How to Freeze Bananas (3 Ways)

Having frozen bananas stashed in your freezer means you can make smoothies, banana bread, banana pancakes, and so much more whenever the mood strikes! This post explains How to Freeze Bananas and when you should and shouldn’t thaw them before using.

Can You Freeze Bananas?

You can easily freeze most fruits, and bananas are no exception! Freezing bananas is incredibly easy, and I love how versatile they are. 

The great thing about bananas is that they can be frozen at any stage of ripeness (more on that in the section below). 

Frozen bananas are good to have on hand as a form of breakfast meal prep if you often make smoothies, but it’s a useful tip to keep in mind for those times when you have a bunch of bananas you either forgot about and are now too ripe to eat from the peel, or perhaps you’re about to go out of town and don’t want to throw away perfectly good bananas. 

Frozen bananas can be used straight from the freezer in smoothies, “nice cream,” and certain baked goods. Or, thaw them to use in banana bread, banana pancakes, banana bars, and so much more! 

In this post, I’ll be sharing my tested methods for freezing bananas without them turning brown.   

How to Select Bananas for Freezing 

Unlike peaches or berries, it doesn’t really matter how ripe your bananas are when you freeze them. 

Yellow bananas will be less sweet, but their firmer flesh makes them easier to cut and freeze in slices. Heavily speckled or even black bananas are best mashed up and frozen in small quantities to use for future baked goods such as baked oatmeal or banana bread. 

• If freezing bananas in slices, whole, or halves: I recommend choosing bananas with peels that are still vibrant yellow or with just a few black speckles. They’ll firm up more in the freezer and will make for creamier smoothies or firmer banana pops. 
• If freezing mashed bananas: I recommend using bananas that are very speckled or black. The darker they are in color, the sweeter and softer they’ll be for mashing. 

Always discard any bananas that are moldy, oozing, or have obviously gone off. Freezing won’t magically make any fruit safe to consume if it’s already past its prime! 

Tools Needed 

You need very few tools to freeze bananas, but the following items will make the process quicker and will make portioning out the frozen bananas in the future much easier. 

• Paring knife: For cutting or slicing the bananas. 
• Cutting board: Use a cutting board that hasn’t been cross-contaminated with garlic or onion, otherwise your bananas will soak up those scents. 
• Baking tray: I recommend freezing whole or sliced bananas in a single layer on a baking sheet prior to storing in freezer containers. 
• Parchment paper: Prevents the bananas from sticking to the baking sheet during the flash freezing process.
• Mixing bowl: Only needed if you’re mashing the bananas before freezing. 
• Silicone ice cube trays: If you don’t have small freezer bags or freezer containers, I recommend freezing mashed bananas in silicone ice cube trays (of any size!) and then transferring to a larger freezer container. This allows you to thaw smaller quantities of mashed banana in the future. 
• Small freezer-safe containers: Ideal for freezing mashed bananas in individual portions. 
• Vacuum bags: Freezing bananas in vacuum bags keeps them fresher for longer and is the best method for avoiding freezer burn. 
• Zip-top freezer bags: I recommend Ziploc brand freezer bags for freezing bananas.

How to Freeze Bananas 3 Ways 

You have three options for freezing bananas: whole, slices, or mashed. I go into more detail about each freezing method in the sections below, and I’ve also explained which method is best for how you plan on using the frozen bananas in the future.   

1. Freezing Whole Bananas 

Can you freeze bananas whole? Yes! 

Freezing whole bananas is a good option for when you’re short on time and just need to get bananas in the freezer to preserve them. I also recommend this freezing method if you’re unsure how you plan on using the frozen bananas in the future. 

Frozen whole (or halved) bananas are ideal for using in smoothies and “nice cream,” or coating in chocolate to make banana pops. 

Keep in mind that although freezing bananas whole gives you more options later on, they also take up the most freezer space compared to sliced or mashed bananas. 

1. Peel the bananas. Either leave whole or cut in half to accommodate the size of your freezer bag. 
2. Place the bananas on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the bananas are not touching or they’ll stick together! 
3. Flash freeze for 1 hour, or until hardened. 
4. Transfer the frozen bananas to a freezer bag.
5. Label and date the bag before storing in the freezer.  

2. Freezing Sliced Bananas 

Can you freeze banana slices? Yes! 

Frozen banana slices are great for smoothies and can also be added to baked oatmeal, certain quick breads, yogurt bowls, ice cream, and more. 

They also thaw quickly and can be mashed later on if you wind up needing the frozen banana slices for something like banana bread, pancakes, cakes, or muffins. 

1. Peel the bananas. Use a paring knife to slice the bananas. (I recommend cutting slices that are 1/2 – to 1-inch thick. Thicker slices are sturdier and easier to freeze.)   
2. Place the banana slices on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the bananas are not touching or they’ll stick together! 
3. Flash freeze for 1 hour, or until hardened. 
4. Transfer the frozen banana slices to a freezer bag.
5. Label and date the bag before storing in the freezer.  

3. Freezing Mashed Bananas 

Can you freeze mashed bananas? Yes! 

If you’re specifically freezing bananas for banana bread, banana cake, banana muffins, or baby food, I recommend mashing them. 

I also recommend mashing bananas before freezing if they’re already overripe or very speckled. Once they reach this stage of ripeness, they’ll be very sweet and very soft — that would make them difficult to slice since they’ll be so soft! 

