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Do Frozen Bananas Go Bad?

Do Frozen Bananas Go Bad?

Cold bananas can be a great way to enjoy a low calorie cold treat on hot days. Dip them in a bit of chocolate and you have made a delicious ice cream substitute.

But bananas will eventually go bad in the fridge. But what about the freezer? Do frozen bananas go bad?

Frozen bananas last much longer in the freezer than they do in the refrigerator, but they will eventually still go bad after 2-3 months.

Frozen bananas can also develop freezer burn. Do not freeze whole bananas in the fridge. Instead, cut them into slices or cut them in half.

Do Frozen Bananas Go Bad?

It seems like bananas start to rot the moment they enter your home. There have been many times where my banana cravings went un-satiated because the bananas in my home went bad a day or two after I bought them.

Bananas sitting in the kitchen at room temperature will not last a week. But bananas do keep well in the freezer.

It is perfectly safe to store bananas in the freezer for up to 3 months, as the cold will prevent them rotting. For the first three months of freezer storage, the bananas will retain their quality and texture. 

But eventually, frozen bananas will go bad. But the texture of the banana will be the first aspect to deteriorate. The flavor will stay for at least six months. Bananas with stringy textures can be used in banana bread or in smoothies.

Slices of frozen banana in a container

How to Store Bananas in the Freezer

Most people think you can just place a banana in the freezer in just its peel and it will be perfectly fine. It may be a good idea to freeze a banana for a day or so.

But leaving the banana in its peel is not a good way to protect it from freezer burn.

If you’re planning on freezing your banana for at least 2 weeks, then you should do more prep work, so the banana retains its flavor and the texture does not turn stringy or mushy.

There are two ways to store a banana in the freezer – you can either slice the banana into small slices or you can slice it in half lengthwise. Then, store the pieces in either a freezer safe Ziploc bag with the air removed or in an airtight Tupperware container.

Not only will it be easier to take out just a couple of banana slices instead of the entire banana, banana slices will thaw faster than a whole banana.

It is also easier to add banana slices to a smoothie. The blade to the blender can chop up frozen banana slices far easier than whole frozen bananas.

How to Know If Your Frozen Bananas Have Gone Bad

Below are a few signs that your frozen banana may not be safe to eat:

  • There is freezer burn around most of the banana pieces.
  • The banana slices are changing color
  • As the banana defrosts on the counter, it gives off an old or musty smell.
  • After the banana fully defrosts, it has a slimy coating

Note: A black banana peel does not mean the banana is bad!

Have you ever placed a banana in the fridge and found that the peel developed black spots overnight. The sudden appearance of black spots on the banana peel does not mean that the banana itself is bad.

The banana peel turns blackish brown because the peel changes with the freezing temperature. The actual banana in the peel is still edible.

What to Eat With Frozen Bananas

Thanks to the instructions above, you now have a few containers of ready to eat frozen banana slices or pieces in the freezer. So what should you eat with your frozen banana slices?

You can just pop a piece in your mouth, but if you want a real dessert, here are a few flavor pairings that go best with cold bananas:

Chocolate and Peanut Butter: Use the biggest spoon in your drawer to scoop a massive dollop of peanut butter onto your plate and then use your banana slices to scoop the peanut into your mouth.

Jam: Toast a piece of fluffy bread, spread on your favorite jam, and place a few slices of banana on top of the bread. You can also put the banana slices on your French toast!

Whipped Cream: Frozen bananas and whipped cream are an excellent combination for anyone on a diet. A medium banana has 105 calories and a ½ cup of whipped cream has 80 calories. Combining these two ingredients can create a desert that is less than 200 calories.

Ice Cream: A heap of double chocolate fudge ice cream with frozen pieces of banana sprinkled all around it with nuts? YES, please!

Conclusion to If Frozen Banana Go Bad

Frozen bananas go bad in the freezer, but if you store them correctly, they will last up to months at a time.

Frozen bananas make a great topping for a dessert or a dessert all by themselves. Slice the bananas in half or in pieces to make it easier to store them.

Lindsay Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of ProjectPerfectHome.com! I created this website to be a resource for everyone who wants to make the best home possible.