Freezing bananas is so very easy! No special equipment is necessary. Plus you can use the frozen bananas for so many things from baking to smoothies! Next time you buy bananas, buy extra and use these step-by-step instructions to freeze them. 

Fresh bananas are some of the least expensive fruit you can buy and when you find a deal on “reduced for quick sale” bananas it’s even better. And it’s no just overripe bananas with brown spots that get reduced. Our grocery store will package up all the single bananas into bags for a reduced price, and they aren’t just the spotty bananas. I really don’t understand that but it’s a great time for me to restock the freezer with a bunch of bananas.

There is no one right way to freeze bananas, it just depends what you want to use the frozen bananas for. If you’re short on time and notice a banana on the counter that is getting super brown and mushy, it can be tossed in the freezer whole and unpeeled. If you’re making smoothies or smoothie bowls regularly, you’ll want to freeze pieces of bananas instead of whole bananas. If you want to freeze bananas to use them in baking recipes, they can be frozen whole. 

We freeze bananas several different ways to cover all of our needs. 

Pre-Treating Bananas

Like apples, bananas will turn brown when exposed to air. So, if you don’t want frozen brown bananas, you can pre-treat them by dipping them in water and an acid. You can use 1/2 cup lemon juice in 1/2 gallon water or 3 finely crushed 500-mg vitamin C tablets in a 1/2 gallon of water. If you prefer to buy a commercial product there are a couple, Ball Fruit Fresh and Mrs. Wages Fresh Fruit Preserver, just know that lemon juice and vitamin C tablets are a lot cheaper.

Pre-treating bananas is not necessary and it’s not something I do. We go through frozen bananas pretty fast and honestly, none of us care if the bananas turn a little brown. 

Flash Freezing Bananas

This is probably the best way to freeze bananas. There’s a little more prep time required but it makes using frozen bananas super easy. 

• If you want easier clean up, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. But you can skip this step and put the bananas directly on the baking sheet. 
• Peel the bananas and cut or break them into pieces. I like to break the bananas into thirds so I know that three pieces make a whole banana. My husband likes them in smaller pieces so they blend up better in smoothies. There’s no right or wrong size. Whatever size fits your needs best, is the best size. Pre-treat bananas, if desired.
• Put the sliced bananas on the parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. 
• Put the filled baking sheet in the freezer for 3-4 hours. 
• Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the frozen banana slices to a freezer-safe container. Zip loc bags are great for freezing bananas, just be sure to remove as much air as possible to reduce the risk of freezer burn.
• Label and freeze. 

Freezing Whole Bananas

You can use the above method to freeze peeled, whole bananas, just know that they will be harder to use for your morning smoothie or evening nice cream than banana slices are.

Many recipes call for mashed bananas, so you can also freeze whole mashed bananas. I like to freeze mashed bananas for things that I make frequently, like banana muffins and quick breads. 

You can mash the peeled bananas in an airtight container or in a bowl and then transfer them into a freezer-safe bag. But the easiest way is to put the bananas in the freezer bag and then gently mash them. This is how I do it so I don’t have to wash another bowl. Label the bag, be sure to include how many bananas are in it, and freeze. The frozen bananas will be a in large clump, so be sure to freeze them in quantities that you know you’ll use. 

Thaw on a plate on the counter for 1-2 hours or place the bag in a bowl of hot water if you’re sure there are no holes in it. 

Freezing Unpeeled, Whole Bananas

You can just toss overripe, unpeeled bananas in the freezer because they’re really getting soft and brown and I don’t have time to freeze them properly. It works great for controlling food waste but it makes it harder to use the frozen banana. They just don’t peel as easily when they’re frozen.

To peel a frozen unpeeled banana without completely thawing it out, I usually run a bit of hot water over it to thaw the peel just a bit and then remove it.

To completely thaw a frozen, unpeeled banana put it on a plate and let it thaw at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. You can also use the defrost setting on the microwave. Just be sure to put a plate or bowl under the thawing banana, it will release much of it’s liquid as it thaws and you’ll want to reserve that, especially if you’re baking with the banana.

Other Ways to Preserve Bananas

The only other way to preserve bananas is to dehydrate them. We like to make dried banana chips and banana strips. You can also use bananas in a fruit leather to preserve them. 

Thanks for sharing with your friends!