Frozen bananas are one of the BEST ingredients to have in your freezer. However, you may be wondering how to tell if frozen bananas are bad.
It is very simple to be able to tell if frozen bananas are bad. But first let’s start by talking about why frozen bananas are an essential ingredient in your freezer.
3 Reasons to Freeze Bananas
- Freezing bananas is a great way to prevent food waste by extending the shelf life..
- Frozen bananas are perfect for baking recipes like banana muffins.
- Bananas, especially frozen, add a smooth texture to smoothie recipes.
How to Tell if Frozen Bananas are Bad
Let’s start by answering how to tell if frozen bananas are bad. Frozen food is a great way to have fresh food by extending the shelf life. One important thing to remember is to be sure to store frozen food in airtight containers, freezer bags, and freezer ziploc bags.
The first rule of thumb goes with the saying “when in doubt, throw it out.”
Evidence of Freezer Burn
Ice Crystals
Not Sealed Properly
If the Freezer Goes Out
They Were Not Frozen Properly
Best Way to Store Fresh Bananas
Bananas are such a convenient fruit due to the fact that you can store it on the counter top. Bananas are also ready to peel and eat and also very portable in a lunch box.
The best way to store fresh bananas from the grocery store is to place them in a fruit bowl on the countertop at room temperature.
It is important to be mindful of what fruits you store with the bananas. As bananas ripen they produce ethylene gas which is a gas that can also cause other fruits around it to ripen more quickly.
That said, bananas are very useful to help move along the ripening process of other fruits. For example, next time you bring home a mango that is not ripe, you can place the mango in a paper bag with unpeeled bananas.
For best results, roll up the top of the paper bag to trap the ethylene gas and store at room temperature. Within 48-72 hours, the mango will be more ripe.
Learning how to store cooked vegetables is also important.
How Long Are Frozen Bananas Good for Once Thawed
Bananas are easy to freeze and easy to thaw. Once the bananas are thawed, if you are not using them right away, place the bananas in the refrigerator. As long as they are stored in a sealed container, they will last 48-72 hours.
The bananas will have a soft texture and release liquid after being frozen. These bananas should be used in a recipe that calls for these types of bananas such as a smoothie or baked goods.
Can You Eat Frozen Bananas Straight from the Freezer
One of the best frozen treats on a hot day is a frozen banana. Let’s talk about how to prepare bananas straight from the freezer. First add banana slices to a lined baking sheet and place in the freezer for a couple of hours.
The frozen banana slices have a natural sweetness, and they are perfect for snacking or adding to a smoothie.
Do Frozen Bananas Go Bad
Like any other fresh fruit item, frozen bananas can go bad. Frozen bananas will last at least 2-3 months in the freezer.
The main thing you want to remember is to ensure that you have proper storage measures in place when freezing bananas. As mentioned previously, be sure store frozen bananas in an airtight container or sealed freezer bags.
Frozen food should be frozen solid. Alternatively, if frozen food has been thawed and refrozen, there will often be ice crystals on the food. This can lead to ‘freezer burn’ which breaks down the quality of the ingredient.
When Are Bananas Too Ripe
Bananas take on many colors and textures as they ripen. They start off green, then yellow, followed by brown spots. Before you know it they are completely black.
So how can you tell if bananas are too ripe? The more ripe and the more spots the banana turns, the starches of the banana begin to turn sweeter. It’s an easy way to add a delicious flavor to your baking and smoothie recipes.
Can You Eat Black Bananas
So the rule at my house is to ‘never throw away a black banana.’ However, there are some exceptions to the rule.
Best Way to Tell if You Need to Throw Away a Banana
The best way to tell if you should throw the banana away if his has the following:
Cracks in the peeling
Fruit flies nesting
If it is leaking through the skin
If it appears to have mold on it
If it has a foul odor
If the bananas is still good, it is time to carefully peel it and store it in the freezer for your next smoothie or baking recipes.
Is It Ok if Frozen Bananas Turn Brown
Bananas that are naturally ripened have spotted skin, however, if the FRESH banana itself has a brown spot on the flesh, this may be caused by bruising. Remove any brown areas of the flesh prior to freezing for best tasting experience.
If the banana is properly stored in the freezer, there may be a slight darkening that occurs. This is the natural ripening process along with the sugary liquid that releases from the banana during the freezing process.
What is the Defrosted Bananas Brown Liquid
The brown liquid that comes from a defrosted banana is the sweet sugary starches that are released.
This liquid is a great ingredient to add along with the banana to smoothies and recipes. The liquid will add additional sweetness and flavor.
How Long Do Frozen Bananas Last
Freezing bananas is a great way to have less food waste and save money. Frozen bananas are also perfect for your sweet baked goods and smoothies.
After freezing bananas properly, exactly how long do frozen bananas actually last? According to University of Minnesota Extension, frozen fruits last 8-12 months as long as they are properly stored.
How Long Do Bananas Take To Freeze
Before freezing bananas, it is a good idea to remove the banana peel. This is an important step and will make it much easier to use the banana when you are ready.
The amount of time it takes for bananas to freeze depends on the form of the banana. If you are preparing sliced bananas into bit sized pieces placed in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet, they will only take about 1 hour.
Alternatively, if it is a whole bananas (whole peeled banana), it will take 2-3 hours for the banana to freeze.
Once bananas are frozen, be sure they are kept in an airtight container or a labelled resealable freezer bag so that they are stored properly to last longer.
Frozen Bananas Recipe Ideas
Leftover frozen bananas are ideal for many types of banana recipes. The natural sweetness of the overripe bananas makes it perfect pairing for sweet recipes.
Thawed bananas add a creamy texture to smoothies. In addition, the bananas add moisture content to recipes which makes it great for baking.
Here are some examples of banana recipes:
Nice Cream
Banana Ice cream made from mashed banana. The creamy texture of the bananas give a similar quality to ice cream. The base ingredients are bananas and you can dd topping such as chocolate chips. It is a great for post exercise activity snacking.
Banana Bread Recipes
The best bananas to use for banana bread are leftover bananas. It is a great way to use the thawed banana and add more nutritional value to baking recipes.
Chocolate Dipped Banana Slices
Yes, these are exactly like they sound! Pairing banana slices and melted chocolate makes a delicious frozen treat. Another way to make this is to take a half of a banana and place a lollipop stick in it. Then dip the banana into the melted chocolate.
Place the chocolate dipped banana on a pan lined with parchment paper and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once the banana is frozen, place in a freezer safe plastic bag.
Banana Smoothies
Frozen bananas are PERFECT for a banana smoothie. Pair the frozen slices of banana with a cup milk and protein powder and mix in a blender. These banana smoothies are perfect for protein snack box ideas or healthy breakfast ideas for teens.
Now that you have all of the details about frozen bananas, you can feel confident about freezing this useful ingredient.
Freezing bananas are one of the easiest ways to decrease food waste by extending the life of the banana. Additionally, think about all of the delicious smoothies and baked goods that you can make with frozen bananas.
