Exact Answer: Up to 3 months
The bananas can stay fresh for 3 months if stored in the freezer. Fruits would last longer if they are stored in the fridge. The shelf life of bananas can be extended if they are put in the freezer. Correct storage is one of the most important things to help bananas stay fresh for around 2 to 3 months.
The person should make sure the bananas are ripe as freezing the raw bananas is not a good idea. People can use frozen bananas in smoothies and shakes for a long time. Everyone should defrost the frozen bananas before using them in the recipes. The bananas come with a very short shelf life.
The bananas are mushy fruits that would go bad due to improper storage. The temperature plays a vital role in determining how long the bananas can last. Everyone can freeze bananas in the whole form or by slicing the bananas.
How Long Do Bananas Last In The Freezer?
| Bananas | Time |
| Minimum time | 3 months |
| Maximum time | 34 months or more |
Frozen bananas can last longer than bananas at room temperature. The bananas can’t sustain an extremely hot climate. This is the reason why people prefer storing them in the fridge, but not at room temperature. Frozen bananas are available in markets in packed form. The shelf life of packed frozen bananas would be different as it depends on the brand of frozen bananas. The type of banana would influence the shelf life of the bananas in the freezer.
If the quality of the banana is premium, then it would last around 3 months. The poor-quality bananas would not last long due to the fast spoilage process. People can store the bananas in sliced, cut, or whole form. Storing the bananas in the whole form may ask for defrosting before having it.
It would become difficult to peel the bananas after they are frozen for months. The sliced bananas can be thawed for a few hours before adding them to meals. If making a smoothie, then the sliced bananas can be directly added to the smoothie maker. It depends on the condition of the bananas.
If the bananas are frozen for more than 2 months, then defrosting may take around 4 to 8 hours. If the bananas are frozen for around 7 days, then defrosting may not take more than 30 to 60 minutes. The texture of the bananas would start changing if they are not good to be consumed.
The color of the bananas would start turning extremely dark if stored in the freezer for a long time. If the color of the bananas is changed, then it means they are not good to be consumed. The texture of the bananas would also get affected inside the freezer if they are gone bad.
The bananas would become very soft which means the bananas are expired.
Why Do Bananas Last In The Freezer For This Long?
The cold temperature is known to extend the shelf life of any food item. The freezer is the safest place to store the bananas as it will keep the bananas free from any bacterial growth. At room temperature, the bananas can come in contact with many bacteria that will increase the spoilage process in bananas.
These bacteria along with moisture would start turning the color of the bananas black. The frozen bananas would get prevented from bacteria and moisture. Heat can be a big reason for bananas to have less shelf life. To extend the shelf life of bananas, the person should try keeping the bananas in a plastic sealed bag inside the freezer.
The sealed bag would help in maintaining the texture and color of the bananas inside the freezer. If the person is storing the store-bought frozen bananas, then store the bananas with their real packaging inside the freezer.
Conclusion
The frozen bananas can last around 3 months or more if stored properly in the freezer. The person should avoid any addition of ingredients to the frozen bananas. The frozen bananas should be stored in their pure form. Don’t store the sliced bananas without any container or plastic bags.
As the bags or plastic containers would give extra protection to the sliced or cut bananas inside the freezer.
References
- https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19630303919
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-0737-2_16
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