thaw your bananas and then decide you’re not going to use them all, you can freeze them again with minimal changes to nutritional value and taste. Additionally, before you refreeze your bananas, you can mash them so that you won’t have to later on when you’re prepping for your next baking project.
What You Can Make With Frozen Bananas?
The amount of recipes that frozen bananas can be used for are not just limited to baked goods. On top of the previously mentioned banana bread, muffins, breakfast bars, brownies, waffles and cakes, you can make delicious smoothies, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, etc.
What makes bananas perfect for any kind of food prep is not only their taste and versatility, but also their many health benefits, such as;
- An abundance of nutrients including potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, copper, manganese, net carbs, fiber, protein and fat.
- A richness of different kinds of fiber such as pectin and resistant starch, which aids digestion.
- Low calories, aiding weight loss while also being very filling.
Fresh vs. Frozen Bananas – Can You Taste the Difference?
The answer to this question depends entirely on personal taste. Some people do not notice a difference, while others have noticed that bananas become sweeter after being frozen.
There is a scientific explanation for this involving the water contained inside the banana freezing and breaking down the cellular structure of the banana, releasing an enzyme known as amylase that deconstructs the starch into various substances including glucose.
However, the difference is very slight, and it should not deter anybody interested in trying frozen bananas.
Contact us to learn more about our frozen banana options and make an order.
FAQs
Not only do frozen bananas work for baking, but they arguably work better for baking than fresh bananas. Not only does the freezing process not affect the taste or the nutritional value of the bananas, but defrosting bananas makes them softer and therefore easier to mix into batter.
Are frozen bananas good for baking? ›
Frozen bananas are a great way to use overripe bananas in banana bread. If you're like me, you rarely remember to use your overripe bananas on the day they are perfectly ripe so freezing them is a great solution. Thawed bananas are easier to mash and can also add extra moisture to the batter.
When should you not use frozen bananas? ›
"Whole, peeled frozen bananas keep for three months," says Weinstein. If they're frozen together, you can simply snap them apart. "Sliced bananas won't last as long, [about] two months tops," says Weinstein.
Do bananas change color when frozen? ›
After thawing and peeling a banana frozen in its peel, it will come out of the peel in an essentially mashed texture. Freezing bananas in their peels causes them to turn a brown (or even black!) color, which can be off-putting, but they're perfectly safe and delicious for that next loaf of banana bread.
Are frozen bananas better than regular bananas? ›
Nutritious and more delicious!
Freezing bananas and then thawing them does not affect their nutritional properties or taste, in fact, it is thought that they could even be sweeter.
Should I drain liquid from frozen bananas before baking? ›
Bananas release liquid as they thaw. For best success in your baking recipe, pour all or most of this liquid out because it could add too much liquid to your batter.
Are frozen bananas any good? ›
This option is particularly useful if you own a cafe. Many people have concerns about the flavour and consistency of frozen bananas. While it is true that bananas will lose their firmness when thawing takes place, the flavour and nutritional value will remain the same as fresh bananas.
How do you thaw frozen bananas for baking? ›
The first is to seal them in a ziplock bag, fill a bowl with lukewarm water and set it out on the counter. At most, this should take a few hours. And if you really need them thawed immediately, you can use the defrost setting on the microwave.
Are old frozen bananas safe to eat? ›
Frozen bananas will stay good for about 2-3 months, although you can safely consume them for several months beyond that window. If, like me, you tend to forget when you originally froze the fruit, label the filled container or bag with the date you froze them.
Are discolored frozen bananas safe to eat? ›
Also, note that placing bananas in the fridge or freezer will turn them black. This is natural—bananas don't handle the cold well—and does not mean the bananas are bad. You can still eat them safely as long as they aren't moldy.
When frozen correctly, bananas can be used straight away. Always use bananas that are fresh. Bananas in the freezer will be at their best within six months.
Why did my bananas turn brown when I froze them? ›
If you freeze whole bananas, the peels will turn brown with time in the freezer. This is fine and doesn't affect the flavor of the fruit. However, if your frozen banana slices, chunks, or mash turns brown, the container or bag is not airtight.
Are frozen bananas high in sugar? ›
So when a frozen banana is thawed, the amylase and starches in the cells diffuse through the defrosting fruit. This leads to further conversion of some starches to sugar, which contributes to the sweeter taste of frozen bananas. These are the two ways why fruit taste sweeter: it has a high sugar content to start with.
Why do people use frozen bananas? ›
Bananas magically develop the texture of ice cream when they are frozen. They are cold, creamy, and naturally sweet, so they are perfect for adding an ice cream texture to your favorite smoothie recipe. They turn into healthy ice cream. If you've never tried banana ice cream, you are missing out!
Do frozen bananas taste like ice cream? ›
Sure, frozen bananas taste like ice cream (a little), but it's not the same as having a bowl of truly spectacular, real-deal ice cream. If you want luscious, creamy banana ice cream the way your grandmother would have done it—with real cream, eggs, and a touch of sugar—THIS IS THAT RECIPE.
Is it OK to use frozen bananas for banana bread? ›
Frozen bananas are much easier to mix into a batter than fresh bananas are, and my freezer nearly always has an abundance of them, so it's pretty easy to mix up a fresh loaf whenever I want.
Do bananas taste the same after being frozen? ›
There are purely practical reasons for freezing bananas - maybe you just didn't get round to eating them all, or maybe there was a great deal at the store so you bought them in bulk - but many people actually prefer the taste of frozen and thawed bananas, which they say have a much sweeter flavour.
How do you quickly thaw frozen bananas for baking? ›
The first is to seal them in a ziplock bag, fill a bowl with lukewarm water and set it out on the counter. At most, this should take a few hours. And if you really need them thawed immediately, you can use the defrost setting on the microwave.
