If you have been wondering how to ripen bananas quickly at home to make banana bread, banana muffins, or other delicious banana recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Bananas are an easy and flavorful way to kick up the flavor of your favorite baked goods. However, using a ripe banana versus an unripe banana can make a massive difference in the taste and texture. In this guide, I share five of my favorite ways to speed up banana ripening to create sweet baked goodies!
Jump to:
- Why ripen bananas for baking
- Ripen Bananas fast - 5 ways
- 1. How to ripen bananas with a bag
- 2. How to ripen bananas in the oven
- 3. How to ripen bananas in the microwave
- 4. How to ripen bananas with an air fryer
- 5. How to ripen bananas quickly on the counter
- So how do you ripen bananas in 10 minutes?
- How to ripen bananas overnight
- Expert tips for ripening bananas
- Ripening bananas FAQs
- Recipes using ripe bananas
- More Baking Guides
- How To Ripen Bananas Quickly (5 ways)
Why ripen bananas for baking
Ripe bananas are preferred for baking, making good use of the fruit when many consider it time to toss them in the trash. The more bananas ripen, the moister and softer they become, making it easier to mash and blend with other batter ingredients. Additionally, the longer they sit, the more sugar they develop, becoming sweeter and more flavorful. For this reason, overripe bananas with brown spots or that have turned completely black are considered a gold mine for bakers.
Ripen Bananas fast - 5 ways
While ripened bananas are best for your banana-flavored treats, waiting days for them to mature naturally isn’t always possible. The good news is that you can ripen bananas quickly using these five easy methods, some of which require less than half an hour!
1. How to ripen bananas with a bag
Curious how to ripen bananas quickly for banana pudding? If you have a brown paper bag or plastic bag on hand, you are not too far! With this method, you can ripen the banana in as little as two days. However, this process requires another fruit that produces the natural plant hormone ethylene gas, such as an apple, pear, or an already-ripened banana.
- How to: Place the unripe banana in the bag with another high-ethylene-producing fruit. Loosely fold the bag closed and let sit for up to two days until ready to peel and use.
- Time: 1-2 days
- Pros: It is an easy and quick way to ripen that does not require much effort.
- Cons: The ripening time can vary based on how ripe the banana is, and it can be difficult to predict when it will be ready for baking.
2. How to ripen bananas in the oven
The oven method is one of the more popular methods because it is quick, easy, and has the best results in terms of texture and natural flavor. You do not need to peel the bananas for this method, and it is super easy to clean up.
- How to: Preheat oven to 300 F / 150 C. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place the unpeeled bananas on the baking sheet. Bake until the peel of the bananas are completely blackened. Remove from the oven and cool completely before scooping the pulp from the peel.
- Time: 10-20 minutes
- Pros: One of the quickest and easiest methods for how to ripen a banana. Retains the banana’s flavor and nutrients.
- Cons: It requires an oven. The process can take longer if you are aiming for overripe bananas. It also will not improve the flavor of the bananas, so it is not ideal for green bananas.
3. How to ripen bananas in the microwave
How do you ripen bananas in 5 minutes? All you need is a microwave! This method is best for softening the bananas for mixing versus ripening, as it will not improve the sweetness or the flavor. Therefore, choose the microwave only for recipes that add sugar or where you already have some ripened bananas and only need an extra one or two.
- How to: Remove the peel from the bananas. Place the peeled bananas in a microwave-safe container. Microwave in 30-second intervals until you hear the bananas sizzling. Remove from the microwave and let cool down until ready to use.
- Time: Can vary depending on the current ripeness of the banana but generally it will take less than 5 minutes.
- Pros: Quickly softens bananas that are too firm for mixing. If you wonder how to ripen bananas quickly for baking then this is your best bet.
- Cons: Like the oven, the microwave only helps soften the bananas and does not improve the flavor. It is not ideal for green bananas or recipes that depend heavily on them for sweetness.
4. How to ripen bananas with an air fryer
If you have an air fryer, you can use it just as you would the microwave or oven to ripen the bananas quickly. The best part is, like using the oven, it will keep the flavor and nutrients of the banana. It is also easy to clean up and does not require peeling.
