If you love bananas, you'll adore freeze-dried bananas! Freeze-drying bananas creates a light, airy, and naturally sweet treat that's perfect for snacking on the go! You may also want to try dehydrated watermelon jerky!
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I love bananas! They're not only sweet and delicious but also loaded with nutrition, fiber, and potassium. I don't eat them too often, though, because they are also high in carbs and sugar.
Luckily, I can still enjoy these banana chips in moderation. Because of their concentrated flavor, it only takes a few banana chips to satisfy my sweet tooth. Freeze-dried bananas are one of my favorite freeze-dried fruits, with freeze-dried pears being on the top of the list!
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Ingredients & Substitutions
- You need ripe bananas to make delicious freeze-dried bananas. However, make sure they're not overly ripe. You don't want them bruised or squishy.
- The amount you need will depend on the size of your freeze-dryer (mine is extra large). It took one bunch (6 large bananas) to fill each of my 7 trays. If you have a smaller freeze dryer, you'll need fewer bananas.
How to Make Freeze-Dried Bananas
- Peel and slice bananas into ¼" thick slices and arrange them on parchment-lined freeze-dryer trays. To make banana sticks, slice the banana into thirds, then slice each portion into quarters lengthwise.
- Turn freeze-dryer on and cool freeze dryer chamber for 15 minutes. Once it's ready, slide filled trays into your freeze dryer and close and lock the door. Close drain valve, then select start from menu.
Pro Tip: You can line up two to three bananas to slice at once to speed up the slicing process, or use a mandoline for more uniform slices.
- When the time is up, open the drain valve to unseal the door. Check banana chips from each tray to make sure no further drying time is necessary. The banana chips should feel dry, light, and crisp. If there is any moisture remaining, select additional drying time.
Pro Tip: Use a digital scale to ensure banana chips are fully freeze-dried. After the cycle, weigh chips from one tray, dry for an extra hour, and re-weigh. If the weight remains unchanged, they’re done. If it drops, continue drying and checking until stable.
Equipment
Freeze-drying bananas requires a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a freeze-dryer. You will also need mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and a heat sealer to keep the banana chips from spoiling. The oxygen absorbers that come in a packet of 10 begin to deteriorate quickly once the package is opened, so I highly recommend the ones linked above.
If storing in mason jars, a mason jar vacuum sealer is a great tool to aid in removing excess oxygen and sealing the jars.
Storage
Freeze-dried bananas can be stored in a variety of ways, depending on when you intend to eat them. If they will be consumed right away, you can add them to snack-sized ziplock bags. Always squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bags.
If you plan to eat the freeze-dried bananas in the near future, you can store them in half-pint or quart-sized mason jars and use a mason jar vacuum sealer to remove the oxygen from the jar. Add an oxygen absorber if you plan on storing them for up to 5 years.
For long-term storage, add freeze-dried banana chips to mylar bags and add an oxygen absorber. Remove as much air as possible from the bags, then seal with a heat sealer. Store in a cool, dark location, away from direct sunlight.
Ways to Use Freeze-Dried Bananas
Besides snacking on freeze-dried bananas, they can be added to trail mix, cereal or as part of an Easter charcuterie board. They can also be rehydrated and used to make banana bread or added to muffins or pancakes.
You can also blend them into a powder. The banana powder can then be added to smoothies, protein shakes, overnight oats, banana pudding, yogurt, and so much more!
FAQ
Freeze-dried bananas have a pronounced and concentrated flavor. The texture is crisp yet melts in your mouth. They taste more like candy than fruit!
Freeze-dried bananas will last for up to 5 years when stored in mason jars, as long as they're sealed. Once the jar is opened their shelf life is reduced. If stored in mylar bags and kept in a cool, dark location, they can last 20+ years.
Dehydrated food retains 60% of its nutritional value, canned food retains 40%, while freeze-drying retains a whopping 97%! Freeze-dried food also retains its shape, texture, taste, and aroma!
It takes around 19 hours to freeze-dry bananas. Older models may take longer than newer freeze dryers.
Pro Tips
- Don't use overripe bananas. Because they have too much sugar content, they can fall apart when the sugar crystallizes.
- If you freeze the bananas first, you can shave around 4 ½ hours off the total freeze-drying time.
- Although I like to only do 1 layer of banana slices, you can stack the bananas as high as the tray will hold.
- If you intend to use the bananas for smoothies and baking, you can blend them first before freeze-drying.
- The freeze-drying time will vary based on how thick the slices are.
More Homesteading Recipes
Recipe
A Guide to Freeze Drying Bananas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 7 bunches bananas (6 large banans per bunch)
Instructions
- Peel and slice bananas into ¼" thick slices and arrange on parchment-lined freeze dryer trays. To make banana sticks, slice the banana into thirds, then slice each portion into quarters lengthwise.
- Turn freeze-dryer on and cool chamber for 15 minutes. Once it's ready, slide filled trays into your freeze-dryer, then close and lock the door. Close drain valve, then select start from menu.
- When the time is up, open the drain valve to unseal the door. Check banana chips from each tray to make sure no further drying time is necessary. The banana chips should feel dry, light, and crisp. If there is any moisture remaining, select additional drying time until they're done.
- See post for storage instructions and a tip to ensure bananas are completely dry.
Notes
- You can line up two to three bananas to slice at once to speed up the slicing process, or use a mandoline for more uniform slices.
- If you freeze the bananas first, you can shave around 4.5 hours off of the total freeze-drying time.
- Don't use overripe bananas. Because they have too much sugar content they can fall apart when the sugar crystalizes.
- Although I like to only do 1 layer of banana slices, you can stack the bananas as high as the tray will hold.
- If you intend to use the bananas for smoothies and baking, you can blend them first before freeze-drying.
- The freeze-drying time will vary based on how thick the slices are.
Hilda Sterner says
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Kelly Methey says
I just love learning about new things and this article did not dissapoint. There's so much to learn from your blog!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed the article!