If you've been wondering how to freeze bananas so that they don't clump together, the trick is to flash-freeze them on a pan before transferring them to a storage container for later use. Flash-freezing simply means freezing bite-sized food individually so that they can freeze quickly. Thankfully, this is a super easy task you can tackle within a few minutes of hands-on time!
Why Is It Important to Slice the Bananas?
Slicing the bananas before freezing is a helpful ingredient prep technique for several uses:
- You can easily portion out what you need and keep the rest frozen for another time.
- Frozen slices are easier to blend when making smoothies.
- Frozen slices defrost quickly for use as a baking ingredient.
When Should Bananas be Frozen?
You can freeze bananas at any time! Freezing green bananas, which are just regular bananas that haven't fully ripened, keeps them in a state that is lower in sugar content and a good source of resistant starch.
Freezing yellow bananas captures more sweetness, which gives you the option to omit sugar or sweeteners to whatever you're making. Green bananas may also be a good substitute for sweeteners, so give both a try!
Regardless of whether you choose green or yellow bananas, they can be used to thicken a smoothie and add moisture and good flavor for baking.
What Are the Health Benefits of Eating Bananas?
The resistant starch in green bananas can improve your digestive health, prevent certain types of cancer, and even prevent or manage diabetes. If you are on a low-lectin diet or need to consume less sugar, then green bananas are the way to go.
Bananas in general contain a variety of nutrients, such as magnesium and potassium, which can be helpful for post-workout muscle recovery. The antioxidants can be good for your heart health and may help to prevent degenerative diseases.
If you need some inspiration on how to include bananas in your diet, try making my acai smoothie bowl and tropical island green smoothie recipes!
Ingredients
- All you need is four large yellow and/or green bananas to fill an entire baking sheet.
How to Prepare Bananas for Freezing
Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Peel the bananas and align them horizontally on a cutting board. This will make it quick and easy to slice all four bananas at once.
Using a knife, slice the bananas vertically into 1-inch rounds.
Place the sliced bananas onto the lined baking sheet and spread them out in a single layer. Make sure to space them apart so that the slices do not freeze together. Freeze for at least 2 hours.
Once frozen, transfer the banana slices to a freezer-safe container.
Cover with an airtight lid and store them in the freezer for up to three months.
Top tip
For smoothies:
- If your freezer temperature is set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (which is the recommended temperature for freezers in home refrigerators), do not thaw the bananas before using.
- If your freezer temperature is closer to -5 degrees Fahrenheit (which is often the setting for upright freezers and freezer chests), you will need to remove the frozen banana slices from the freezer approximately 5-10 minutes before blending, so that your blender doesn't struggle.
- If you thaw the bananas for too long, your smoothies will not turn out as thick.
- Note: these recommendations are based on using a high-speed blender, which is more powerful than a regular blender.
For baking:
- Thaw the bananas at room temperature for approximately 20 minutes before using. At this point, they should be easy to mash if needed.
Recipe
How to Freeze Bananas (for Smoothies and More)
INGREDIENTS
- 4 bananas yellow or green
INSTRUCTIONS
- Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Peel the bananas and place them on a cutting board. Using a knife, slice the bananas vertically into 1-inch rounds.
- Place the sliced bananas onto the lined baking sheet and spread them out in a single layer. Make sure to space them apart so that the slices do not freeze together.
- Freeze for at least 2 hours, then transfer the banana slices to a freezer-safe container.
- Cover with an airtight lid and store them in the freezer for up to three months.
NOTES
- If your freezer temperature is set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (which is the recommended temperature for freezers in home refrigerators), do not thaw the bananas before using.
- If your freezer temperature is closer to -5 degrees Fahrenheit (which is often the setting for upright freezers and freezer chests), you will need to remove the frozen banana slices from the freezer approximately 5-10 minutes before blending, so that your blender doesn't struggle.
- If you thaw the bananas for too long, your smoothies will not turn out as thick.
- Note: these recommendations are based on using a high-speed blender, which is more powerful than a regular blender.
- Thaw the bananas at room temperature for approximately 20 minutes before using. At this point, they should be easy to mash if needed.
Leave a Comment