How to Freeze Bananas—For Smoothies & Baking (2024)

FAQs

How to Freeze Bananas—For Smoothies & Baking? ›

Remove the peels and cut them into coins or chunks. Arrange the banana pieces, uncovered, on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single, even layer. (You can also line the sheet with a silicone mat.) Put the baking sheet on a level surface in the freezer until they're frozen, about three to four hours.

Remove the peels and cut them into coins or chunks. Arrange the banana pieces, uncovered, on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single, even layer. (You can also line the sheet with a silicone mat.) Put the baking sheet on a level surface in the freezer until they're frozen, about three to four hours.

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).

Square or rectangular, straight-sided rigid plastic containers make the best use of freezer space. Wide-mouth, dual-purpose glass jars made for canning and freezing are tempered to withstand extremes in temperature and allow for easier removal of partially-thawed foods.

To prevent the bananas from turning brown in the freezer, make sure to use an airtight container, or freezer-safe plastic bag. Exposure to air is what causes bananas to brown, so as long as they're sealed tightly, you won't have any issues with browning.

Either way works. I also recommend freezing the bananas whole, and here's why: Baking recipes usually call for a specific number of bananas, such as “3 large bananas.” Bananas can vary in size, so if you cut them up before freezing, it may be hard to determine how much you need.

Place the bananas in an airtight resealable plastic bag, label it with the date, and freeze 2 to 3 months.

Whichever method of preparation is used, frozen bananas are best used within six months. If bananas are frozen for longer, they may become brown and release more liquid once defrosted.

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.

There are a few different ways you can freeze bananas. You can store whole bananas with peel still intact or partially opened bananas wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and then placed in a freezer safe container or plastic bag with air removed before putting them in the freezer.

How do you make frozen bananas not stick? ›

Make sure the pieces of banana are arranged in a single layer and that they are not touching each other so they can freeze without sticking together. Smaller slices are great if you like adding slices to oatmeal or smoothies or if your blender can't handle larger chunks of frozen banana.

Sprinkle a few drops of citrus juice—lemon, lime, or orange—into the purée to slow down oxidation. The juice contains ascorbic acid which prevents oxidation.

Basic method for freezing strawberries

Cut and discard the stems, then freeze whole or cut to desired size. Lay the prepared strawberries on a tray and put in the freezer and until solid. Once frozen, transfer to labelled resealable freezer bag, ensuring you remove any excess air before sealing.

Overripe bananas are the best to use because they blend most smoothly at this point and are at their sweetest stage. When peeling them, we use gloves and put the peeled bananas into a large, rectangular container.

Slice 4-6 bananas and place them in a freezer-friendly food storage container. Then, place the container in the freezer for at least six hours. Once the bananas are firmly frozen, place them in a blender and pulse until they are smooth and creamy.

Frozen bananas are fantastic for smoothies for a few reasons. First, they pair well with so many flavors, such as a classic strawberry-banana combination, a more tropical mango-pineapple-banana mix or a lunchbox favorite, bananas and peanut butter.