Can u freeze banana baby food

How to Make Banana Baby Food

Learn how to make banana baby food—and your baby full and happy—in just a matter of minutes.

Baby food has come a long way since we were all infants. A-list stars are creating their own brands, and there are multiple organic, chemical-free brands readily available in stores. But even though the packaging, additives and availability might have changed over the years, one thing remains pretty constant with baby food. Banana always makes its way to the top of the favorites list!

Luckily for parents, learning how to make banana baby food is a total breeze. Plus, banana is a really great and not-too-intimidating food to get you accustomed to making baby food on a daily basis.

Why is banana such a good baby food?

A banana makes for such great baby food because when infants eat it, they’re receiving all the nutritious benefits that the fruit has to offer (think vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, fiber and magnesium). It all goes down without a hitch since bananas are naturally sweet.

The fact that bananas are a healthy, easy-to-eat food with minimal spoon throwing or spit-up is already a win in most parents’ book—but a banana is such a great baby food choice because it’s so cost-effective and easy to make as well.

How to Make Banana Baby Food

Making banana baby food is one of the easiest homemade baby foods a parent can make successfully. For starters, pay close attention to the color of the banana bunch you pick—choose the most yellow in color, with the least amount of green, and no brown or black spots. This way, the banana is definitely safe to consume with no risk of being near its expiration date.

Ingredients

Just a single, medium-sized banana and some water can make almost 1 cup of baby food.

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the fruit

Wash one banana in warm, running water. Then, peel and chop the banana into thin slices.

Step 2: Mash

Next, you can mash up the banana slices in a bowl using a fork by stirring the banana slices and pressing them down simultaneously. Or, you can mash the banana up in a food processor or blender. Just dump the chopped banana slices in, set the appliance to “puree” or “grind” and allow the machine to run until your desired consistency is achieved. After the banana is fully pureed, scrape the mixture into a bowl.

Step 3: Add water

You can then drop a few tablespoons of water into the mashed banana to give it a thinner texture. Although it’s an optional step, it’s perfectly fine for parents and caregivers to stir in a few tablespoons of breast milk or formula into the baby food mixture as well.

Serve right away or save for later in a reusable baby food pouch.

How do you keep bananas from turning brown?

You can prevent banana baby food from turning brown by freezing it right after it’s been made. Just pour the homemade banana baby food in BPA-free, airtight containers as soon as the mixture is done, then store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw and serve whenever you’re ready.

When the banana baby food is stored in the freezer it’s safe from the air, which is one of the things that can make fresh banana turn brown rather quickly. (Same with avocados.) Keep in mind, though, it won’t hurt your baby to eat brown banana. It’s just not as pretty!

Can you mix banana baby food with other foods?

You can certainly mix banana baby food with other food like cereal, and it’s especially encouraged for picky eaters. Since opposites attract, sweet banana baby food pairs really well with tangier fruits like plums, strawberries and cherries. A banana’s sugared taste also goes well with bland fruits and vegetables, such as avocados, spinach and pumpkin.

Next: This is how to prepare a banana as baby finger food.

Banana Puree Baby Food: Quick, Easy, Make-Ahead

byAmy Palanjian

Updated June 16, 2021

Jump to Recipe

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Turning ripe banana into a super smooth baby food is quick and easy. Which makes this Banana Puree baby food a great one to start with and make often as your baby explores solid foods!

Banana Puree Baby Food

With just one simple ingredient—bananas!—this no-cook baby food is so easy and straight forward to make. You’ll need just one banana and you can add extra flavors if you want or you can leave it sweet and basic. This is a great early baby food since babies tend to like the flavor, it’s easy to make smooth, and you don’t need to spend extra money on fancy ingredients.

TIP: To make this recipe, you just need a blender.

Ingredients You Need

To make this easy baby food, you just need ripe banana, pure and simple! Which makes this a great recipe to make when you don’t have a lot of time or didn’t remember to shop for ingredients.

Tips for Choosing a Ripe Banana

To pick a ripe banana that’s pleasantly sweet but not over ripe, look for one that’s yellow with a smattering of small brown spots. Avoid ones that have large brown areas as that may mean they’re mushy and brown on the inside.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process involved in making this recipe.

Slice a very ripe banana and add to a blender.
Blend until very smooth.
Add cinnamon if desired and serve or store for later.

TIP: You can stir in a few drops of fresh lemon or orange juice to help prevent the puree from browning, as it will otherwise naturally do.

Tips for Making the Best Banana Puree

To store, place into small airtight storage containers and store in the fridge.
To freeze, place into an ice cube tray, freeze, then transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in an airtight container in the fridge.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for additional flavor.
To make a thicker banana puree, you can simply mash a ripe banana until mostly smooth using a fork or potato masher.
To help prevent the puree from browning, you can add a few drops of an acid such as fresh lemon or orange juice.
Mix with whole milk plain yogurt, Baby Oatmeal, Baby Rice Cereal, Avocado Puree, Broccoli Puree, or any other baby food you like as desired. (If you stir into oatmeal, you can still freeze it! Just make sure to stir well once thawed.)
See more of my favorite baby food combinations here.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 13kcal

Servings 8

▢ 1 ripe banana (about 1 cup sliced)
▢ Cinnamon, optional

Slice banana to measure out about 1 cup.
Add to a blender. Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
Add a tiny pinch of cinnamon if desired.
Serve immediately.

