Banana bread is moist, buttery, and comforting for those of us who love the sweet, yellow fruits. Add them to a baked dish, and you’re sure to reach for another slice of this delicious treat. Unfortunately, we can’t always finish a whole loaf on our own, which makes knowing how to freeze banana bread important.
Can you freeze banana bread without it going bad? Freezing banana bread is completely safe and allows us to snack on it whenever we feel like without having to whip out all the ingredients and bake a fresh loaf every single time we want some.
Although the act of freezing banana bread is pretty cut and dry, there are some tips about the whole baking process. You may even discover other ways that the freezer helps you out when baking this delicious bread.
It’s All about the Banana
You can’t have banana bread without bananas. These fruits are some of the most widely recognized in the world. Native to Southeast Asia and growing in warm regions globally, bananas vary in size and color, but all contain similar nutritional values.
One medium banana has under 100 calories and is made up of 75 percent water. They are a rich source of carbs and potassium. Athletes often turn to bananas to help them with muscle cramps and getting a quick boost of energy.
Bananas are also high in fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals, like vitamins B and C. Bananas have proven to improve heart and digestive health. The one downside to these fruits is that they’re high in sugar.
This sugar makes them less than ideal for people with diabetes but is mostly safe for all other people to eat. Now that you know about the star ingredient, it’s time to ask yourself where to store bananas and can I freeze banana bread?
Can You Freeze Banana Bread?
Does bread go bad? You have probably seen moldy bread and have had to toss it before you had a chance to eat it. But, regular bread and banana bread can be frozen to make it last longer. We recommend finding your favorite banana bread recipe before freezing too many loaves, though.
There are hundreds of ways to make this dessert, so don’t be afraid to try new ingredients like chocolate chip, peanut butter, nuts, and even banana slices. Here is a classic banana bread recipe that you’re sure to love.
Before freezing bread, you have to have some first. To make delicious banana bread, grease a loaf pan with butter or baking spray and preheat your oven to 350°F. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Beat the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl with a hand mixer.
Stir in the eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients until you have a batter and then pour it into your greased loaf pan. Bake the bread for 50 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool to room temperature before freezing.
How to Freeze Banana Bread
There are only so many ways to freeze banana bread, but there are some tips you should know that make your recipes taste sweeter and last longer. When freezing banana bread to keep banana bread fresh, make sure that you’re doing everything right to prevent freezer burn.
Freezing is also the best way to store fresh bread if you have some leftover. Proper packaging ensures your bread will taste just as delicious after being frozen as it did when it came out of the oven.
Freeze Your Bananas Ahead of Time
You can freeze almost any food for later use. Of course, how do you freeze milk is different than freezing bananas or banana bread.
You can even freeze cream cheese and thaw it out later to make a deliciously sweet frosting to add to your banana bread if you like.
The critical piece of information to use when making excellent banana bread is that you have to use overripe bananas. How long do bananas last without preservation? Not very long.
The riper your bananas, however, the better the flavor and sweeter your banana bread tastes. When do bananas go bad? Bananas that are all mush are not good for anything. Toss them or add them to the compost bin.
Our best tip for you is to freeze bananas that are ripe instead of throwing them out. Either put the entire banana in the freezer or place individual slices in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze and place them in a freezer bag.
Frozen bananas not only are easy to throw into smoothies, but they turn the fruits to mush, so you don’t have to mash them in the future. Freezing your bananas ahead of time eliminates the most laborious step of the baking process.
Freezing Banana Bread by the Loaf
Once your banana bread cools to room temperature, it is ready for the freezer. To freeze an entire loaf and for keeping bread fresh for later eating, wrap the bread in two layers of plastic wrap.
Apply another layer of aluminum foil around the loaf and then place it in a large freezer bag. Freeze the fresh loaf for up to three months.
Freezing Individual Slices of Banana Bread
We think that the best way to freeze banana bread is by the slice. This way, instead of having to thaw an entire loaf, you take as much or as little out as you want while saving the rest for later.
Once your loaf cools to room temperature, slice the bread into your desired width. Wrap each banana bread slice in plastic wrap and then place them in a resealable plastic bag. Squeeze the air from the bag and store banana bread in the freezer for several months.
How to Thaw Frozen Banana Bread
Thawing banana bread doesn’t take too long and is the easiest part of the entire freezing process. Remove the loaf or slice from the freezer.
Once you take off the plastic wrap, set the banana bread on a plate, and let it sit until it reaches room temperature. Thawing usually takes around 30 minutes but could be as long as two hours, depending on the size.
Reheating Frozen Banana Bread
If you need to defrost your bread faster, there is a speedy way to heat it. Put a slice of banana bread in the toaster or microwave for a minute.
Be sure to keep an eye on it to make sure you don’t dry it out or burn it. Once it’s heated, add some butter for a quick breakfast or snack.
Banana bread is loved by people across the globe and is easy to make for friends and family. One loaf of bread creates a lot of food and is often too much for a few people to finish in one sitting.
Freezing banana bread is a smart way to preserve your hard work and the flavor that comes along with it. If you found these tips teaching you how to freeze banana bread helpful, share these banana bread hacks on Facebook and Pinterest.