Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (2024)

by Meera 2 Comments

Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (1)

Freezing bananas are the perfect way to avoid wasting any overripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter. Freezing preserves bananas that have reached their peak ripeness or overripe. Just because they’re covered inn black spots, overly soft doesn’t mean they’re inedible to toss them out. Instead, freeze them to use in make banana breads, nice creams, smoothies and muffins.

Why Frozen Bananas Work

  • Once frozen and you’re ready to defrost the banana slices, something interesting happens. The amylase in the banana diffuse during the freezing process. When its defrosted it starts to convert the starch diffused during the freezing process into sugar, in turn it makes the defrosted frozen banana sweeter to the taste than eating fresh bananas. So the need for added sweetener in the recipes is not necessary.
  • When you blend frozen banana slices in a blender orfood processor, it gets creamy and gooey, like custard or soft serve ice cream without ice crystals. This happens because of the high pectin content in the banana that gels it into a rich creamy soft serve ice cream like texture. This little hack is not new in the food industry, I discovered it a couple of years ago and have not stopped using it. Wonder it took me this long to share on my blog, well its here now and you should give it a try.
Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (2)

Tips for Freezing Bananas

Slice bananas into uniform rounds. Slicing bananas before freezing makes them easier to blend when you’re ready to use.Store the frozen banana slices in a ziplock bag ( force as much air out as possible before zipping)alternatively freeze the slices in an airtight container for up to 3 months. I prefer the latter to minimize use of plastic.

Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (3)

What to Do With Frozen Bananas

Add them to smoothies.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.Simply take as many slices as you need for your recipe and blend.

They turn into healthy ice cream. Use a food processor or blender to pulverize the frozen banana pieces ( you may need to add a little milk or yogurt) and process until it has a soft serve like consistency.If you’ve never tried banana ice cream, you’re in for a treat! creamy, healthy and delicious.

Bake with them.Thaw frozen bananas and use them in your favorite banana bread, muffins recipes as you would use ripened bananas. Thawed frozen bananas will look unappealing, but when you mash them, they do the job just as well as freshly mashed bananas do.

How to Thaw Frozen Bananas:You can thaw by leaving the amount needed out in a bowl at room temperature for about 2 hours. Or, you can let them thaw in the fridge overnight.Any liquid released is perfect to use in your recipe, they may not look pretty, but part of a natural banana and will not change the final product.

They reduce waste.If you have overripe bananas sitting on your counter, and you don’t plan on using them, storing the bananas in the freezer is the next best way to keep them edible until you plan on using them. The two images below are perfect examples of using frozen bananas.

Recipes to Try

  • Berry breakfast popsicles
  • Tahini Smoothie with Muddled Strawberries

Ingredients

3-6 bananas, overripened

Method

Peel, slice and place he sliced bananas in large freezer bag or freezer safe container. Press out as much air out as possible before zipping up. Lay it flat so the slices don’t bunch into one large pile. Place it in the freezer flat for at least 4 hours or overnight. Once frozen you may break them so they’re not in one bundles. Use as many as your recipe calls for and promptly put the remains back in the freezer. About 8-10 slices is one medium banana if you have to guess. Enjoy!!!

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Comments

  1. Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (7)Emma

    What a great idea.

    Reply

    • Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (8)Meera

      Thanks Emma

      Reply

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Frozen Banana But Why? | Nourish Deliciously (2024)

FAQs

Why do frozen bananas taste better in smoothies? ›

People freeze bananas for smoothies because frozen bananas add a creamy texture and natural sweetness to the smoothie, making it thicker and more enjoyable to drink. Additionally, freezing bananas also helps to preserve their freshness, as they can be stored in the freezer for several months.

Are frozen bananas as healthy as fresh? ›

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.

Why do people freeze banana? ›

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!

Why is frozen banana so good? ›

When you remove the banana from the freezer, the amylase diffused in the freezing process starts to convert the starch diffused in the freezing process into sugar, thus making the defrosted frozen banana sweeter on the tongue (via Fine Dining Lovers).

Can you eat frozen bananas straight from the freezer? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

How long are frozen bananas safe to eat? ›

How Long Do Frozen Bananas Last? If you choose to peel your bananas before freezing them, they will last for about two to three months in the freezer. If you choose to freeze your banana in the peel, they will last for six months in the freezer.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

Can you eat frozen bananas everyday? ›

There is no scientific evidence that would indicate a negative health effect from frozen bananas.

Why do frozen bananas smell? ›

banana produce isoamyl acetate, wich smell like banana. and isoamyl acetate is freezing at −78 °C, so, this is still evaporating even in your freezer.

How many frozen banana slices equal a banana? ›

I have found that about ¾ – 1 cup of ½ inch slices of banana equal close to 1 large banana. After freezing the slices, do a quick measure to see how many cups 1 banana equals for easier measurement for recipes.

Can you eat frozen bananas skin? ›

Blend Frozen Peel Into Smoothies: Cut the whole banana (including the peel) into one-inch pieces and freeze them in a freezer-safe bag. Then blend the chunks into smoothies.

Are frozen bananas healthy for weight loss? ›

They have incredible health benefits and are a great fruit for weight loss, be it in the form of raw bananas, banana chips or frozen bananas. Frozen bananas are usually sweet because of the presence of an enzyme amylase that breaks down starch into glucose during defrosting.

Does freezing bananas change the flavor? ›

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.

Why is frozen fruit better for smoothies? ›

Pros: Frozen fruit is convenient and easy to use. Not only does it last for several months in the freezer, but you don't need to wash, peel or chop the fruit before adding it to your blender. It also helps create a thicker and creamier texture for your smoothies without adding ice or dairy products.

Do smoothies taste better with frozen fruit? ›

And not only is frozen fruit more convenient (and often cheaper) than fresh fruit, they make for a better smoothie too. Frozen fruit blends into a rich and creamy texture while smoothies with only fresh fruit can be watery and runny (more on that later).

Why do frozen bananas make smoothies thicker? ›

Frozen ingredients are the easiest way to create a thick and luscious smoothie texture. The high water content of fruit and veggies crystallizes when frozen into a rigid structure. When processed in a blender, they break down and create that delicious, creamy texture.

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