The last year has certainly opened the door for developing new hobbies. Working from home, the lockdown and social distancing, all this made us want to change our routine. Some of us began working out more, others started knitting or crocheting. And a vast segment turned their attention towards kneading and baking. Among 2021’s most popular recipes, banana bread has marked a growing popularity.
While enthusiasm was key at the beginning, we probably all ended up baking a bit too much banana bread. Maybe because we bought too many bananas in the frenzy of a new lockdown stage. Or we simply underestimated the amount of banana bread we can actually eat before getting sick of it. In any case, the next big question after “How to make banana bread?” was probably related to storage. What are the best ways to store it? For how long can you keep it before it goes bad? Can you freeze banana bread?
Today’s article plans to reveal the mystery behind freezing this contemporary baking hit. The best way to freeze banana bread, how to consume it after and some recipes that caught our eye are all included. Keep reading to know more.
Can You Freeze Banana Bread?
Yes, you can freeze banana bread. And that is good news, if you have reached the stage in which you want to spend less time baking and just save the leftovers. Banana bread can be easily frozen and its taste and texture stays mostly the same for about three months. So, if you decide to freeze some, make sure to label it and consume it until the end of the season.
Why Freeze Banana Bread?
As you are reading this article, you probably have at least one reason for freezing banana bread. Here are some of the most common scenarios where this storage option is useful.
- You want to avoid food waste.
Whether it is bananas that got too ripe or actual baked banana bread, freezing helps you avoid waste. Saving them for later allows your taste buds to miss the taste of it, at least for a while.
- You want to save some time.
Maybe you are short on time during the week, so you just bake on weekends. Or perhaps you do not feel like eating more than just one slice of banana bread, once in a while. And you know you cannot bake just one slice, but have to make a full loaf. Keeping a stash of slices in the freezer proves to be a good idea.
- Freezing has a low impact on the quality of banana bread.
This is a great advantage, as you can have it in the freezer and take it out on an emergency. Perhaps a friend comes over and you have no time to bake something for hours. Thawed and reheated well, your frozen banana bread will be as good as freshly baked.
How To Freeze Banana Bread?
The first thing to know about how to freeze banana bread is to let it cool down completely.
Do not put partially warm banana bread in the freezer, under any circumstances. Firstly, because your efforts will be in vain, as condensation impacts the freezing. Secondly, because you can cause other foods you have near the bread to thaw and go bad. Thirdly, because temperature variations can even damage your freezer. So, we cannot stress this enough – let your banana bread cool down well.
Once you are past this stage, decide if you want to freeze banana bread or slices.
To freeze a full loaf, wrap it up completely in plastic wrap. Next, to keep it safe from frostbite, add an extra layer of aluminum foil. After you finish wrapping your banana bread well, place it inside a sealable bag. Try to take out as much air as possible, label and date the bag and put it in the freezer.
To freeze banana bread slices or segments, start by dividing your loaf as you prefer. Proceed to wrapping each segment or slice individually. Add first a layer of plastic foil, then one of aluminum. As they are thinner than a full loaf, slices are more prone to drying out, so make sure you wrap them properly. Put them in a sealable bag, that you label accordingly and date.
How To Thaw Banana Bread?
Freezing banana bread is a no-brainer and unfreezing it is more or less the same. You can thaw it on the counter or, if you are short on time, you can put it in the microwave, oven or even toaster.
- To thaw frozen banana bread slices, you can leave them on the countertop for about half an hour. In the microwave, you can speed up the process by heating it for 30 seconds. For those who like crispy snacks, the toaster can also work just fine. You can add some butter on the slices after heating them, to help restore some of the lost moisture.
- To thaw a full loaf of banana bread, allow it to rest on the counter still wrapped, for about four hours. If guests are coming over soon and you do not have those four hours to spare, the oven comes to the rescue. In just 90 minutes, at a temperature of 350°F, the mouth-watering aroma of banana bread will flood your home. Leave the aluminum foil on while thawing in the oven, to prevent your bread from drying up too fast.
If you have, for example, half of a loaf frozen, you can follow the same steps as above, but for half of the time. So, your frozen half-loaf is fully thawed and ready to eat after two hours on the counter or 40 minutes in the oven.
After you take the banana bread out of the oven, leave it for 10 more minutes in the aluminum foil. Once cooled, your thawed banana bread is ready for unwrapping, slicing and devouring. Ah, we meant ready for serving on a nicely decorated plate.
5 Mouthwatering Banana Bread Recipes
After talking so much about banana breads, there is no way you are leaving without some baking ideas. The web is full of suggestions and recipes, but if they are just a click away, temptation is bigger. Of course, we do not aim to just tempt you, but to invite you to spoil your taste buds with some special combinations.
- Combine two of your favorite things with this Coffee Cake Banana Bread. Consistent and yummy at the same time, this is the kind of recipe that you can try on any day of the week.
- If you are wondering what can go great with banana bread, then know cream cheese is the answer. This recipe of Cream Cheese Banana Bread will prove it to you from the first bite.
- For those who dislike getting too many dishes dirty (cleaning is anything but fun, right?), there is hope. The Perfect Vegan Banana Bread only involves mixing things up in one bowl and then, off to baking.
- Chocolate makes everything better. Including this Sesame Banana Bread recipe that secretly contains melting chocolate chunks. No spoilers intended, but this might become your new favorite banana bread.
- Some of us like to keep things simple and classy, so this is for the more conservative bakers. Or just for those starting their journey to the universe of baking. This Brilliant Banana Loaf is a breeze to make, even for those with no experience.
No matter how you slice it, banana bread is here to stay for a while. So feel free to bake it, freeze it or share it with your neighbours. Let us know in the comments what was the best banana bread you have ever eaten and where!
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