Frozen bananas are perfect for smoothies, banana bread, banana ‘nice cream’ and more! We’ll show you the best way to freeze bananas, plus some great ways to use up your frozen banana stash.

Graphic for post – how to freeze bananas – super easy – saves money – great for smoothies. Images of two plastic Ziploc bags full of frozen bananas on our way service.

Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Frozen Bananas

We’ve all been there. Staring at that bunch of bananas sitting on your kitchen counter, turning more speckly, brown, and softer by the minute. Last week your toddler swore bananas were his favorite fruit and ate 3 of them in one day, but this week? You’ve got too many bananas on your hands and you need to use them up, fast!

If you don’t have the time or feel like using up your ripe bananas immediately, freezing them is the perfect option for making the most of this nutritious and versatile fruit. Freezing bananas is an incredibly easy way to reduce food waste and build up a freezer stash for use in a variety of recipes.

A bunch of bananas on a marble countertop.

Benefits of Freezing Bananas

  • reduces food waste
  • budget-friendly
  • perfect for use in baked goods
  • allows you to stock up for recipes like smoothies, milkshakes, and ice cream
  • can freeze both larger and smaller amounts at a time, based on your needs
  • a versatile way to use this nutritious fruit

How to Freeze Whole or Half Bananas

  1. Peel the bananas.
  2. If wanting frozen half bananas, cut them in half.
  3. Add to a freezer-safe bag or stasher bag. Lay the bag on the counter.
  4. Starting a the bottom of the bag and working towards the zip-lock closer, gently press out all of the air.
  5. Close the bag and then place it in the freezer to freeze.
Wooden cutting board on a marble countertop with bananas piled on top.
Gather your bananas.
It wouldn't cutting board with hands peeling bananas.
Peel the bananas.
It wouldn't hurry board with the five peeled bananas getting ready to be cut and then frozen.
Place the bananas on a cutting board.
Hans penny bananas and a half.
Cut the bananas in half.
A hand holding a knife cutting bananas into slices on a wood cutting board.
Then cu the bananas into sections.
Bored on a white marble countertop with banana slices and bananas cut in half.
I recommend cutting each banana into the same amount of pieces, so you know how many pieces equal 1 banana.
Two hands placing banana slices into a Ziploc bag off of a wood cutting board.
Place the bananas into a freezer-safe bag.
Two hands deadly percent of Erica Ziploc bag full of sliced bananas.
From the bottom to the top, gently press out any air.
A plastic bag full of sliced banana pieces.
Securily close the bag and place in the freezer.
A bag full of sliced bananas ready to be put in the freezer.
Leave in freezer until needed.
A bag full of cut banana halves without the peels.
For half banans, gently press out any air, close and freeze.
A bag of frozen banana halves.
Leave in freezer until needed.

How to Freeze Sliced Bananas

  1. Peel the bananas.
  2. Place them on a cutting board. Using a knife, cut them in half.
  3. Then cut each half into 4 more slices. I like to cut mine into 8 even slices so I know how many slices makeup one banana.
  4. Add to a freezer-safe bag or stasher bag. Lay the bag on the counter.
  5. Starting at the bottom of the bag and working towards the zip-lock closer, gently press out all the air.
  6. Close the bag and then place it in the freezer to freeze.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do frozen bananas last in the freezer?

When stored properly in a freezer-safe bag, frozen bananas will stay fresh for up to 3 months.

When do you want to freeze bananas?

Wait to freeze bananas until they’re at their peak ripeness. They should be sprinkled with a few dark spots, which indicates just the right amount of sweetness.

What is the best way to freeze fresh bananas?

Peel the bananas and keep them whole, in large pieces, or sliced, depending on how you want to use them. Freezing whole bananas can be helpful for baked goods and freezing smaller slices is useful for smoothies.

Ziploc bag full of slices of frozen banana on a white counter top.

How to Thaw Frozen Bananas

The amount of time to thaw frozen bananas will vary depending on the size of the banana pieces. Place the frozen bananas, whole, slices, or chunks, in the fridge to thaw overnight. If you are in a hurry and need to use your bananas immediately, you can also thaw them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on their size.

How to Use Frozen Bananas

Once you’ve got a stash of frozen bananas in your freezer, the creativity truly begins! There are many recipes that frozen bananas work well in, including:

Expert Tips

  • Take the peels off: It might seem faster to do so, but freezing bananas in their peels can actually cause more work – and a mushy mess – once they’re peeled and it’s time to use them.
  • Always freeze bananas that are fully ripe or slightly overripe: Bananas will not ripen any more once frozen, so freezing fully ripe bananas will ensure that they’re naturally sweet.
  • Label containers with the freeze date: You’ll want to remember exactly when you froze the bananas for the best flavor. Frozen bananas should be used within 3 months.
  • Use an airtight container or freezer-safe bag: This will prevent excess air exposure from entering the bag, which is what causes bananas to turn brown in the freezer.
Graphic for post – how to freeze bananas. Images of two bags on a white surface full of frozen bananas.

Get the recipe: How to Freeze Bananas

5 stars (1 rating)
Frozen bananas are perfect for smoothies, banana bread, banana 'nice cream' and more! We'll show you the best way to freeze bananas, plus some great ways to use up your frozen banana stash.
Yield: 4 frozen bananas
Prep: 5 minutes
Freeze Time: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 5 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
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Ingredients 

  • 4 ripe bananas
  • 1 freezer safe zip-lock baggie or stasher bag

Instructions 

  • Peel the bananas.
    It wouldn't cutting board with hands peeling bananas.
  • Place them on a cutting board.
    It wouldn't hurry board with the five peeled bananas getting ready to be cut and then frozen.
  • Using a knife, cut them in half.
    Hans penny bananas and a half.
  • Then cut each half into 4 more slices. I like to cut mine into 8 even slices so I know how many slices makeup one banana.
    Bored on a white marble countertop with banana slices and bananas cut in half.
  • Add to a freezer-safe bag or stasher bag.
    Two hands placing banana slices into a Ziploc bag off of a wood cutting board.
  • Lay the bag on the counter. Starting at the bottom of the bag and working towards the zip-lock closer, gently press out all the air.
    Two hands deadly percent of Erica Ziploc bag full of sliced bananas.
  • Close the bag and then place it in the freezer to freeze.
    Ziploc bag full of slices of frozen banana on a white counter top.

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