How to Freeze and Use Overripe Bananas

Many of us face the problem of buying too many bananas and then having them become overripe before we have a chance to eat them. So, what do you do with them? In most cases, many people throw the fruit in the trash, and that's a real shame. Some of the best bread and ice cream is made from overripe bananas. But, what if you don't feel like making banana bread or ice cream? No problem. Overripe bananas can be frozen and used later in recipes as well.

Freezing Overripe Bananas

There's no magic involved with freezing overripe bananas. All you need to do is pop the fruit in the freezer. I've found that the fruit will last for up to two months in the door of my stand freezer. I prefer to use the door because the bananas can easily get squished or torn open when placed on the shelves. Once the bananas start to shrivel up and get sticky, it's time to throw them away. The bananas should always be nice and firm when you remove them from the freezer and look as tight in their peel as when you placed them in the freezer. It's important to note that the bananas will turn black in the freezer. This is perfectly safe and does not harm the fruit in any way.

Using Frozen Bananas

Before you use the bananas in a recipe, they will need to thaw. I usually place my bananas in a deep boil to catch any condensation. It takes a few hours for the fruit to thaw. This means you'll want to take the bananas from the freezer at least three hours ahead of time.

Peeling thawed bananas is pretty much impossible. Instead, you'll want to take a pair of kitchen shears and snip the stem of the banana. You can them turn the banana over and squeeze the fruit into a bowl. The fruit comes out very easily, but be careful of the sticky juice that also comes out with it because it can make a big mess.

During their time in the freezer, the texture of the banana will have changed. This is great news though. Instead of having to mash the fruit, you can add the fruit directly to your bread or ice cream batter. As you stir the batter, the fruit will easily break apart and distribute throughout the batter.

Recipe Suggestions

Overripe, frozen bananas work great in baked goods, including bread and cakes. You can also use the fruit in smoothies, ice cream, frozen yogurt and other frozen desserts. Most recipes that call for mashed bananas will work. Best of all, you'll have less work to do.