Frozen banana help!

[tankgirl73]

I decided to try making some banana-based smoothies after getting some recipes. These aren't for me... I can't STAND bananas unless they're cooked up in banana bread lol... But the kids like them, and DS has had banana-based smoothies before, and he LOVES the non-banana smoothies we've made at home before too.

So, just so you get the picture, I've never done this before.

The recipe calls for one frozen banana. No problem. I bought two bunches of bananas, put one on the hanger for the kids to eat fresh, and the other bunch straight into the freezer. I did think ahead enough to separate the individual bananas rather than have them frozen together in one solid bunch.

Do you see where this is going?

Of course, now I have a half-dozen frozen bananas, with the PEEL ON. And no apparent way to get the frozen-solid peel OFF (I tried) without also thawing the banana itself, defeating the purpose of the frozen banana in the first place.

Any advice on how I could salvage this??

[greenmulberry]

I have managed this by slicing them into several sections, and then cutting the peel off with a sharp paring knife. If you cut them into rounds, you can stand them up on the cut and and slice the peel off by cutting straight down the side.

[calebsmommy25]

You can also zap it in the microwave for a couple of seconds, just enough so you can get the peel off.

[tankgirl73]

That's a good idea. I was also thinking that I might dunk it in hot water for just long enough to soften the peel.

[mumkimum]

I'll often freeze overripe bananas, peel on, for baking later and briefly microwave them to peel and cook with. They'll still usually be partially frozen, especially if you're real caution with your time - you should be fine.

[Paeta16]

I was going to suggest hot water as well. For future reference, the peel is easier to take off when the bananas are over-ripe going into the freezer. I just throw all of my over-ripe bananas into a ziploc in the freezer and use as needed for banana bread. Now I'm going to have to try some smoothies, or frozen banana smoothie popsicles for DD and myself! You've inspired me to mix it up too

[tankgirl73]

By golly, it never occurred to me that you could freeze bananas and use them for banana bread... how many times have I thrown out overripe bananas because I wasn't able to get around to baking a banana bread in time (I mean before they got REALLY bad of course lol)... So I can just pop them in the freezer and save them for later??? Brilliant!!

[Ms. B. Sprout]

While we're on this topic . . .

Frozen banana popped into the food processor makes a tremendously good single-ingredient "ice cream."

[redvlagrl]

Just a note regarding frozen bananas for baking. When you defrost them they go disgusting looking - soft with a gross 'wine'. But they are fine int eh baked good.