Turtle Box Blog

Help! My bananas are turning brown

Don't panic! You thought you would have time to eat the whole bunch, but here you are left with several bananas that look like they've gotten into a boxing match overnight. (... or did they?)  

Bananas are grown near the equator and prefer that climate. For most of us that means we should keep them on the counter while they are ripening and getting ready for us to eat. When you put bananas in the refrigerator, you will find they quickly turn black (and tasteless). If you want to know more about why bananas turn brown this is a good article. How long bananas will last depends on when you bought them. The color can range from a bright green to a yellow with brown spots. A ripe banana has a yellow skin and is beginning to have brown specks on the skin. 

If you have a few bananas that are going to make it past being perfectly ripe, there are several great uses for them.   

Banana Ice Cream (serves 2)

Peel and then freeze the bananas before creating this "ice cream." It's a great dairy-free option and a quick and healthy dessert idea. 

What you need:

-Two bananas, frozen

-Food processor

-Optional: any favorite treat - granola, chocolate chips, or a little  peanut butter

Instructions:

Add the frozen bananas to the food processor and blend on high. After a minute or two the bananas should become creamy. If you are adding in a sweet treat, now is the time. Blend a little bit more, then serve and enjoy!

Baking

Bananas can be a binder, they can add creaminess, they can add sweetness, and they can add flavor. If you enjoy baking, you can use bananas to create a lower calorie option, or just use them in place of an item you don't have on hand. 

Replace butter - mash a banana (the best bananas are the softer overripe bananas) and add it to your recipe in place of butter until you reach the right consistency. 

Replace eggs - for vegans, use replace a whole egg in baking recipes with one mashed banana. Use one banana for every egg the recipe calls for. 

Smoothies

Smoothies are great, and there are so many different ways to create them. Head over to Pinterest for our favorite recipes!