I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I’m not a banana fan. I consider them the Herb Tarlek of fruit — they’re pushy and turn slimy when you aren’t looking. You just know if a banana wore a belt, it would match the shoes.
This opinion disqualified me from answering the next Reader’s Question. Sara Aase, a budget-conscious writing colleague, issued me a Banana Challenge. She writes:
I’m desperate for cooking ideas for too-ripe bananas that are not banana bread or muffins!
Given my anti-banana stance, all I can come up with is, “Compost the suckers!” Got any immediately edible solutions for Sara?
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
As you know, I am the unintentional queen of banana bread, beyond that I don’t have much. However, I have used banana puree to make a low fat brownie with pretty good success.
Thanks for posting my question, Christie! In my quest to come up with other things, I have found one recipe for a dessert involving caramelizing sugar; I believe it turns out like a banana upside down cake, but have had no time to try it. Would appreciate other ideas — even non-dessert ones.
Stick them in the freezer. Then you can use them when ever you want. You could use them in smoothies, banana cream pie, banana pudding….
Charmian, I’m not fussy on the banana either, but I don’t mind it’s flavour. It must be hidden in things in order for me to enjoy this yellow fruit. I can’t really eat one just plain though. The texture is just gross. LOL.
I buy an obscene number of bananas each week because my 7-year old eats them like they’re cookies. He eats 2 a day and would eat more if I didn’t stop him.
So, I do what Debbie does. I chunk them up once they go brown, freeze them in ziploc bags, and make frequent smoothies. My favorite combination, bar none, is banana yogurt, frozen bananas, frozen black cherries, and skim milk.
i love eating bananas that are yellow but just tinged green. once the black spots appear, i’m not so eager. so i just mash them in a bowl with a bit of soymilk, maybe a dash of cocoa powder, and put them in the freezer. when i remember, i have a non-dairy treat. (:
A lot depends on HOW overripe they are, but I agree that a smoothie is a good use for them.
I love bananas, but am very particular about their ripeness.
There’s a fantastic movie called Hotel de Love (I always forget if it’s from Australia or New Zealand), where the main guy has a great line about how some days he can’t leave the house because he’s afraid he’s going to miss the window of opportunity to eat his bananas. I’m kind of like that.
Dana, I bet the bananas would make a moist addition to brownies that even I would like.
Sara, I’ll take the caramelized sugar and leave the bananas for you.
Debbie, good banana suggestions. The freezer trick is a good tip, too.
Cheryl, the black cherry smoothie sounds good — except for the banana part.
Mina, like you, that yellow with green tinges stage is the only one I can tolerate. Interesting non-dairy use of bananas.
Elizabeth — best banana line EVER.
hi, i have been tempted by a banana ice cream recipe from alton brown on food network…it looks easy and uses frozen ripe bananas.
)
Thanks!
puglette
Gag! I am with you, in that I hate bananas as anything but bananas, and they have to be slightly green for me to eat them, which I prefer to do on cereal. I hate banana bread and muffins, banana cream pie, pudding, etc etc etc. It’s the smell. The baked goods smell like sour milk to me and the other things smell like bananas.
There are two things I hate/can’t eat: banana stuff and apple juice. I can drink sweet cider but regular juice makes my stomach sick. Those five days I was in the hospital I was brought apple juice four times with meals, and also: banana muffins (twice) banana bread (once) and (gag!) banana pudding. The latter nearly got thrown at the wall but then I’d have had to contend with banana stucco.
So, no recommendations from me. I can’t even stand them in smoothies. Blerk!
Besides the obvious banana bread and banana muffins, there’s banana pancakes, bananas sliced or mashed into oatmeal or cereal, bananas on toast with peanut butter and/or honey, bananas in smoothies, bananas in crepes, and if none of that appeals to you…bananas in the trash
Puglette, Alton Brown’s ice cream sounds tempting — even to me. Thanks for the suggestion.
Jodi, I’m glad I’m not alone. Let’s go into a corner together and eat something with cranberries.
Lauren, crepes? Good call. However, you know I’m opting for the garbage.
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Kaylee
http://grillsblog.com
If you guys don’t have anything to offer, then get off the grid so
people wanting answers don’t have to stumble thru your garbage.
Sandy
Sandy, too bad you didn’t take the time to read the comments. There are plenty of great suggestions on how to use over-ripe bananas here.
I also posted a summary of all the answers here:
http://christie-corner.blogspot.com/2009/02/yes-we-have-no-bananas.html
Perhaps between the comments and summary you’ll find an answer that appeals — or should I say “a peels”.