- How to: Preheat the air fryer to 300 F / 150 C. Once preheated, cover the bottom of the basket with parchment paper or foil and place the bananas on top, maintaining space between each banana. You can also wrap the bananas directly in foil. Bake for 8-10 minutes, remove the basket and let the bananas cool. Peel the cooled bananas and scoop the pulp into the batter.
- Time: 8-10 minutes
- Pros: Easy to prepare and clean. Retains a higher amount of flavor and nutrients than the other methods.
- Cons: An air fryer is not always accessible. Cooking times can vary based on the air fryer model.
5. How to ripen bananas quickly on the counter
This is the best way to ripen bananas naturally at home. If you are planning on baking and wondering how to ripen bananas quickly for banana bread, this is by far the tastiest method. By keeping them in the bunch, the ethylene gases will help speed up the process than if you were to separate them.
- How to: Keeping the bananas in a bunch, place them in a warm spot near a window or heating vent. Let sit until they reach the desired level of ripeness, then remove them from the bunch and use them as the recipe requires.
- Time: 1-5 days
- Pros: The more natural way of ripening that will retain all of the flavors and nutrients.
- Cons: The longest method. Time can vary based on how ripe the bananas already are.
So how do you ripen bananas in 10 minutes?
If you only have 10 minutes to work with and need to ripen the bananas quickly, the microwave is your best option, although not the tastiest. The next best option would be the air fryer, which will soften the bananas and retain their sweet flavor. However, if you are wondering how to ripen bananas quickly without a microwave or air fryer, the last option would be to use the oven. Although it may take a few minutes longer, it will give the best results in terms of texture and flavor.
How to ripen bananas overnight
If you only have 12 hours, using a paper or plastic bag alongside another ethylene-producing fruit is best. This method traps the gasses inside, speeding up the ripening process and significantly changing the level of ripeness overnight. If the ripening still does not happen overnight, go with the microwave or oven method.
Expert tips for ripening bananas
- Store your bananas in a warm spot near the oven, a heater, or on top of a refrigerator. Avoid refrigerating the banana, as it will slow the ripening process while changing the color of the peel.
- Keep the bananas in a bunch. The ethylene gas produced from each banana will encourage the ripening of the other bananas around it.
- Store the bananas in an open paper bag versus a plastic bag. Doing so allows the banana to continue to get the oxygen it needs to ripen.
Ripening bananas FAQs
It is not a good idea to use unripe bananas in baking. Not only will they be more difficult to mash and blend into the batter, but you will not get the sweet banana taste you desire. Unripe bananas have not had enough time to develop the necessary moisture or sugars to flavor the product, leaving you with a bitter, drier product.
If you need to slow the ripening process, place them in the refrigerator for up to five days. It also helps to separate them from the bunch and other ethylene-producing fruits and place them in an airtight container to reduce oxygen exposure.
Yes! You can freeze whole, sliced, or mashed bananas in an airtight container or sealed plastic freezer bag. However, if the bananas have already started to turn black, it is best to toss or compost them.
Recipes using ripe bananas
More Baking Guides
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How To Ripen Bananas Quickly (5 ways)
Instructions
1. With a bag
- Place the unripe banana in a paper or plastic bag with another high-ethylene-producing fruit.
- Loosely fold the bag closed and let sit for up to two days until ready to peel and use.
2. In the oven
- Preheat oven to 300 F / 150 C.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Place the unpeeled bananas on the baking sheet.
- Bake until the peel of the bananas are completely blackened.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely before scooping the pulp from the peel.
3. In the microwave
- Remove the peel from the bananas.
- Place the peeled bananas in a microwave-safe container.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals until you hear the bananas sizzling.
- Remove from the microwave and let cool down until ready to use.
4. With an air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 300 F / 150 C.
- Once preheated, cover the bottom of the basket with parchment paper or foil and place the bananas on top, maintaining space between each banana.
- You can also wrap the bananas directly in foil.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, remove the basket and let the bananas cool.
- Peel the cooled bananas and scoop the pulp into the batter.
5. On the counter
- Keeping the bananas in a bunch, place them in a warm spot near a window or heating vent.
- Let sit until they reach the desired level of ripeness, then remove them from the bunch.
- Use as the recipe requires.
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