Exactly How Long Can You Store Bananas In Your Freezer?

With over 100 billion bananas eaten worldwide, it's safe to say that bananas are one of the most popular fruits. Bananas usually ripen within three days at room temperature, and you can extend their freshness a few days longer by storing them in the refrigerator. But when their skin turns black, it's time to freeze them. Bananas can be stored in the freezer for two to three months, but you do need to prepare them to ensure they're just as tasty when thawed.

Bananas need to be at peak ripeness before freezing them. As a banana ripens, its distinctive yellow skin becomes thinner and streaked or spotted. Those brown spots are normal for a ripe banana and indicate that its sugar level has increased. When ripe, the banana will be pliable, have a sweet scent, and the fruit will be off-white to cream-colored. A few dark spots are okay, and since you'll be using the thawed bananas for baking recipes, the little cosmetic blemish won't matter. 

The first method for freezing bananas is to freeze them whole, which is ideal for classic banana bread. The skin provides a protective barrier, but it's difficult to peel when thawed. If you want to freeze bananas whole, peel them first, lay them in a freezer bag in one layer without the bananas touching. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the bag, and pop them in the freezer.

Whereas a whole banana can last in the freezer for three months, sliced bananas last for two months. Frozen sliced bananas are ideal for different types of smoothies since blenders can handle the small chunks better than a whole banana. First, slice the bananas into 1-inch slices and lay them out on a baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper, and try to keep the slices from touching each other. Put the baking tray into the freezer for about two hours. When the banana slices are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe plastic bag or an air-tight container and store in the freezer. As with any food you freeze, it's a good idea to write the date on the bag or a freezer-safe label so you know when to use the sliced bananas. 

Freezing will retain a banana's taste and nutritional value but not its texture. Ninety percent of the weight of fruit is water, and when the fruit is frozen, the ice crystals expand and break down the fruit's cell walls, which is why frozen bananas get mushy when thawed and exude brown liquid. Because of the change in texture, it's recommended that you either use the frozen sliced bananas for smoothies or other frozen banana recipes and thawed banana slices for baking.