Bananas remain popular for their high potassium and fiber content and delicious taste, but they're also arguably the most troublesome fruit to keep fresh between visits to the grocer. The main thing is to avoid purchasing ones that have brown spots or bruises because they may be a sign of overripe fruit that's about to go bad. But if you've purchased too many bananas to consume before they turn, consider freezing them!
Frozen bananas can last up to four months in the feezdr and make an excellent addition to a smoothie or post-workout snack. You can also thaw the frozen fruit to make favorites like banana bread.
You can easily freeze a banana with or without the peel. Freezing the banana in the peel is simply a matter of separating your bunch of bananas, storing them in an airtight plastic bag, and placing them in the freezer. The skin of the unpeeled bananas will turn black when frozen, but the banana inside remains edible. While this seems effortless, be advised that a frozen banana out of the peel tends to last about a month longer than a banana with the skin intact. Moreover, if you choose to freeze your bananas with the skin on, you'll need to cut the frozen banana in half and thaw the pieces at room temperature (or in tepid water) before you can peel off the skin and enjoy the fruit.
We recommend you freeze bananas without the peel. To do so, you'll need a cookie sheet or freezer-safe plate, a knife, wax or parchment paper, and a freezer-safe bag that seals.
Peel each banana and cut in half along the middle. You'll have two large chunks for each banana. Place a large piece of wax paper or parchment paper on a cookie sheet or freezer-safe plate. Arrange the banana pieces on top of the wax paper. This ensures that the fruit will not stick to the sheet or plate. Make sure none of the banana pieces are touching so that they do not stick together as they freeze. Store the uncovered bananas in the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes or until they're frozen solid. Once the bananas are frozen, remove the fruit from the freezer and place the pieces into a freezer-safe plastic bag. Push as much air out of the bag as you can before sealing. Mark the date on the front of your freezer bag. Place the bag in the freezer and position the bananas on the shelf so they're not crowded. This will help maintain separation. The fruit should stay fresh for three to four months. Pull out the frozen banana halves one at a time for smoothies or thaw out several chunks for use in a healthy dessert.
