The Proper Way to Freeze Bananas

There's a lot of nonsense on the internet when it comes to freezing bananas. You'd think something so simple couldn't be overcomplicated, but lo and behold, you find instructions to slice each banana crosswise and freeze the individual pieces on a sheet pan (sometimes turning the pieces after an hour of freezing to freeze for another two hours) and then removing the pieces from the pan to a storage container. Here's the good news: it can (and should) be much simpler than that.

WATCH: Delicious Banana Cream Pie

Aside from being the notorious fruit that freckles after only hours on your counter, bananas are an excellent source of nutrients and flavor. As one of the few fruits with no juice, it's an ideal ingredient to add to baked goods because it's less likely to add too much moisture to a batter. A banana's thick but smooth texture also makes it a great fruit to add body and substance to a smoothie. All this to say that a banana that ripens before you have the opportunity to use it should not be tossed out. Freezing your bananas when they're at their ripest makes for an excellent supply of a versatile ingredient that's ready to use whenever it's convenient for you.

How to Freeze Bananas

To freeze your bananas, simply peel the banana and remove any overly brown or mushy parts with a spoon. Wrap the whole banana in plastic wrap, and place the wrapped bananas in a freezable ziplock bag, pressing the air out of the bag before sealing it. Be sure to put the date on the outside of the bag, because bananas older than 6 months should be tossed out. For smoothies and other blended beverages, these bananas can be unwrapped and thrown right into the blender. For baking, be sure to thaw the bananas before trying to mash them and add them to a batter. For a particularly decadent treat, place 5 frozen bananas in a food processor with a can of sweetened condensed milk, and blend until completely smooth. The result is a 5-minute banana ice cream that will forever make you grateful for your supply of frozen bananas.