How to Use Overripe Bananas

Last Updated: March 4, 2021 References

It happens to the best of us: a bunch of bananas, purchased with good intentions, ripening too quickly to be used as a stand-alone snack. Luckily, there's no need to be wasteful; even past their prime, bananas can play a variety of non-traditional roles beyond the fruit salad platter. Read on to learn creative ways to use overripe bananas.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:
Bake Easy Banana Bread

Banana bread is a widely enjoyed, traditional way to use overripe bananas. This simple recipe requires only a few ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen pantry.

1
Gather ingredients.
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour (or add 3 & 1/2 tsp baking powder & 1/2 tsp salt to regular flour)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips, dried fruit, or walnuts (optional)
2
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3
Mix first six ingredients together in a large bowl. When ingredients are just combined, fold in the chocolate chips, dried fruit and/or nuts if desired.
4
Pour mixture into a greased loaf pan. You may also use muffin tins or a small cake pan, depending on how you would like to serve the bread.
5
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. For muffins, bake for 25-30 minutes.
6
Allow to completely cool in the pan. Serve and enjoy!^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:
Make a Green Smoothie

Green smoothies have gained popularity lately for being high in nutrition, easy on the taste buds, and simple to make.

1
Gather the ingredients. In addition to one or two of your ripe bananas, you'll need:
- 1 big handful of chopped spinach or kale
- 1 cup of plain yogurt
- 1 big spoonful of peanut butter
- 1 diced green apple
- 3/4 cup dairy, soy, or almond milk
- Cinnamon and honey, to taste
2
Blend all ingredients together, using a blender or food processor. If needed, stop the blender at 20 second intervals to scrape the sides and mix ingredients with a rubber spatula.
3
Once thoroughly blended, pour into a glass. If you'd like, garnish with a handful of your favorite granola, berries, or a dollop of whipped cream.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:
Make Non-Dairy Banana Nut Ice Cream

This banana based recipe for non-dairy ice cream is an easy and economical alternative for those with lactose intolerance, and can be made vegan by omitting the honey and adding vanilla.

1
Gather your ingredients.
- 2 or 3 overripe bananas
- 1/4 cup water, soy milk, or almond milk.
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts of your choice
2
Peel and chop or mash all of your overripe bananas. Put them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer overnight.
3
Blend the bananas and liquid until creamy. You might need to let the bananas soften a bit before blending them.
4
Stir in the honey and nuts. Spoon into a bowl, and enjoy.^{[2]
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5
Finished.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:
Enrich Plants

Having a green thumb is much easier when you have overripe bananas on hand. Mixed with water, bananas become a nutritional powerhouse for your indoor and outdoor plants.

1
Peel one overripe banana. Place the peel aside. Puree the ripe banana with 1/2 cup water.
2
Dig up the soil around a bush in your yard in need of a little extra nourishment. Pour the banana mixture into the soil.
3
Put the empty banana peel in a large jar and cover with water. This creates an enriching "juice."
4
Mix one part homemade "banana juice" with five parts water.
5
Water plants regularly with this mixture.
6
Continually add fresh water to the banana jar to replenish your supply.^{[3]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:
Feed Butterflies

Monarch butterfly populations have reached a critical need due to the depletion of their natural habitat. While we don't all have space to plant a garden, it's easy to use your overripe bananas to supplement their food source.

1
Combine the following ingredients in a pan to create a nutritious formula for the butterflies:
- 3 mashed, overripe bananas
- 1 or 2 cans of stale beer
- 1 pound white sugar
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup fruit juice
- 1 shot of rum
2
Paint mixture on trees, stumps, rocks, or tree posts. Alternatively, you may soak a sponge in the liquid and hang it from a tree limb.^{[4]
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