How to Freeze Bananas (Two Ways)
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:
- Place your peeled bananas on a wax paper or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Separate the bananas so they are not touching.
- 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.
- 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.
- In my banana smoothies
- In some fantastic banana bread.
- Banana bread waffles, anyone?!
- In some Double Chocolate Banana Muffins.
- In some incredible Strawberry Banana Bread.
I hope this post helps friends! Let me know if you have any other questions and happy freezing!
How to Freeze Bananas
Ingredients
- 1 bunch bananas
Equipment
- Freezer Safe Container
Instructions
For Whole Bananas
- 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.
- Place your peeled bananas on a wax paper or parchment paper-lined baking sheet, separated and not touching.
- Place the baking sheet in your freezer on a flat surface for about 1 to 2 hours, until the bananas are set and firm.
- 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.
For Banana Slices
- 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.
- Place your peeled slices on a wax paper or parchment paper-lined baking sheet, separated and not touching.
- Place the baking sheet in your freezer on a flat surface for about 1 to 2 hours, until the bananas are set and firm.
- 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.
Notes
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
I wish I saw this post a few hours ago when I decided to freeze a dozen bananas that were ripening a bit quicker than I needed them to. You captured the struggle so perfectly btw.
This post (though not technically a recipe) deserves 5 stars because you have taught something that will be useful for life. I’m certain this will be the last time I will deal with stuck together frozen bananas. Here’s to flash freezing! =
Aww thank you so much KC! I’m so happy to hear how helpful this information was!! That means a lot and I’m also happy to hear you can use it next time you’re freezing bananas!! Yes haha they’re so much more appealing when they aren’t stuck together right?! Haha! Thanks so much again!
For two days I’ve been going to make some muffins and put it off. Today your post leading to chocolate/banana/chocolate chip muffins came as a sign from the universe! I quickly took a frozen banana from the freezer, took a nap, and got busy making them! Delicious and PERFECT! I did have to use a substitute for oat flower as I can’t eat oats, but everything else was handy and went together perfectly. Hot out of the oven I slipped some to my neighbors on both sides after I taste-tested. I’m sure I’ll hear good reviews from them. Thanks for a way to help let them know I am thinking about them!
I have this recipe printed out and ready for another time I want to impress folks! (I have to tell you, I promised myself I would NEVER make chocolate or chocolate chip muffins…just cause that’s just not a good breakfast habit. I rationalized by telling myself they are cupcakes and am having them for an afternoon snack! .)
I always wondered how to flash freeze! Thank you for this post 👍🏽👍🏽
We’re glad we could help! Thanks for reading Natalia!
This is life saving, my bananas also stick together and turned brown! Thank you so much for sharing, I had NO idea!
No problem at all Amanda we’re so happy this worked for you! Thank you for reading and commenting!