One of the best ways to preserve bananas is by freezing them. I do it all the time.
However, many people asked me whether bananas can stay in the freezer forever.
So, can frozen bananas go bad? What I found based on my personal experience is that, as long as bananas are stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, they can last for weeks. The FDA and US Department of Agriculture also stated that frozen bananas can last for up to 2-3 months.
The storing process determines how long bananas last in the freezer. However, it is important to check the quality of the bananas before eating them or using them in a recipe.
There are some instances wherein bananas may not safe to consume. When stored in the freezer for too long, bananas may lose their consistency and become soft and oozing.
In this case, I do not recommend eating them. They might be bad already and consuming them may not be safe.
Another indicator that a banana has turned bad is the blackening inside the fruit. The blackening inside the fruit or on the surface indicates that bananas are not safe to eat.
How to Freeze Bananas Correctly?
Like freezing any food, freezing bananas is simple but must be done correctly. That said, storing bananas the wrong way will only shorten the shelf life of bananas rather than lengthen it.
If you want to keep the sweetness and the overall quality of bananas for your future recipes, then this post is for you.
Below, I will share with you the basic tips and strategies on how you can retain bananas in their best quality.
So, without further ado, here are the steps you can do to freeze bananas the right way.
1. Choose Ripe Banana to Freeze
The success in freezing bananas begins in choosing the right bananas to freeze. And the best bananas to freeze are those that are fully ripe.
If you bought bananas that are not fully ripe yet, you just need to place them at room temperature. I recommend that you do it for 2 days to one week or until the bananas are fully ripe.
This is the best way to keep the bananas in their natural flavor and consistency when ripe.
2. Peel the Banana
The next thing you need to do is to peel the bananas you want to freeze. Make sure that you take away all the skin.
3. Cut them into Small Pieces
After peeling, I like to cut the bananas into small pieces (crosswise at 1/2 –inch thick). You can also do the same to maximize the space in the freezer.
4. Store in the Airtight Container
The cut bananas should be placed in an airtight container. This step is very important to make sure that the quality of the fruit will not lose during the freezing process.
5. Freeze Bananas Separately from other Fruits
For the best result, I recommend that you freeze bananas in a separate drawer. This is to avoid the bananas from absorbing other smells.
I found this technique helpful especially if you want to use frozen bananas for some delicate recipes later.
How Long Bananas Last in the Freezer?
If you are freezing bananas, the next valid question you might ask is how long you can keep bananas in the freezer.
Well, the answer to this question depends on how you store bananas in the freezer. If done properly (as suggested above), bananas can last in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
You should not find any problems with the frozen bananas. However, I always recommend that before using them for your recipes check them for potential issues.
Check for bad odor, strange color, or consistency issues. If the bananas become soft and mushy or oozing, I will probably do not use them.
But there are recipes that require mushy bananas. An example of this is banana bread. My wife always looks for overripe bananas whenever she cooks banana bread.
It is up to you to examine the quality of frozen bananas and decide if they are still usable for baking.
Is It Okay if Frozen Bananas Turn Brown?
Someone emailed me and asked me this question. Her concern was whether or not frozen bananas that turned brown are still ok.
Well, this depends on the purpose of the frozen bananas. If bananas are frozen for too long, they normally turn brown and become super mushy when thawed.
In most cases, this does not mean that they are bad. You can still use them for certain recipes like banana bread.
However, if the bananas have bad smell, then they might already bad.
How Can You Tell If a Frozen Banana is Bad?
The most common way of determining whether frozen bananas are already spoiled is to check the consistency of the fruit.
Spoiled bananas usually are super mushy and oozing with some darkening.
However, as mentioned there are instances where mushy bananas are still safe to use for a baking or cooking recipe. As long as you do not see blackening, mold, or bad smell, frozen bananas are probably safe to use.
But again, this is a case to case basis. If you are not sure, do not compromise your safety.
Can you Freeze Bananas with the Peel On?
Yes, you can freeze bananas with peel on. The peel will usually turn dark at freezing temperature but it won’t affect the inside.
But if you want to maximize the space in your freezer, peeling and slicing bananas into small pieces is the best way to go.
Can You Freeze Bananas in a Ziploc Bag?
Yes, you can always freeze bananas in a Ziploc bag. But it is not enough to place the bananas in a Ziploc bag but also you need to make sure that you remove the air inside.
Bananas can last in the freezer when stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
How Long Do Thawed Bananas Last in the Fridge?
Previously, I tried to thaw bananas and left them on the counter before I place them in the fridge.
After one week I checked the bananas and found them still okay. There were no smell and consistency issues.
Final Thoughts
Freezing bananas is the best way to keep them for future use. However, you need to make sure that you do it right.
Frozen bananas can last for up to 2-3 months. However, always check the quality of bananas before using them in your recipe.
Bananas can go bad sometimes if frozen incorrectly. Some signs of spoiled bananas as blacking, bad smell, and mushy.
If you see some of these signs, especially if you are not sure, I suggest that you discard them from the freezer and do not use them. This is for safety purposes.
If you want to learn more about freezing foods, check this page.