Stop! Don’t throw away overripe bananas
It happens to us all.
We buy bananas, sometimes too many, and they end up not getting eaten up fast enough or in some cases… at all.
Then as nature begins to take its course; the bananas go from a bright, yellow color to a more dull yellow and those signature brown spots start developing.
Not only that, but the banana begins to get softer and in case you didn’t know, overripe bananas become mushy due to the starches breaking down to sugar and eventually (if left long enough) the decomposition process begins.
But before that phase kicks in, while they are still just spotted, you can salvage them as to not waste them with the suggestions below...
Dark patches on bananas are a good thing! Instead of cutting out the ripened bits or tossing it together, you should be excited to see it in all its browning glory. This is because ripening means more Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in the banana and more cancer-fighting substances for your body.
You can even make healthy, raw & living food puddings such as banana papaya pudding simply by blending 1 banana and 1 half of a small papaya (seeds removed, please) until smooth and creamy. Fruit puddings can be made blending a banana with other fruits as well - strawberries, blueberries, peaches, mango, pineapple, etc.
We buy bananas, sometimes too many, and they end up not getting eaten up fast enough or in some cases… at all.
Then as nature begins to take its course; the bananas go from a bright, yellow color to a more dull yellow and those signature brown spots start developing.
Not only that, but the banana begins to get softer and in case you didn’t know, overripe bananas become mushy due to the starches breaking down to sugar and eventually (if left long enough) the decomposition process begins.
But before that phase kicks in, while they are still just spotted, you can salvage them as to not waste them with the suggestions below...
Dark patches on bananas are a good thing! Instead of cutting out the ripened bits or tossing it together, you should be excited to see it in all its browning glory. This is because ripening means more Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in the banana and more cancer-fighting substances for your body.
TNF helps the immune system to send more cells towards inflamed or infected areas of the body, interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells. Plus, it helps with heartburn, constipation, ulcers, PMS, energy production, anemia, depression and temperature control on hot days.
3 Suggestions on What to Do With Brown Spotted Bananas
1. Baking
Use overripe, brown spotted bananas for banana bread, banana pudding and other desserts. If you have a dessert in mind but perhaps you want to wait a few days (until the weekend, for example) peel them, put them into a plastic storage bag, and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake up your goodies! But if you don’t intend to BAKE with them anytime soon…
2. Freezing
Overripe bananas freeze well and can be used in shakes, smoothies and banana ice cream! Simply peel them and put them into a freezer bag and into the freezer for later use. They store well in the freezer for up to about 3-4 months. You can also put the peeled bananas on a tray or plate slightly spaced apart, freeze a little bit and then place into bags. This helps them to not stick together inside of the bag.
You can even make healthy, raw & living food puddings such as banana papaya pudding simply by blending 1 banana and 1 half of a small papaya (seeds removed, please) until smooth and creamy. Fruit puddings can be made blending a banana with other fruits as well - strawberries, blueberries, peaches, mango, pineapple, etc.
3. Dehydrate them
If you own a food dehydrator, you can also make use of those brown spotted bananas to make sweet, chewy, banana fruit leather or banana chips. These will surely curb that sweet tooth!
