Learn how to freeze bananas the easiest way possible to save those overripe bananas for future smoothies, muffins, oatmeal, baked goods like banana bread, and more.
How to Freeze Bananas
Usually, by the end of the week, we have a few bananas that are too ripe to eat fresh. I almost always freeze them to use later on to make sure that we put them to good use and don’t waste the perfectly edible food. I’ve been freezing bananas for years and have the very simple process down to a super easy method that you can do too.
I love this simple method since you can freeze them right in the bag (no need to freeze on a pan and transfer them later) and you can use them in both smoothies and baked goods.
This is also an excellent way to preserve leftover banana from kids meals and to use them later in ripe banana recipes!
(You might also like these posts: How to Freeze Blueberries, How to Freeze Strawberries, and How to Freeze Milk.)
Table of Contents
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Best Bananas to Freeze
You’ll want to freeze ripe or overripe fresh bananas, so they should look very yellow and have at least some brown spots. They can also be all brown if they’ve gotten to the point of being super ripe!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in freezing bananas. Scroll to the bottom of the post for all of the specifics.
- Peel the bananas.
- Break in half. Add to a freezer bag.
- Or, slice and add to a freezer bag.
- Press flat and seal.
TIP: I like to break bananas in half that I plan to use in smoothies so I can clearly see how much I’m adding without needing to actually measure them. My refurbished Vitamix handles those big pieces easily. I use sliced bananas for baked goods or oatmeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You’ll want to freeze ripe or overripe fresh bananas, so they should look very yellow and have at least some brown spots. These will taste the best.
Yes, make sure to remove as much air as possible and seal tightly.
To prevent them from turning brown, make sure that you are using a freezer-safe zip-top bag or an airtight container. Remove as much of the air as possible as this is what causes the bananas to turn brown.
How can I use frozen bananas?
I like to use frozen bananas in:
- Veggie Smoothies
- Banana Oatmeal Muffins
- Sugar-Free Banana Muffins
- Strawberry Banana Bread
- Oatmeal with Fruit
- Banana Yogurt
TIP: To bake with frozen bananas, let them thaw, drain off any excess liquid, and proceed with the recipe.
Best Tips for Success
- I like to break bananas in half that I plan to use in smoothies so I can clearly see how much I’m adding without needing to actually measure them. My refurbished Vitamix handles those big pieces easily.
- I use sliced bananas for baked goods or oatmeal.
- You’ll want to freeze ripe or overripe fresh bananas, so they should look very yellow and have at least some brown spots.
- To bake with frozen bananas, let them thaw, drain off any excess liquid, and proceed with the recipe.
- Use frozen bananas in Veggie Smoothies, Banana Oatmeal Muffins, Sugar-Free Banana Muffins, Strawberry Banana Bread, Oatmeal with Fruit, or Banana Yogurt.
Related Recipes
Cooking Tips
How to Freeze Rhubarb
Preserving
How to Freeze Spinach
Preserving
How to Freeze Tomatoes
Advice
How to Freeze Milk
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share.
This post was first published July 2020.
How to Freeze Bananas (the Easy Way)
Ingredients
- 1 bunch very ripe bananas or more or less according to what you have
Instructions
- Peel the bananas.
- Break in half. Add to a freezer bag.
- Or, slice into rounds and add to a freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible.
- Press flat and seal. You want the bananas to be in a single layer to prevent them from freezing together.
- Place flat into the freezer and freeze at for at least 4 hours or up to 6 months. (You can store the bag upright after they have been in the freezer for at least 4 hours and they won’t freeze together.)
Notes
- I like to break bananas in half that I plan to use in smoothies so I can clearly see how much I’m adding without needing to actually measure them. My refurbished Vitamix handles those big pieces easily.
- I use sliced bananas for baked goods or oatmeal.
- You’ll want to freeze ripe or overripe fresh bananas, so they should look very yellow and have at least some brown spots.
- To bake with frozen bananas, let them thaw, drain off any excess liquid, and proceed with the recipe.
- Use frozen bananas in Veggie Smoothies, Banana Oatmeal Muffins, Sugar-Free Banana Muffins, Strawberry Banana Bread, Oatmeal with Fruit, or Banana Yogurt
Have you ever freezes bananas then thawed for kids to just eat instead of placing in a recipe?
They would be very soft and mushy, so maybe okay for a baby but likely not for an older kid would be my guess. Sometimes they are also very brown.
No need to store them or freeze them flat use a butter knife put them in between and give a little twist and they’ll come apart