Freezing bananas is quick and easy. All you need to do is to prepare them and put them in the freezer.
However, I want to emphasize here that there is the best way to store bananas in the freezer.
But first, let me talk about how long you can freeze bananas. If you are in a hurry to make a certain recipe, you might ask this question too.
So, how long do bananas take to freeze?
If bananas are stored in the freezer correctly, it will only take about 30 minutes to 1 hour to freeze. This time duration however depends on the cooling performance of the freezer and the way the bananas are stored in the freezer.
As mentioned, there is the right way to freeze bananas. If done incorrectly, bananas can take longer time to freeze.
In this post, I will share with you the basic steps you can do to freeze bananas fast. If you are interested, just keep reading.
How to Freeze Bananas Quickly?
There are many ways to freeze bananas. But if you want to make the process quicker, a few things must be put into consideration.
Here are a few steps you can do to freeze bananas quickly:
1. Peel the Bananas
Bananas can be frozen with the peel on. However, if you want to freeze them quickly, you need to take the peel off.
2. Slice the Bananas
After peeling the bananas, what I like to do next is to slice them crosswise 1/2–inch thick. A thickness like this will help freeze the bananas fast.
3. Place Slices on Baking Sheet
The next thing you need to do is to place the slices onto the baking sheet with parchment paper. Line them on a single layer.
Make sure that the slices do not touch one another. This is to prevent them from sticking together making them difficult to separate.
4. Freeze the Slices Initially
After all the slices are placed on a baking sheet with parchment paper, you can initially freeze the slices for about 2-3 hours or until the slices harden.
5. Place the Frozen Slices in an Airtight Bag
Once the banana slices are frozen initially, you can transfer them into an airtight container. This is very important to preserve the quality of the banana.
More importantly, flash-freezing banana slices will prevent them from forming a big clump. Trust me, you do not want to have difficulties in separating the slices apart.
Lastly, before putting the slices into the freezer again, make sure that the excess air in the container is sucked out. Also, close the container tightly.
A Ziploc is suitable to use in this case. It is easy to use and close.
6. Place the Banana Back to the Freezer
Now that the banana slices are safe in an airtight container, it is time to freeze them.
I like to freeze my sliced bananas in a separate drawer. This is to prevent them from absorbing odors that may affect their quality.
This is very important to consider especially if you are planning to use the banana slices in delicate recipes.
The tips mentioned can surely help you freeze banana slices quickly. But this is not the only way to freeze bananas.
In fact, you do not need to slice bananas before freezing them. You can freeze the whole banana if you want to.
How to Freeze Whole Bananas?
As mentioned, you can freeze whole bananas. This is a great way if you are in a hurry and you want to preserve the quality of bananas for your smoothies or bread.
If you want to try this route, you can do the following steps. But before you do any of the following steps, make sure that you pick the ripe bananas.
Here are the simple steps:
1. Peel the Bananas You Want to Freeze.
2. Put the peeled bananas in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
3. Put a label on the bag to easily identify the date the bananas are frozen.
That’s it. When the time comes to use the bananas, you can just pull them out of the freezer.
If you want to add them in your smoothies, you just need to put the bananas into the blender.
On the other hand, if you want to add them to your banana bread, thaw them before adding them to other ingredients.
The rest of the process is self-explanatory. It is totally up to you how you will use frozen bananas.
Is It Necessary to Peel Bananas Before Freezing?
Technically, you can freeze bananas without peeling them. However, banana peels tend to turn dark or black under freezing temperatures.
You do not want to see that although the blackening of the peel, in most cases, will not affect the flesh inside.
The other thing you might not want to encounter is the difficulty in peeling bananas once the peels are totally damaged.
Lastly, the blackening of the peels may have a certain negative effect on the freshness of the bananas. This is the reason why I always recommend peeling the bananas before freezing.
How Long Can Bananas Be Kept in the Freezer
If stored properly, bananas can be kept in the freezer almost indefinitely. However, it is always advisable to use them within 2-3 months to maximize quality.
The longer the bananas are stored in the freezer, the more likely they get freezer burned.
This is the reason why I like to use frozen bananas within weeks.
How Long Does It Take to Freeze Bananas for Ice Cream?
There are many recipes you can do with frozen bananas. But if you want to add them to your ice cream, you might want to know how long will it takes for the bananas to freeze.
Sliced bananas can usually freeze for about 30 minutes to 2 hours. Freezing whole bananas takes longer depending on the capacity of the freezer.
To make sure, you can freeze bananas overnight before using them in your ice cream.
Can You Freeze Bananas in a Ziploc Bag?
Yes, you can freeze bananas in a Ziploc bag. It is one of the best ways to store them in the freezer.
Ziploc is easy to close. You can also easily remove the excess air. This will help to keep bananas retain their quality.
How to Freeze Bananas without Turning Brown?
There are many possible reasons why frozen bananas may turn brown. One of which is slow preparation.
I noticed it all the time that peeled bananas that are exposed to room temperature for too long tend to have brown color.
The key to freeze bananas without turning brown is to work quickly on them after peeling.
Once the bananas are peeled, sliced them and proceed to the process of freezing sliced bananas immediately. If you want to freeze the whole bananas, proceed to the process of freezing the whole bananas mentioned in this post.
This is the best strategy I know to freeze bananas without having discoloration problems.
Final Thoughts
The time required to freeze bananas may depend on whether they are sliced or whole.
Sliced bananas may freeze for about 30 minutes to 2 hours. On the other hand, whole bananas may take longer to freeze.
If you are freezing whole bananas, I recommend freezing them overnight. It is ample time to allow the whole bananas to harden. If you want to learn more about freezing foods, you can visit this page.
