Are brown frozen bananas safe to eat? You are likely to have this question when you want to freeze bananas to use later.
While it seems that freezing bananas helps keep them edible for long, it is so common to worry about their changing color.
So, is it okay if frozen bananas turn brown? Once thawed, they will certainly turn mushy. But does that mean they are already past saving?
Yes, frozen bananas that turn brown are usually safe to eat as long as the temperature remains below 0F throughout storage.
Freezing Bananas to Make them Last Longer
You go to the supermarket and get yourself a bunch of bananas. Now, you plan to eat them for breakfast or lunch over the week. But, then you notice that they go bad well before you eat them.
Can you relate to that situation? Ah, we all can!
And that is when most people think of freezing bananas to keep them usable for long.
If you decide to freeze bananas, you will never have to worry about wasting any, especially when you use them in different ways.
For instance, it is common for bananas to feel mushy after freezing and thawing.
If that is the case, do not just discard them. Instead, use them in a recipe like banana bread, which is one perfect way to utilize overripe bananas.
Fact: Frozen bananas are a great source of calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C.
The Problem of Frozen Bananas Turning Brown
Turning brown is a natural component of ripening and should not be a reason for concern when it comes to previously frozen bananas.
Bananas can go brown for several reasons, including oxidation and crystallization.
✅ Oxidation
Sometimes, the fruit takes a short time to turn brown mainly because a chemical reaction triggers oxidation, which leads to the ripening of bananas.
Enzymes are components of dietary substances that catalyze reactions when exposed to oxygen.
And these enzymes work as protein catalysts and hasten chemical reactions. The oxidation process does not cause any serious harm or spoil bananas in the first place.
However, it may lead to a decrease in its nutritional value.
✅ Ice Crystals
Bananas contain a fair amount of water, and when frozen, the water crystallizes into ice. A result of this is that the bananas take on a dark hue.
Since these ice crystals expand in size as they melt, they eventually burst the cells of the banana peel.
Polyphenols are released when these cells die, hastening the process of aging to black.
Fact: An uncut banana may no longer ripen in the freezer but it may still continue to produce gas, resulting in a change of color.
Are Brown Frozen Bananas Safe to Eat or Not?
Yes, they are safe to eat in most cases. Bananas can be safely frozen without peeling or slicing if the temperature remains below 0F.
However, prolonged freezing has a negative effect on the quality of frozen food.
And though frozen bananas have a tendency to become mushy, they can still retain their flavor and texture very well.
But, how long do bananas last frozen?
It truly depends on how closely you follow the storage guidelines. But, still, bananas stay good for up to two months after being frozen.
The Time Bananas Can Stay in the Freezer
The time it takes a frozen banana to go bad depends on its quality at the time of freezing.
It means that if the banana was not moldy when you first froze it, you could safely eat it after thawing.
Freezing hampers the growth of germs that spoil food, which is why you can use it for longer.
Based on that, it is obvious to think that bananas will last indefinitely when stored properly.
While the banana itself would not go bad when frozen, it may begin to lose its texture and flavor after a while.
Therefore, it is a good idea to consume it within a couple of months of freezing.
Remember the USDA Recommendations When Freezing Bananas
As per the USDA, you should consider freezing any food at its optimal quality.
It implies you are likely to have a higher chance of keeping bananas good if you freeze them soon after buying them fresh.
But, it seems that bananas are an exception to this rule, especially when you want to use them for a specific recipe, like banana bread.
Getting the bananas a little overripe before freezing them is preferable for uses like banana bread.
It is mainly because the ripening process makes the banana sweeter.
Can Frozen Bananas Go bad?
Bananas would not go bad when frozen, but you have to be very careful once you have thawed them.
When bananas are thawed, there is a great risk that they will rot. Bananas that have been thawed should be eaten immediately.
They cannot be handled the same way you would a bunch of fresh bananas.
Fact: It is never a good idea to re-freeze a banana because it will mostly likely go bad and would not be suitable for use.
Signs Frozen Bananas are Bad
The quality of your banana purchase can be visually verified in a few different ways.
For instance:
- One of the first signs of spoiled bananas is fungus or mold.
- Banana mold resembles fuzzy white felt at the opposite of the stem-side.
- The appearance of a sticky substance underneath the fruit is also a warning sign.
Both of these things are telltale signs that the fruit you have is rotting and should not be consumed.
Consuming Rotting Bananas
If you ignore these warnings and freeze the rotten bananas anyhow, the freezing process will not kill the mold spores.
Instead, they will be more in a dormant state. However, once the fruit is thawed, the same bacteria will become active again.
Since these dangerous germs can survive freezing temperatures, the potential for getting sick is quite high.
✅ An Important Consideration
Bananas that have been frozen can be stored in the freezer until they are needed.
But, when you eventually need them, take them out of the freezer and inspect them well for any signs of white mold. Get rid of it if you notice anything just not right.
Freezing Bananas Property to Improve Shelf Life
The quality of bananas always matters, but you will also have to follow the right guidelines to freeze them for long.
How Do You Freeze Bananas Properly?
In most cases, you can just put them in a zip-lock bag and freeze them, but you have to be careful when you are dealing with sliced bananas.
- Take ripe bananas and peel them.
- Then cut them into small slices or dice them into half-inch cubes.
- Get a baking tray and coat it with parchment paper.
- Put it in the freezer for about an hour.
- Take the tray out and now transfer those slices into an airtight container.
- Freeze again.
The Shelf Life of Frozen Bananas
How long you can store bananas often depends on how fresh they are when you freeze them.
Here are a few things to know:
Ripe Bananas
If you know you will not consume a banana before it goes bad, you can stop the ripening process by putting it in the freezer.
In case a banana lacks any green on its skin, with a few brown patches, and gives slightly when gently squeezed, you know it is ripe.
If that is the case, freezing will definitely help prolong its shelf life.
Bananas can be frozen and stored for up to three months after purchase without losing flavor or texture.
This means that when thawed, the fruit will taste just as fresh as the day you froze it.
Overripe Bananas
Overripe bananas can be easily identified by their skin, which will typically be covered with brown and sometimes even black patches.
It will have a very gentle, almost spongy, texture.
Few people enjoy eating soft, overripe fruit. There are, however, contexts in which such texture and consistency are not just acceptable but actively sought after.
Bananas are a great addition to many baked goods, including bread and muffins, and that is when you may want to work with overripe bananas.
But it will be difficult to store it in the freezer for long enough.
Fact: Bananas defrost best in the refrigerator, so remove them from the freezer the night before and place them in a clean bowl and leave them in the refrigerator.
Takeaway
Are brown frozen bananas safe to eat? In most cases, frozen bananas are perfectly safe to consume, even if they turn brown.
However, you should actively look for any signs of spoilage when thawing frozen bananas. If you notice anything fishy, like mold, a foul odor, or slime, it is best to discard it.