How To Freeze Bananas The Easy Way

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.)

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! Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

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. 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.

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.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share.