Freezing unpeeled bananas

[upenox]

So bananas are the one thing I absolutely cannot go without :). The problem though is that they go bad faster than anything else too. I'd rather not have to go to the store 2-3 times a week every week to get more. Has anyone attempted freezing them unpeeled?

Thanks!

upen

[KatK]

Yes. The peel turns brown, but the banana stays good. Just let them thaw a touch to get the peel off.

[rawgreenyogini]

I ususally unpeel the banana first before freezing. Too cold for the hands otherwise.

Here's a past link talking about freezing bananas (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=35615&highlight=frozen+bananas).

[EZ rider]

I only froze bananas in the peel once. When I thawed them out to room temperature and peeled them they were total mush. Something happened to the texture during the freeze and thaw. Maybe someone knows why freezing changes the foods texture ?

[souldanzer]

EZrider,

the water and liquid in the cells of the banana expands during the freezing process (ice has a greater volume than room temperature water), which in turn ruptures the cell walls of the banana flesh. The result is a mush banana once thawed because the liquid that used to be contained inside the cells is leaking out now.
Just like a water pipe will burst when the water in it freezes. Once you thaw the pipe and turn the water back on, it will leak.

:) Souldanzer

[RawHeaven]

I use bananas every day in my smoothies and I like to make the banana ice cream so I use them a lot. I peel them and store them in the freezer with a good quality (freezer) storage bag with a tight closure. They usually last for 3-4 months or longer. But I usually consume them by then. :p I purchased about 70 bananas in bulk that were on sale because they were overripe in mid-December. I haven't touched any of them as I've been fasting. They are fine 2 months later - unpeeled bananas seem to keep well in the freezer.

I used to put them in the freezer with the peels on and they did not seem to last as long or taste very good after long storage periods. Don't know why this is either.

[RawHeaven]

EZrider,

the water and liquid in the cells of the banana expands during the freezing process (ice has a greater volume than room temperature water), which in turn ruptures the cell walls of the banana flesh. The result is a mush banana once thawed because the liquid that used to be contained inside the cells is leaking out now.
Just like a water pipe will burst when the water in it freezes. Once you thaw the pipe and turn the water back on, it will leak.

:) Souldanzer

Aha! Thank you for shining a light on this.

[StarFire]

I've frozen bananas both ways and when you freeze them with the peel on... you end up with something that looks like a disgusting squishy banana slug....

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/DSC_0325.jpg .... yuuuuck!!! :eek:


so now - I always peel them before I freeze them. I've also heard some people will actually cut them in pieces too before freezing. The strain of banana that I freeze are tiny little applebananas they're between 4 to 5 inches long -- so I haven't cut them up - just freeze them as is an they come out BEAUTIFUL!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/a3b44903.jpg .... rawk on!! :D

[upenox]

Thanks everyone! :D I guess I'll probably just peel them before hand and see where that gets me. I guess I mainly just use them in my smoothies so that should work out fine as long as my blender can take it. :P