Freeze Drying Bananas

a box of bananas

a jar of freeze dried bananasBananas are universally loved – but they have a short shelf life. However, if you have a home freeze dryer you can take advantage of sales or even salvage this universally loved fruit before it over-ripens. Bananas are high in fiber and potassium and are a healthy source of carbohydrates. Studies also suggest that bananas can help lower blood pressure (they’re a vasodialator), may reduce asthma in children, and are a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight free radicals that cause cancer.

Freeze drying bananas is so easy. Just slice them and place them on trays close together and freeze dry as normal. Try sprinkling cinnamon on them for a new twist. Put them in Mylar bags or jars with an oxygen absorber for long-term storage. Or, they will keep in an airtight container on your shelf for a  couple months even without an oxygen absorber. Your kids or grandkids will love to snack on these just and they will be a great substitute for high sugar candy or other processed snacks.

Freeze dried bananas are delicious by themselves, but they are also wonderful additions to trail mix, make great toppings for granola and ice cream, or can be tossed into a smoothie or turned into a powder to naturally flavor frosting or pancake mix.

Comments

I want to freeze dry a lot of bananas can I just cut them in Half length wise instead of a bunch of small round slices?

The sugar content will vary depending on the ripeness of your bananas. It is likely that your bananas were very ripe.

I don’t treat bananas with anything and I don’t always pre-freeze them – and I’ve never had any issues with browning. I turn on the freeze dryer (while I prep the bananas), just to let the chamber get nice and cold before loading. And if I am not ready to load them in my freeze dryer right away, I just put them in the freezer until I am ready to start my batch. Never had a problem. They turn out beautiful and are so tasty!

Becky. I use citric acid to make them not brown. Also straight lemon juice will also help them not brown and wont leave a lemon taste. I also add alittle sugar on top of mine to make them even sweeter.

Typically you’ll see that when the bananas are too ripe. Sometimes overripe bananas will release their sugar in this manner. It’s like sugar foam. 🙂

How fast does the process speed up? If I pre-freeze the bananas do I still run a freeze cycle or skip and go right to drying?

I have a question, I was trying to freeze dry bananas, and realize that the freezer door had not shut all the way, they were still cold but not frozen, can I put them back in the freezer and continue the process or do I need to toss them

If I only have half a freeze dryer load of bananas, is there a suggested companion food to go on the other trays? Something with similar freeze drying time? Thanks!

I cut my bananas in at least 1″ thickness and let them lay on the tray length wise. Line up as many that will fit. I loosen them slightly so they are not tightly together. I have a Medium 4 tray Harvest Right and can get 50 big bananas on my trays lined up, laying them on their sides. They always take 24 hrs and come out perfect! No citric acid or lemon juice needed. No browning!

Do you use the silicone mats for bananas, or how is it best done so they don’t stick to the tray or mat after freeze drying?

Is there any special settings for bananas to make them come out better/faster? Should it just be factory settings? We have a batch in right now and we put the initial freeze at -10 instead of 0. Is that okay? It’s been freezing now for 7 hours…lol…however we did not freeze before putting them in the freeze dryer.

If you adjust the initial freeze to -10 then the batch will take longer. The biggest tip for saving time is pre-freezing your food in a regular freezer before freeze drying.

Do I need Extra Dry Time when freeze drying bananas? This I my first batch after the bread test batch. Thanks!!!

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