Vitamix Blender
Silicone Ice Cube Tray
Storage Containers

To store, place into small airtight storage containers and store in the fridge.
To freeze, place into an ice cube tray, freeze, then transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in an airtight container in the fridge.
To make a thicker banana puree, you can simply mash a ripe banana until mostly smooth using a fork or potato masher.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for additional flavor.
To help prevent the puree from browning, you can add a few drops of an acid such as fresh lemon or orange juice.
Mix with whole milk plain yogurt, baby oatmeal, mashed avocado, sweet potato, or any other baby food you like as desired.

Serving: 2tbsp, Calories: 13kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 53mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 9IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

Is it possible to freeze bananas: whole, without peel, slices

Shelf life in the freezer: up to 6 months, in the form of puree - no more than 3 months.

Bananas are inexpensive. But this does not mean that such delicious tropical fruits should be wasted. If they start to darken, don't throw them away. Freeze better.

Frozen bananas can be used in everything from breakfast smoothies to homemade banana bread recipes.

Contents

What can be cooked from frozen bananas

How to tell if bananas have gone bad

Can bananas be frozen

Yes, you can. Freezing does not require much space, and the process will take less than 5 minutes.

When thawed, bananas become very soft, taste and texture change. They are no longer suitable for food, for example, with peanut butter, but they can be used as an ingredient in baked goods such as banana bread, cake, peanut muffin, etc.

Whole or sliced?

This is what unpeeled bananas look like after freezing

Do they freeze whole bananas? Whole fruits are slightly easier to freeze, but they will take up more space in the freezer as they will need a larger storage container.

The best way to freeze peeled bananas is to line them with sheets of waterproof paper (parchment). So they do not stick together into one hard lump. And you can always defrost only one fruit.

This is how frozen banana slices look like

Bananas, when chopped, take up less space in the freezer. Sliced fruits are great for recipes such as smoothies, cold shakes or ice cream.

Freezing without peel

Bananas should be frozen immediately after peeling. Otherwise, in the air they will begin to brown.

If the fruits are peeled, wrapped and immediately placed in the freezer, the beautiful creamy color of the product will be preserved.
If you can't freeze bananas right away, and they've been peeled a little longer, drizzle them with lemon, lime or pineapple juice. This will help keep the color lighter and remove bacteria.

How to freeze bananas

How to freeze bananas directly depends on the consistency of the product.

Whole

Here's how to freeze whole bananas for later use in recipes.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of bananas;
parchment paper;
sealed bag or container.

Preparation:

Peel the required amount of bananas.
Place them in a container, lining each fruit with parchment paper.
Stick the date on a bag or container and place in the freezer.

Pieces

Arrange sliced fruit on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Put in the freezer for two hours until they harden. This will help prevent sticking into one piece.
Then put the frozen pieces in a zip bag and squeeze out as much air as possible.
Seal, date, put back in the freezer.

I also advise you to read: How to freeze avocados for storage.

How to freeze banana peels

Banana peels are an excellent fertilizer for rose bushes and other plants. Freezing the peel allows the gardener to use it all year round.

Buy ripe fruits of good color. Leave cleanings to freeze.
Remove the stalk, cut the peel into 5 cm slices.
Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer so that they do not touch each other.
Put the sheet in the freezer for several hours.
Remove the frozen skins from the pan, place them in an airtight container or bag, and return to the freezer.

Ways to defrost bananas

Here are some ways to quickly defrost your product.

Natural thawing

Remove the bananas from the freezer.
Place in a wide container. Arrange the pieces so that they do not touch each other and have enough room to thaw.
Leave to thaw naturally for 2 or more hours depending on room temperature.

Microwaveable

If you need to speed up the defrosting process of bananas, use the microwave.

Place frozen food in a bowl.
Put the container in the microwave, turn on the defrost mode. On low power, it takes 3-4 minutes to defrost banana slices.

In water

This defrosting method is suitable for both peeled and sliced bananas and whole peeled bananas.

Place the frozen bananas in a plastic bag, which in turn is placed in a bowl of warm water.
As a rule, 10 minutes will be enough to defrost a small quantity.

Banana puree

Puree freezing secrets

Can banana puree be frozen? Yes, but the texture will go from silky and smooth to more grainy and the taste will become a little less pleasant.

However, the product can still be frozen for further use in ice cream recipes or as baby food.

Do not puree to maintain texture. Just mash the bananas with a fork.
For each cup of pureed fruit, add 1 tbsp. l. lemon juice or 1/2 tsp. ascorbic acid.
Spoon puree into the slots of the ice cube tray until each is about 80% full.
Wrap the tray with cling film to prevent spillage and to protect it from foreign odors.
Place in the freezer for several hours.
Remove the tray and transfer the frozen cubes to an airtight container, seal, stick a sticker with the date.
Store in the freezer.

