How To: Freeze Bananas
Today I’m going to teach you how to freeze bananas. Why freeze bananas? Good question.
Frozen bananas are a great way to preserve over ripe bananas until you’re ready to use them. Thaw. Mash. Create.
I freeze bananas exclusively for whipping up thick, creamy smoothies. Frozen bananas, or frozen fruit in general, is a key ingredient for creating the perfect, full-bodied smoothie.
What do I mean by full-bodied? Say you use fresh, room-temperature fruit (which is totally okay). In order to create a cold, frothy smoothie, the addition of ice is required. Adding ice to room-temperature ingredients will cause the ice to melt and will ultimately dilute your smoothie, causing a less flavorful smoothie.
Freezing fruit at the peak of freshness will not only preserve the fruit, but it will eliminate the need for ice. Frozen fruit equals fruit + ice. No diluting. No loss of flavor. Thick smoothie. Sounds better, right?
This method is completely effortless. Let’s get started.
1. Grab a few bananas and get to peelin’.
2. Slice bananas into thick rounds.
3. Transfer banana slices to a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet. Arrange the bananas in a single layer making sure the slices are not touching.
4. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and allow the bananas to freeze completely, about 2 hours.
5. Transfer the banana slices to a freezer bag and store until ready to use.
This tutorial will come in handy for the smoothie recipes that will be coming your way later this week. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or leave me a note in the comments.
37 Comments on “How To: Freeze Bananas”
I totally have some bananas in my freezer right now. Bring on the smoothies!
I have a good one coming up on Thursday. Love me some smoothies!
I LOVE this post! I always freeze my bananas whole and never thought of simply cutting them up before hand. So simple, but genius! Thanks for the tip!
Thank you so much, Taylor. I used to freeze my ‘nanas whole, but they were so hard to whir in the blender.
I love freezing bananas! They are amazing in smoothies. I usually add fresh strawberries, blueberries, or cherries too, but I’ve been adding a frozen peach or blueberries too and it’s like super healthy ice cream!
I love mixed berry smoothies! I like adding a little spinach for an extra boost of vitamins.
We always have a bag of frozen banana chunks in our freezer just waiting to be used for smoothies! Great tutorial!
Thanks, Jess. I start to panic when I run low. I’m not a fan of using ice in my smoothies.
this way is much smarter than my way lol
Lol. You crack me up, Kayle.
These are the perfect addition to a morning smoothie. Great how to!
They’re the best. Thanks for stopping by, Kate.
We freeze bananas all the time! I love to have them on hand for smoothies and banana bread. I love your tip about cutting them into chunks…I usually leave them whole! :)
I can never use my ripe bananas fast enough, so in the freezer they go. Thanks for stopping by, Christina.
I always have a bag of frozen bananas on hand for smoothies! Just made one today with mixed berries. So good!
It’s so convenient. Just grab and whir. Thanks for stopping by, Sally!
Perfect method!
Why have I never frozen bananas this way?! Such a great idea.
It’s a great way to preserve those overripe bananas. Thanks for stoping by, Laura!
I freeze them whole and then thaw and use them in banana bread etc. so I always have a few ready on hand! Great tips!
Thanks, Julie!
In the past I have just put the entire banana in the freezer. This method it much more helpful! Especially if I don’t need an entire banana in a recipe!
Thanks, Laura!
I love this idea but my freezer is too full to fit a baking sheet. I wonder how hard it would be to break apart a solid clump of frozen bananas, lol?
do i get stars because i knew this one? :) i found this out the hard way when freezing bananas for a shake once. Froze them with the peel on, whole, and when i went to take one out? EW, mushy peel that wouldn’t move. So this is exactly how i do it, or i just peel and cut them in half (i’m lazy) since that’s typically the portion size i use when i need them. happy new year, Jennie!
Maybe a cookie or cocktail reward?
Excellent tutorial, Jennie! Perfect timing, too, for smoothie season (if there is one, LOL). I love doing the same with my favorite berries, raspberries. I can never have enough of those on hand. Beautiful photography. Now, I can’t wait to start making smoothies! I, too, love adding frozen banana vs. all that ice. Thanks for sharing, my friend!
Thank you so much, Stacy! My freezer is stocked with smoothie essentials, too.
I usually just half my bananas before freezing them as that’s the normal portion I use. But cutting them up is such a great idea!
Thanks for stopping by, Stephanie. I love slicing them into fat rounds. It makes it easier to blend.
Thanks to you my frozen bananas won’t get freezer burnt, Doing it your way seems much better. Thanks so much! I keep frozen bananas in my freezer all my smoothies and for my favorite banana smoothie: banana-peanut butter smoothie,
Thanks, Nancy. I love me a good pb banana smoothie. It’s one of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by.
Nooooooo! I had a post ready to go for this same exact thing. Haha. You beat me to it! I guess I’ll wait around a while to post mine. Or just direct people to yours. Your pictures are way better!
You should still post your tutorial, Erin. I’m sure you have different readers than me, and they would love to see your tutorial.
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You only mention thawed bananas for smoothies use but can one eat the de-frozen banana as if it wern’t frozen before hand.
The real question is: Does freezing change the constitution of the nanas?
How to keep frozen banana slices apart from each other?