10 Ways to Use Up a Bunch of Bananas Before They Go Bad
Speckled, overripe bananas are actually the best ones for cooking.
Ten simple ways to use up overripe bananas before they go to waste, from classic banana bread to smoothies, pancakes, and freezer tricks.
Bananas seem to ripen all at once, going from perfectly yellow to speckled brown practically overnight. The good news is that overripe bananas are actually more flavorful for cooking than fresh ones.
1. Classic Banana Bread
The obvious choice for a reason. Overripe bananas mash easily and bring natural sweetness, meaning you can cut back on added sugar without anyone noticing.
2. Banana Pancakes
Mash one ripe banana straight into your usual pancake batter for natural sweetness and a softer, fluffier texture.
3. Freeze Them for Smoothies
Peel and freeze overripe bananas in a bag or container. Frozen banana chunks blend into smoothies for a thick, creamy texture without needing ice.
4. One-Ingredient Nice Cream
Blend frozen banana chunks alone in a food processor until smooth and creamy. It turns into a genuinely convincing soft-serve texture with zero added ingredients.
5. Banana Oatmeal
Stir mashed banana into oatmeal while it cooks for natural sweetness and a creamier texture, no added sugar required.
6. Banana Muffins for the Freezer
Banana bread batter portioned into a muffin tin bakes faster and freezes into easy grab-and-go breakfasts.
7. Banana Bread French Toast
Slice leftover banana bread, dip it in egg and milk, and fry it like French toast for an over-the-top breakfast treat.
8. Add to a Curry or Chutney
Ripe banana adds unexpected sweetness and body to certain curries and chutneys, especially ones that already lean sweet and spicy.
9. Banana Ice Pops
Blend ripe banana with a splash of milk and a little honey, pour into molds, and freeze for a simple, kid-friendly treat.
10. Just Freeze the Whole Banana
If you're short on time, peel and freeze whole bananas as they are. You can decide what to do with them later, and they'll keep well for months.