Freeze mashed banana in smaller portions so you can thaw precisely what you need for future recipes. 

1. Peel the bananas. Add to a mixing bowl and use a fork to mash into a smooth paste. 
2. Option 1: Divide the mashed bananas between small freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. Label and date the bag or container, noting how much mashed banana is in each. 
3. Option 2: Spoon the mashed bananas into silicone ice cube trays (you may use any size, but large silicone ice cube trays are easiest to work with since they hold about ¼-cup of mashed bananas per cavity).
4. Freeze for about 1 hour or until hardened. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag.
5. Label and date the bag before freezing, taking care to note the amount of mashed bananas per portion. 

Tip: I recommend freezing mashed bananas in smaller portions, roughly ¼ to ½ cup per freezer bag or container. This is where those large silicone ice cube trays come in handy since each cavity holds about ¼ cup of mashed bananas. Freezing smaller amounts means you can thaw exactly what you need in the future for baking banana breads, muffins, etc. 

Tips for Freezing Bananas 

• Freeze at any stage of ripeness, but note that speckled bananas will be sweeter. 
• Invest in reusable freezer bags if you know you’ll continually freeze bananas for morning smoothies or baking recipes. It’s also handy to have designated reusable freezer bags for freezing bananas since they infuse everything they touch with their scent! 
• Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or the bananas will stick to it. They’ll be nearly impossible to get off!  
• If you don’t have a plan for the frozen bananas, freeze whole or in halves. You can slice or mash them later once they’ve thawed.
• Bananas thaw quickly, so don’t worry too much about placing them in the fridge at just the right time to defrost before you plan on using them in a recipe.  

How to Thaw Frozen Bananas 

If using frozen bananas in smoothies, you don’t need to thaw them before blending. However, you will need to thaw bananas for most baked goods or quick-cooking recipes (such as pancakes and waffles). 

Here are the easiest ways to thaw frozen bananas: 

• In the fridge: Place the desired amount of frozen bananas in the fridge and let defrost overnight. 
• On the counter: Place the desired amount of frozen bananas on the counter for 1 to 2 hours, noting that banana slices thaw the fastest.
• Run under cold tap water: If you’re in a rush, run the frozen bananas under cold tap water in a zip-top bag to defrost more quickly. 

Freezing FAQs 

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Do bananas freeze well? 

Yep! They freeze very well but they’re not a fruit you’d thaw and then eat on their own after freezing. Frozen bananas are softer in texture once thawed, so they’re ideal for smoothies or for using in baking recipes. 

How long do bananas last in the freezer? 

Bananas can be frozen for up to 3 months. If freezer burn appears, note that the bananas are still safe to eat but the texture might be compromised. 

Can you freeze bananas in the peel? 

Technically yes, you may freeze bananas in the peel. However, bananas frozen in the peel are more prone to sticking together and in my experience you have to thaw them before using since the frozen peel is so hard to remove! Also, the peel will take up unnecessary space in the freezer. 

Is it better to freeze bananas with or without the peel? 

It’s much better to freeze bananas out of their peel. 

How long does it take for a banana to freeze? 

It depends on whether you freeze bananas whole, in slices, or mashed. Banana slices freeze the fastest (about 1 hour), while mashed and whole bananas need 1 to 2 hours to harden. 

Can you freeze bananas in a Ziploc bag? 

Yes, but use a freezer Ziploc bag. They’re thicker and are specifically designed to prevent freezer burn and browning! 

Is it safe to eat frozen bananas that have turned brown? 

Yes, frozen bananas that have turned brown have simply oxidized. They’re still safe to eat and bake with. 

Ways to Use Frozen Bananas 

Frozen whole bananas can be coated in chocolate and eaten as banana pops, while mashed or sliced bananas can be used in one of the following ways: 

• Banana bread: Coconut Lime Banana Bread, Whole Wheat Banana Bread, Coconut Lemon Banana Bread, Orange Banana Bread. 
• Baked goods: Chocolate Banana Muffins, Banana Snack Cake. 
• Smoothies: Chocolate Banana Smoothie, Raspberry Banana Smoothie. 
• Frozen desserts: Berry Banana Pops.
• Baked oatmeal 

Try Freezing Bananas at Home! 

Next time you have a bunch of bananas about to go bad, try freezing them! 

Did you think this tutorial on how to freeze bananas was helpful? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of these freezing methods.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your frozen bananas! 

More Frozen Fruit Tutorials: 

Extend peach season in your household by freezing fresh peaches for later! In this post, I’ll explain How to Freeze Peaches fresh, blanched, or cooked and also give my top tips for success. 

Freezing raspberries is a wonderful way to enjoy summer’s harvest year-round! This guide explains how to freeze raspberries, plus it answers the most commonly asked questions about thawing frozen raspberries and using them in recipes. 

Do you know how easy it is to freeze fresh blueberries? This guide explains how to freeze blueberries, plus it answers the most commonly asked questions about thawing frozen blueberries and using them in recipes.

Freezing fresh cherries is the perfect way to take advantage of sale prices and enjoy the taste of summer all year round! Here’s How to Freeze Cherries, plus my top tips for thawing frozen cherries and the many ways to use them in recipes.

Can you freeze grapes? Absolutely! Frozen grapes make for great snacks on hot days, and they can be thrown into smoothies. Here’s how to freeze grapes the easy way!

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