Never throw out overripe bananas again! Learn how to freeze bananas, whole or sliced, with this simple method. Use frozen bananas in smoothies or for baking recipes, like banana bread!

bananas with the peels removed on cutting board

That moment when you look over at the counter and realize you have a whole bunch of bananas that are about to be too ripe. Rather than rushing to bake as many loaves of banana bread as you can, freeze them!

Store sliced or whole bananas in your freezer to have on hand to use in recipes any time.

Pop frozen banana slices in the blender to create banana ice cream that has the most perfect creamy texture and natural sweetness. They can also be added to smoothies, baked goods, and more!

No matter how you use them, having frozen bananas in the freezer all the time is an easy way to get a boost of potassium, fiber, calcium, and vitamin C!

Table of contents

  • whole bananas on cutting board with one partially peeled
  • peeled bananas on cutting board, one sliced into quarters
  • banana slices on parchment lined baking sheet
  • frozen banana slices in plastic zipper bag

How to freeze bananas

  1. Peel the bananas. I always recommend peeling the bananas before freezing them. Peeling a frozen banana is both difficult and messy, which is why I recommend peeling them before freezing. Yes, you can store unpeeled bananas in the freezer, but you will then need to defrost them, at least partially, before peeling them and using them in a recipe.
  2. Slice the bananas. You can either slice the banana into halves, quarters or slices, or you can keep it whole. This will depend on how you plan to use the frozen bananas. If you plan to use them in a smoothie, I recommend slicing them into quarters or slices, so that they’ll easily blend into your smoothie. If the bananas are really ripe and you plan to use them in banana bread, you can keep them whole.
  3. Store the bananas. If you plan to use the entire banana in a recipe (whole or sliced), you can simply place the banana in a freezer-safe container and transfer it to the freezer. If you plan to only use a few slices of banana at a time, I recommend freezing the slices in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet first for a one hour flash-freeze. Then you can transfer them to a freezer safe bag. Bananas can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tips and tricks

  • Always freeze bananas that are fully ripe, or even slightly overripe. Bananas will not ripen any further once they’re frozen, so you want to freeze fully ripe bananas so that they’re naturally sweet when you use them in a recipe.
  • Always label the container with the freeze date so you can remember when you froze the bananas. Frozen bananas should be used within 3 months.
  • To prevent the bananas from turning brown in the freezer, make sure to use an airtight container, or freezer-safe plastic bag. Exposure to air is what causes bananas to brown, so as long as they’re sealed tightly, you won’t have any issues with browning.
  • To thaw frozen bananas before adding them to a recipe, like banana bread, I recommend thawing them overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for about 2 hours. You can also use the defrost setting on your microwave if you are in a hurry.
  • If you know that you’ll be using the bananas to make banana bread, you can can mash the bananas in a bowl before placing them in a freezer safe container. The mashed bananas can be defrosted in the refrigerator overnight before being used in the banana bread recipe of your choice.
  • Size the slices accordingly. If you know how you will be using the frozen banana you can cut them into larger or smaller chunks. Smaller sizes are better for recipes such as smoothies.

How to use frozen bananas

Frozen bananas are perfect for smoothies or baked goods! Try them in any of these recipes.

banana slices in plastic freezer bag

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slices of bananas in zipper bag
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How To Freeze Bananas

Never throw out overripe bananas again! Learn how to freeze bananas, whole or sliced, with this simple method. Use frozen bananas in smoothies or for baking recipes, like banana bread!
Servings: 1 banana
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Freezing Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel the bananas. I always recommend peeling the bananas before freezing them. Peeling a frozen banana is both difficult and messy, which is why I recommend peeling them before freezing.
  • Slice the bananas. You can either slice the banana into halves, quarters or slices, or you can keep it whole. This will depend on how you plan to use the frozen bananas. If you plan to use them in a smoothie, I recommend slicing them into quarters or slices, so that they’ll easily blend into your smoothie. If the bananas are really ripe and you plan to use them in banana bread, you can keep them whole.
  • Store the bananas. If you plan to use the entire banana in a recipe (whole or sliced), you can simply place the banana in a freezer-safe container and transfer it to the freezer. If you plan to only use a few slices of banana at a time, I recommend freezing the slices in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet first for one hour. Then you can transfer them to a freezer safe bag. Bananas can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

  • Always freeze bananas that are fully ripe, or even slightly overripe. Bananas will not ripen any further once they’re frozen, so you want to freeze fully ripe bananas so that they’re naturally sweet when you use them in a recipe.
  • Always label the container with the freeze date so you can remember when you froze the bananas. Frozen bananas should be used within 3 months.
  • To prevent the bananas from turning brown in the freezer, make sure to use an airtight container, or freezer-safe plastic bag. Exposure to air is what causes bananas to brown, so as long as they’re sealed tightly, you won’t have any issues with browning.
  • To thaw frozen bananas before adding them to a recipe, like banana bread, I recommend thawing them overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for about 2 hours. You can also use the defrost setting on your microwave if you are in a hurry.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 105kcal (5%)Carbohydrates 27g (9%)Protein 1g (2%)Fat 0.4g (1%)Sodium 1mgPotassium 422mg (12%)Fiber 3g (12%)Sugar 14g (16%)Vitamin A 76mg (2%)Vitamin C 10mg (12%)Calcium 6mg (1%)Iron 0.3mg (2%)
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