The Best Way to Freeze Bananas - Easy Method! (2024)

posted by Jessica Hylton on Mar 27, 2020 (last updated Jan 24, 2022) 7 comments »

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Learn how to freeze bananas easily and quickly without them sticking together! Plus 5 simple recipes that are perfect for using frozen bananas.

We’ve all been there. You fell for some beautiful bananas at the grocery store, so you bought some and left them to sit proudly on your counter. “I’ll eat one a day!” you tell yourself. Then day 4 comes, you realize you haven’t had one, and now you’re panicking slightly. You don’t want to whip them into banana bread just yet, but you also don’t want them to go to waste. Sounds familiar?

Or maybe you’re a responsible freezer and planned to freeze them in advance in the first place because there was a great deal on bananas, or you plan ahead and want to stock up properly. If this is you – teach me your ways, please!

Either way, the solution is simple:freeze your bananas the correct way. There is a right way, and a wrong way, and let me tell you, you want to ensure you’re doing it the right way. Let’s get right into it.

How Do I Freeze Bananas?

Friends, two words: flash freeze.

The best way to freeze bananas is by flash freezing them because it ensures that the bananas don’t go brown, they don’t stick to one another, and that they’re in the perfect condition when you need them again. Flash freezing is very easy and is what a lot of companies do anything when selling you frozen fruit.

How to Prep Your Bananas

There are two easy ways that you can prepare your bananas for freezing:

• You can flash freeze your bananas whole. This is great if you know you need whole bananas for something. Do the above steps to flash freeze the place back into your freezer.
• Cut into banana medallions/coins, or crosswise-cuts. This is great if you’re unsure what you’ll be doing with your bananas, or you know you’ll need “x cup” worth of bananas.

How to Flash Freeze Your Bananas

Once you have prepped your bananas, it’s time to freeze them. Here’s how to do it:

1. Place your peeled bananas on a wax paper or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Separate the bananas so they are not touching.
2. Freeze. Place the baking sheet in your freezer on a flat surface for about 1 to 2 hours, until the bananas are set and firm.
3. Transfer to freezer safe container. After the time passes, remove from the sheet and transfer them to your freezer-safe bag and return to the freezer. It’s totally okay if they’re touching now.

Work Quickly to Prevent Browning

Fortunately, the above method helps to prevent bananas from turning brown Just ensure that as soon as you peel your bananas, you flash freeze them. That limits the exposure. Also, ensure that you place the bananas into an appropriate freezer-safe bag.

How Long Do Frozen Bananas Last?

I have found that my bananas stay in prime condition frozen up to 4 months. I don’t recommend freezing them longer than that because they can begin to deteriorate in texture and get kind of mushy. Even if you freeze them a day before, you can use them the next day!

How to Thaw Frozen Bananas

Say for example, you’re using the bananas for banana bread. Thaw them before, then I like to place then in a strainer or sieve to let any of the water that might have collect to drain out. That way you’re not adding any extra water into your recipes.

Ways to Use Them

Here are 5 amazing ways to use frozen bananas.

1. In my banana smoothies
2. In some fantastic banana bread.
3. Banana bread waffles, anyone?!
4. In some Double Chocolate Banana Muffins.
5. In some incredible Strawberry Banana Bread.

I hope this post helps friends! Let me know if you have any other questions and happy freezing!

originally published on Mar 27, 2020 (last updated Jan 24, 2022)

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