Why You Should Always Have Bananas Stored In Your Freezer

Bananas may be one of the most versatile foods around. Not only can you eat them with peanut butter (or Nutella) for a snack, you can bake them into olive oil chocolate chip banana bread, blend them into a spiced banana caramel milkshake, or cook them into piping hot fluffy banana pancakes. Their uses even go beyond culinary creations — you can mash bananas into a face mask, wipe them on plants to remove dirt, and use them to polish silverware. With the endless ways we can deploy bananas in our daily lives, it's no surprise they were the most purchased produce item in 2021, with 63% of Americans buying a bunch (via The Packer).

Yet if you're not freezing bananas, you're not truly making the most of these fruits. If you've ever had a frozen banana hand-dipped in premium chocolate, then rolled around in sprinkles, crushed Oreos, or toasted coconut and served on a stick, then you know how delicious these treats can be. And since bananas are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, this dessert may be a more nutritious alternative to a typical ice cream bar. But frozen banana desserts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways you can eat this ice-cold treat. In fact, there's a multitude of reasons why you'll want to always have frozen bananas around.

Have you ever heard of nice cream? While the trend made its rounds on social media, if you're not sure, it's essentially just frozen fruit pureed in a blender until you can scoop it in a cup and eat it with a spoon as a more nutritious ice cream. You can make it with practically any fruit you like, but bananas are a prime candidate for nice cream; not only do they have a mildly sweet flavor that goes well with yummy toppings like peanut butter, chocolate, and coconut; they also turn into a thick and creamy consistency after a few minutes in the blender.

Of course, there are a plethora of other ways to use these frozen fruits. If you're an avid smoothie maker, you probably already know that frozen bananas are an effective base for many of your favorite concoctions. They're sweet, thick, and nutritious, and they can often overpower the taste of any added veggies like spinach or kale. Freezing bananas is also a great way to save them if you're planning on using them for future baked goods. Just thaw them on the counter or in the microwave, strain out the excess liquid, and pour them right into your baking recipe. Or take a page out of Trader Joe's book and copy the chain's Gone Bananas!, which are frozen banana slices dipped in dark chocolate. What will you make with yours?