If you like bananas, you'll love freeze dried bananas! They are a delicious, healthy snack, and are so easy to make! Freeze dried banana chips are light, airy, and sweet, and make the perfect on the go snack! If you haven't done so yet, try these freeze dried apples too!
I just love bananas! They're not only sweet and delicious, but they're loaded with nutrition, fiber, and potassium. I don't eat them too often though, because they are also high in carbs and sugar.
However, these banana chips can be enjoyed in moderation. Because of their concentrated flavor, it only takes a few to satisfy my craving for bananas. So when it comes to healthy snacks, you can't go wrong with freeze-dried fruits!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Freeze dried bananas retain 97% of their nutrition, which is much higher than dehydrated banana chips.
- Not only do they make a great snacking choice, but they can also be rehydrated and used to make this delicious blueberry banana bread or used in any of your baking recipes that call for bananas.
- Freeze dried bananas can also be blended into a powder that can be added to shakes, smoothies, waffles, Nutella ice cream, and cake batter.
- They are vegan and gluten free!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
You need ripe bananas to make delicious freeze dried bananas. Make sure they're not overly ripe, however, you don't want them bruised or squishy.
The amount you need will depend on the size of your freeze dryer (mine is an 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
Step 1: 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.
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.
Step 2: Turn freeze dryer on and cool freeze dryer chamber for 15 minutes as instructed. Once it's ready, slide filled trays into your freeze dryer and close and lock the door. Close drain valve, then select start from the menu.
Step 3: 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 ready.
Pro Tip: If you freeze the bananas on the trays first, you can shave around 4.5 hours off the total freeze drying time.
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🫙 Storage Instructions
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 you seal 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 out of 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 added to an Easter charcuterie board.
They can also be rehydrated and used to make blueberry 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, pumpkin protein shakes, overnight oats, banana pudding, yogurt, and so much more!
Want to learn more about freeze dryers? Check out this informative Harvest Right Freeze Dryer review!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
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 crystalizes.
- Although I like to only do 1 layer of banana slices, you can actually 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.
- If you freeze the bananas first, you can shave around 4.5 hours off the total freeze drying time.
- If storing the banana chips in mason jars, a mason jar vacuum sealer is a great tool to aid in removing excess oxygen and sealing the jars.
- The freeze drying time will vary based on how thick the slices are.
- Whenever possible, I recommend using individually wrapped oxygen packets like these. The ones that come in a packet of 10 begin to deteriorate quickly once the package is opened.
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📖 Recipe
How to Make Freeze Dried Bananas
Equipment
- mylar bags or mason jars
Ingredients
- 7 bunches 6 large bananas 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 freeze dryer chamber for 15 minutes as instructed. Once it's ready, slide filled trays into your freeze dryer and close and lock the door. Close drain valve, then select start from the 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 ready.
- See post for storage instructions!
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 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 actually 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.
- If you freeze the bananas first, you can shave around 4.5 hours off the total freeze drying time.
- If storing the banana chips in mason jars, a mason jar vacuum sealer is a great tool to aid in removing excess oxygen and sealing the jars.
- The freeze drying time will vary based on how thick the slices are.
- Whenever possible, I recommend using individually wrapped oxygen packets like these. The ones that come in a packet of 10 begin to deteriorate quickly once the package is opened.
Kelly Methey says
I am new to the concept of freeze drying and have learned so much from you. These banana chips are delicious and a perfect, healthy snack. I can’t wait for more freeze dried recipes from you.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Kelly! I think I might do freeze dried strawberries next. Stay tuned!