If the puree is too thick, drizzle with cow's milk. Almond will do too. To improve the taste, you can add a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon (an option not suitable for baby food).

How to defrost mashed banana

If you're going to add puree to a smoothie, use it straight out of the freezer to chill your drink. Put a cube or two in a blender with the usual ingredients, and turn on the appliance.
If serving banana puree to your child, place the cube in a bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.

Banana Shelf Life

Ripe Banana Shelf Life:

At room temperature 1-2 days away from sunlight.
Refrigerate up to 1 week, peeled up to 3-4 days in a sealed container or container.
Freezer - up to 6 months.

Unlike ripe bananas, it is not advisable to store green bananas in the refrigerator, as low temperature slows down the ripening process, and the peel turns black. It is better to leave them at room temperature for 2-5 days. When yellow, put in the refrigerator.

Banana puree can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. The longer it is in the freezer, the higher the risk that air will get inside. As a result, the product may begin to oxidize and darken.

Keep bananas away from other ripe fruits. When ripe, they release ethylene, which accelerates the deterioration of other fruits.

What can be made from frozen bananas

So, what can be done from frozen bananas?

Frozen bananas are the most commonly used for banana bread.

Once thawed, bananas can be added to baked goods for added moisture:

oatmeal pancakes;
chocolate chip banana bread;
cocoa, nut and banana muffins, etc.

Other banana recipes.

protein shakes;
smoothies;
paste with crushed peanuts;
ice cream, etc.

How to tell if bananas have gone bad

Here's how to check if bananas are edible:

Appearance. Ripe fruits are bright yellow with small brown and black spots on them. Unlike other fruits, the presence of dark spots does not mean that they have gone bad. But if the peel has turned black, softened and mold has appeared on it, get rid of them.
Firm texture of ripe fresh bananas. If it becomes too soft, the product is probably gone. If bananas secrete liquid, it means that they have softened and lost their taste.
Smell. Good fruits smell fresh. A sour or musty smell is a sign of product spoilage.

Lemons can be frozen for other valuable fruits that you would also like to preserve for a longer period. They will always come in handy.

How to freeze bananas in the freezer to be delicious

Housewives will find it useful to learn how to freeze bananas in the freezer if they become too soft and begin to turn black. Also, these storage methods will provide the hostess with fruit preparations for various culinary experiments.

Bananas in the freezer

Bananas can be safely frozen, which will extend their shelf life by several months at standard camera settings (-18°C). The taste of the fruit is not lost, and the color is easily adjusted by adding lemon juice.

If there is no one to eat overripe bananas with blackened skin and loose flesh, then there is no better way than sending them to the freezer.

Important
Obviously spoiled fruit cannot be saved in this way. Also, green fruits should not be sent to the freezer.

Miss Purity Magazine encourages its readers to get creative with banana freezing: slice banana into circles or shapes, puree, mix with other foods. Show your imagination so that cooking turns into entertainment.

Banana Freeze Ideas

The first thing to do is to thoroughly rinse the peel: many microorganisms, such as yeast, survive even a long freeze. And on the darkened and softer skin, a variety of micro-pests calmly settle. From there, when cleaning, they fall on both the hands and the pulp. Don't take risks.

Advice
Do not refreeze bananas, store them in convenient portions.

The easiest way is to freeze whole, that is, in the peel. The peel will darken, but the light flesh will remain inside. For success, the fruit must be completely dry. And the second secret is to separate the fruits, for example, by wrapping each fruit with parchment or cling film. So bananas will lie for another 2 months. To enjoy, eat them straight out of the freezer like ice cream, or let them thaw at room temperature.

A slightly less expensive method is freezing whole, but without the skin. It is very convenient to use in baking, where large pieces of banana are required. So that the pulp of the fruit does not stick together, and the shape is not broken during defrosting, first lightly freeze the bananas individually, and then wrap them in cling film and send them for long-term storage in a slide. The shelf life of this product is 3 months.

Small circles. It turns out a semi-finished product for cupcakes, cocktails, smoothies, fruit salads, ice cream. The optimal cutting thickness is 1.5-3 cm. The circles, like whole peeled bananas, are pre-frozen. Arrange them on a baking sheet covered with foil, observing the interval. After an hour in the freezer, the bananas will become firm and can be folded into a common container. Storage - no more than 3 months.

For kids' breakfast or fun pastries, cut out banana shapes. For this, cookie cutters, etc. are useful. By the way, use lemon juice so that the banana pulp does not lose color. It is enough to sprinkle them with slices.

Banana puree. Grind the pulp in a blender or with a potato masher / grater / food processor. Add a little lemon juice - it will keep a pleasant shade and extend the shelf life (for 1 cup of puree - 1 tablespoon of fresh juice). Pack puree into ice cube containers. It will turn out an excellent portioned addition to breakfast - oatmeal or semolina porridge. Other ideas for dividing portions are clip-on bags, plastic cups (tighten the neck with cling film).

To freeze in batches, mix bananas with other fruits and berries - raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, etc. You can add nuts and seeds, yogurt, fruit juice, coconut flakes. Such blanks are stored for 3 months at standard freezer settings.

Chocolate-covered slices.