If you've bought too many bananas and are worried you won't be able to eat them all, freeze them rather than risk them spoiling. You can use them to enrich smoothies, milkshakes and baked goods. If you intend to blend them, cut them into slices, arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze them. If, on the other hand, you intend to use them to make a baked product, for example muffins or banana bread, you can save yourself the effort of cutting them and freezing them directly whole.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Freeze Sliced Bananas and Use Them in Smoothies or Milkshakes
Step 1. Let bananas ripen before freezing them
When bananas are ripe they have a yellow skin. You can also wait for the typical brown spots to form which indicate that the banana is ready to eat. The important thing is that the peel is not green, which indicates that the banana is unripe.
Bananas will stop ripening once placed in the freezer, so freeze them only when they have reached the desired degree of ripeness. Remember that you will use them to make a smoothie or milkshake
Step 2. Peel the bananas
Do not freeze them whole, or the peel will turn black and take on a slimy consistency. You could peel them with a knife even after you freeze them, but it would be unnecessarily more complicated.
Step 3. Cut the bananas into slices a couple of centimeters thick
If you prefer to cut them into taller slices, keep in mind that they will freeze more slowly. On the other hand, however, you will save time when cutting, so freely decide the thickness. Since you will have to blend them, it is not necessary that the banana slices are all perfectly identical.
If you prefer, you can break the bananas into small pieces with your hands
Step 4. Arrange the banana slices on a baking sheet
Distribute them evenly to form a single layer and space them out from each other to prevent them from sticking together during freezing. If there are a lot of bananas, you will need to use 2 or more baking trays.
- Frozen banana slices should come off the plate easily, but if you want to make sure you don't struggle, you can line them with parchment paper.
- The reason why the banana slices should be frozen arranged on a plate and spaced apart is that in this way they will not stick to each other forming a single solid block.
Step 5. Place the banana slices in the freezer
Make room in the freezer drawers and place the plates horizontally. After an hour, check if the banana slices are frozen. If necessary, leave them in the freezer for another half hour.
To determine if the banana slices are frozen, try to prick one with a fork. If it's still soft, it means they need more time
Step 6. Transfer the frozen banana slices to a freezer bag and pin the date on them
Let as much air out of the bag as possible before sealing it. Write the date on the bag so you don't risk leaving bananas in the freezer for too long.
If necessary, you can use a spatula to peel the banana slices off the plate
Step 7. Use banana slices when you feel like drinking a smoothie or milkshake
The next time you make a drink with the blender, add a few slices of banana. Take only the ones you need out of the bag and put them in the blender while still frozen. They will give taste and creaminess to the drink and will cool it without diluting it, as ice would. Use banana slices within 6 months of the freezing date.
If you find that your blender is having trouble blending frozen banana slices, it's best to cut them into even smaller pieces
Method 2 of 2: Freeze Bananas and Use Them in Baked Goods
Step 1. Let bananas ripen completely
Once placed in the freezer, the ripening process will stop, so don't freeze bananas while they are still green. Wait for the peel to turn yellow or speckled. Bananas that are too ripe to eat are perfect for making a cake. In fact, the more ripe they are, the sweeter they are and even those with entirely brown skin can be frozen.
Note that if a banana is so ripe that the pulp has become liquid, you must throw it away
Step 2. Peel the bananas
Do not freeze them with the peel. In the freezer the peel of bananas turns black and slimy, a disgusting combination, and you would have to remove it with the knife. In the future, you'll be glad you put in a little extra effort peeling them before freezing them.
You can put the peels in the compost box
Step 3. You can freeze whole bananas or you can mash them first
You can leave them whole and mash them easily after thawing. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can mash them right away so that they are ready for use in the future. Put them in a bowl and mash them with a fork to make a puree.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice to the banana puree if you want to prevent it from turning black. However, since you will put it in a dough that is baked in the oven, the color is not a fundamental element.
- If there are a lot of bananas, you can save time by blending them. However, keep in mind that when ripe, bananas are soft and can be mashed very easily by hand.
Step 4. Put whole or pureed bananas in a bag, date and freeze them
Before sealing the bag, squeeze it to let out as much air as possible. Write the date on the outside using a permanent marker to keep track of the passing time. You can now put the bag in the freezer.
It will take a few hours for the bananas to be completely frozen
Step 5. Use bananas to enrich your baked goods
Remember that they must be used within 6 months from the freezing date, otherwise you will have to throw them away. When you are ready to use them, take them out of the freezer an hour in advance and let them defrost in a dish at room temperature.
- You can use them for example to make banana bread or banana muffins.
- If you've frozen whole bananas, you should be able to mash them easily with a fork after allowing them to thaw.
Advice
- Another option for using frozen bananas is to make banana ice cream. It is a great idea for a healthy and tasty dessert.
- Those with a sweet tooth can dip the banana slices in melted chocolate before placing them in the freezer.
