Don't Toss Them! 10 Uses For Ripe Bananas

Sometimes a bunch of bananas is just too much pressure for one person. Day after day you watch them ripen and you know you won't be able to eat them before the brown spots spread. Do you make a promise to turn them into banana bread only to end up throwing them out? Don't let it happen again!

The number one rule in banana preservation is: freeze them! Throw them right in the freezer, peel and all. Then, relax. Once a few pile up, check out the ideas below:

1. One Ingredient Ice Cream: One of our most popular posts ever, this recipe is as simple as popping a few frozen bananas in the food processor for an incredibly creamy, healthy, and simple dessert.

2. Frozen Chocolate Banana Pops: These hit the spot like ice cream cones but without all that cream and sugar. Try rolling them in chopped nuts or coconut flakes, too!

3. Frozen Banana-Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Milkshakes: Frozen bananas work wonders with milkshakes because they replace ice and keep things creamy. And because they are ice cream free, these milkshakes are ok for breakfast (if the recipe says so, we'll believe it!).

4. Caramel Banana Cake: The softer the bananas, the better for this cake, since they need to be mashed to keep the cake super moist.

5. Icebox Banana Cheesecake: Perfect for summer, no oven is required for this creamy chilled cake.

6. Banana Nut Birthday Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: Why settle for carrot cake when banana nut is an option?

7. Banana Bites: Bite-sized frozen bananas, coated in chocolate make for perfect summer desserts for a crowd.

8. Banana Hot Chocolate: Adding bananas to this top quality hot chocolate makes it extra special. We could see adding bananas to this vanilla milk with chocolate ice cubes recipe, too!

9. Banana Rum Fizz: Forget that boring bottle of pina colada mix and try this effervescent boozy milkshake instead!

10. Fried Chocolate and Banana Ravioli: Using bananas as a filling for sweet ravioli beats boring banana bread any day of the week.

What do you make with really ripe bananas?

(Images: see linked posts)

Comments (23)

You say to toss them in peel and all, but I've done that before, and do you know how hard it is to peel a frozen banana? If you're planning on using them for something that they need to stay frozen for in the recipe (e.g. the one ingredient "ice cream"), I say peel them first!

We always keep some frozen bananas around for this great banana pancakes recipe. I nuke the bananas a bit to soften them up, and then they peel easily, and also it is much easier to mash up the bananas after they're frozen and defrosted.

We usually substitute in some buttermilk (and adjust baking powder and baking soda) and add pecans to this recipe. Wonderful.

According to Cook's Illustrated, using frozen bananas results in a moister, sweeter banana bread--something about the freezing process isolating the water molecules and concentrating the sugars, I believe. Anyway, I often freeze banana slices that my son has left uneaten, and I find that this helps me defrost them quickly and measure cup amounts easily (though it's a little harder to measure when a recipe calls for "two bananas".)

What a great list! I may have to branch out from bread. I use my old bananas exclusively for banana bread, so much so that I have a bit of a project - I've never made the same variety twice. It's a fun little challenge mixing up the mix-ins each time.

i make a gluten free banana avocado bread:
http://bit.ly/erVhA5

eggless cake donuts:
http://bit.ly/iht4g9

and vegan banana nut chip cookies:

http://bit.ly/jQUm5P

Thanks for this. I've got about a dozen in my freezer now, and can't bring myself to make another loaf of banana bread.

i really can't thank the kitchn enough for teaching me about freezing bananas. i was raised by a very "gourmet cook" sort of mom, but she never tought me that.

now i can buy them without worry that they'll go to waste, and they are perfect in pancakes and smoothies!

@Splitty: weight a peeled banana some time and mark down the weight. Then when you want to use your frozen sliced you will have some idea

Ironically I have a banana bread baking in the oven at this moment because I HATE to throw away bananas (and I love banana bread).

I've made the Paula Deen cake (#6) and it was delicious!

Next time, I will have to be more creative. Thanks for this list!

I use frozen bananas in almost every smoothie. (And yes, peel them first - don't know why someone would think it's easier to peel a frozen banana than a soft one!) I usually peel, break in two or three pieces, and keep them in a plastic bag. Frozen bananas make the best smoothies - and using frozen fruit means I don't have to water it down with ice. our smoothies (for two): 2 frozen bananas, a handful of frozen blueberries, a couple scoops of yogurt, 4 egg yolks, a bit of maple syrup or honey, and a scoop of coconut oil. And some milk to even it all out. YUM!

I would add these insanely AWESOME (and yes, healthy!) cookies to the list:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/nikkis-healthy-cookies-recipe.html

I agree that it's difficult to peel a frozen banana. However, I will defrost them (even a short time in the microwave) and then cut off the top and then squeeze the banana out, like toothpaste. Just another technique if one is interested!

These are some great ideas! Unfortunately I don't see me having any bananas in the near future... the cyclone/floods up north devastated most of Australia's banana crops, so bananas here are hovering around the $15/kilo mark. Ouch!

I really can't find a banana bread recipe that makes the bread taste like bananas. I think carrot cake is so much better than banana bread.

I use them as a sweetener for my baby friendly uber healthy breakfast muffins:
* 2 cups flour
* 1 cup oatmeal
* 1/2 cup flaxseed
* 1/4 cup linseed
* 1/2 cup rasins
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 ripe bananas
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup oil
* 1 1/2 cups yogurt
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup grated carrots (about 3)

drop them in a muffin tray, bake at 325 until a toothpick runs dry (usually about 40 minutes)

both my baby and my dog love these and they are such easy and filling snacks to hand out on play dates.

The banana hot chocolate sounds delish! Will be trying it with dark chocolate.

Another vote for peel before freezing! Only froze them once with peels on and it is not a pretty sight trying to unpeel half frozen mushy banana. Peel, wrap in plastic, then freeze.

@ AlisonCJ - I agree. Take a few extra seconds to peel bananas and wrap them in plastic before throwing in the freezer. For some reason, that extra step keeps me from freezing bananas immediately, so I just suffer through the peeling process when I have enough time to use them.

Tip on peeling frozen bananas: Chop off both ends and make a shallow cut down one side. Then, use the knife to cut right below the skin as you peel -- sort of like how you would cut the skin off a fish. This is much faster than attempting to peel a frozen banana as you would a fresh one.

Nice post. In my home, bananas always seem to go really fast or not get eaten at all. Just depends on my food mood. The only thing I know to make with ripe bananas is banana bread. Delish, but I don't always feel like it, I'll definitely be using some of these.

I agree with AllisonCJ. I always peel them, wrap them in plastic, and then freeze. I make banana smoothies - banana, handful of strawberries and a splash of milk. This list is pretty awesome too!!!

When I make chocolate covered banana slices, I always have a hard time getting the chocolate to stick to the banana. Anyone have tips?

Recently I have been making America's Test Kitchen Ultimate Banana Bread. The first step is to drain the frozen bananas (without the peel) and to reduce the liquid before adding it and the pulp to the flour mixture. 'Da best!!!

http://www.thatsjustme.com/2010/06/banana-nut-bread/
or a slightly different version (scroll down a ways)
http://taketimetosmelltherose.blogspot.com/2010/06/tropical-traditions-coconut-oil-review.html

Whole wheat banana bread that is actually tasty. My 3 year old loves them. The first version uses sugar, the second uses honey.

Normal banana bread is just so not healthy if you think about it... this at least is whole grain and yummy at the same time. Love it!