How to Freeze Bananas

Freezing bananas is a quick and easy way not only to extend the life of your fruit but also to make frozen treats and smoothies that much quicker. An icy cold banana gives you the best texture for smoothies and bowls without adding ice.

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and clear out some room in the freezer to place the trays for a few hours.

Prepare Banana Slices

Slice the bananas into 1/2-inch rounds and spread them in a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Place in the freezer and allow them to freeze completely for about 2-4 hours. They will be cold and hard to the touch.

2 image collage showing slices on parchment lined baking sheet before and after freezing.

Freeze Banana Halves

Cut a whole banana in half and then slice the halves in half. You can also just slice the banana in half into larger pieces. These are quartered mainly for portion size and because they fit into smaller freezer bags to take up less space and not break when frozen.
Place the halves cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer, allowing them to freeze for about 2-4 hours completely.

2 image collage showing halves on parchment lined baking sheet before and after freezing.

TIPS FOR freezing bananas

Use parchment paper. Parchment paper or wax paper is so versatile! You can bake with it and use it to freeze foods and keep things from sticky to the pan.
Keep them from touching while freezing. Prevent them from sticking together by spacing the slices apart while freezing. Once they’re frozen, you can toss them together in a bag.
Prevent excess browning. Once the peeled banana is exposed to air, it will turn brown from oxidation. Work quickly to transfer the cuts and slices to the freezer to prevent too much browning.
Measure out for easy recipe conversion. 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.

recipes to make with frozen bananas

You can use frozen bananas in many recipes or thaw them out first for baked or cooked recipes. If you are using them in baked goods, they will need to be thawed first. Here are a few different frozen and cooked recipes to try.

Frozen Banana Recipes

Baked Goods using Frozen Bananas

2 resealable freezer bags, one with frozen banana slices and the other with frozen banana halves.

HOW TO STORE frozen bananas

Once frozen, store them in reusable silicone bags, plastic zip-top bags, or any freezer-friendly container. To use, you can add bananas that are still frozen to a blender for smoothies or to make non-dairy ice cream. It will be nice and thick, adding a cool and refreshing flavor.
To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight. You can then use the banana and any liquid remaining in baked goods like banana bread, muffins, or oatmeal. Bring to room temperature, depending on the recipe.

HOW LONG WILL frozen bananas LAST IN THE freezer?

When stored properly, frozen bananas will last up to 3 months in the freezer.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long to freeze bananas?

Bananas will freeze in about 2-4 hours and should not be exposed to the freezer after 4 hours to prevent freezer burn. After frozen, transfer to a freezer safe container and store for up to 3 months.

Should I peel bananas before freezing?

Bananas can be frozen whole with the peel on but the peel will turn dark when in the freezer. While this doesn’t affect the banana, it does cause the peel to soften and can become difficult to remove. Peeling allows for a quick and easy solution to freezing bananas.

Why do some frozen bananas taste bitter?

Bananas will bitter when frozen if underripe. To prevent the bitter taste of frozen bananas, chose to freeze them when ripe, and even better is over riped, but not banana bread ripe (brown and mushy).

Frozen banana halves inside a reusable freezer bag with tray of them nearby.

Freezing bananas is a fantastic way to prolong the freshness of ripe bananas without tossing them. Frozen bananas can be used in many different recipes, like a nice cold addition to smoothies and to make nice cream, or thawed and used in sweet bread, cookies, or oatmeal.

how to freeze other foods:

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