Rich in potassium that is good for your cardio health and to regulate the blood pressure, banana is a fruit that you can even consume daily with no fear of side effects. Bananas are not only eaten as desserts but also used for baking breads, cakes, muffins and making pancakes, smoothies and milkshakes. Even though bananas are not very expensive, it is a real wastage to throw them away when they are over-ripe. Bananas also ripe pretty fat. If you are sick of buying bananas and having to throw over-ripen bananas away before making your favourite dishes, here is a great idea for you! You can freeze bananas and save them to use later.
How you freeze bananas depends on the purpose which you wish to use bananas for. This article will be helpful for you to have a clear understanding on the most important factors you need to know about freezing bananas.
Health Benefits of Eating Bananas
Bananas provide you with the nutrients like Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, potassium, fibre, potassium and manganese you need for your body’s survival. This fruit is also free from unnecessary fat, cholesterol and sodium. The nutrients in bananas help your metabolic system function properly, produce red blood cells, help your body absorb more iron, improve the health of your skin, regulate blood pressure, improve digestive health and control bowel movements. Eating bananas daily does not create side issues at all.
How do You Freeze Bananas?
Bananas can be frozen in different ways depending on how you plan to use it. When selecting banana for freezing, make sure you freeze very ripe and soft bananas with brown spots. Then only they will taste good and sweet when you add them to your smoothies or baking goods. Here are three different ways you can freeze bananas.
Freezing a Whole Banana
This is the best storage method if you want to eat a whole banana for dessert later. You just have to peel off the banana and put it in a Ziploc bag and freeze. When you freeze a complete banana, it is important to remove the peel and freeze because peeling off is difficult after the banana is frozen.
Freezing Banana Slices
If you intend to freeze bananas to use them for smoothies later, this freezing method is for you. First, peel off the bananas. Then, slice it to ½ to ¾ inch pieces. Next, place them on a baking tray lined with parchment sheet. Lay the banana slices off in a single layer to avoid them from sticking with each other. After freezing banana slices for about two hours, transfer them into an airtight container or a Ziploc bag to free your freezer space. Mention the amount of bananas on the freezer bag.
Freezing Mashed Bananas
This freezing method is super easy. You just have to peel off the banana, mash it, pack it in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container and freeze it. Make sure that you remove the air inside before putting the bag or container inside the freezer. It is highly recommended to write the amount of bananas inside the freezer bag because it would be useful for you when you are ready to use the frozen bananas inside.
Important Tips to Follow when Freezing Bananas
- Whether you freeze a whole banana, banana slices or mashed bananas, make sure that you label the freezer bag or the containers mentioning the expiration date of your frozen bananas.
- It is good to consume frozen bananas within three to six months
- Always freeze well-ripen bananas.
Do Bananas Turn Brown when Frozen?
No, they don’t, if you follow the exact instructions. Frozen bananas turn brown when they are exposed to too much air inside the freezer. When the containers or bags in which you store banana are not sealed properly, bananas turn brown while they are being frozen. Therefore, make sure that you freeze your bananas in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container after squeezing out all the air.
How to Thaw Frozen Bananas
If you are going to make a smoothie, you can add frozen bananas directly to the blender or food processor and make the smoothie. But, if you are going to use frozen bananas for a baking recipe, make sure you thaw the bananas at the room temperature for about two hours or place the bananas in the fridge overnight to defrost. Ignore the pulpiness of bananas after being thawed because it is natural for bananas to be mushy. Add everything including the liquids that have come out of frozen bananas to your cooking or baking dish because your recipes require all the moisture of bananas.
Conclusion
As a popular tropical fruit, different varieties of bananas are consumed by people all over the world. People love to eat bananas because of its flavor, texture and most importantly, the nutritious value. Bananas are consumed as a simple dessert or as an important ingredient when baking and making smoothies. Frozen bananas are used in many recipes. Bananas are super simple to freeze. You can freeze either a whole banana, bananas cut into slices or mashed bananas depending on your preference and on what you plan to use bananas. Even though you can preserve this fruit by freezing, in order to get the maximum benefits out of it, you need to consume frozen bananas within three to six months. When freezing bananas, it is also very important not to let air in the freezer bags. Air can make bananas turn brown, thus unsuitable for consumption. Thawing of bananas is very simple. You can either thaw frozen bananas in the refrigerator or at room temperature. When preparing smoothies, you can add a whole banana in the food processor. But, if frozen bananas are used for baking purposes, it is better to mash the bananas first. This review describes everything you need to know regarding freezing bananas.
