What To Do With Overly Ripe Bananas

These recipes prove you can love even the ugliest bananas!

healthy banana breakfast smoothie

Like most kids, my little ones loooove bananas! They eat at least one or two a day, and they’d probably eat more if I let them! Because we go through so many, I usually buy bananas in bulk, which means I find myself with overly ripe bananas more than I’d like to admit. Sometimes, the shelf life on a bunch of bananas is extremely short and (of course) my kids won’t touch them because they look “ugly.” If only I knew what to do with overly ripe bananas!

Ugly or not, I don’t like to waste food. So, I taught myself a few alternative uses for those poor, rejected bananas. I know many of you are in the same predicament as me, so I wanted to share my research about what to do with overly ripe bananas. I compiled all of my findings into one list, and I hope you get some good ideas and don’t end up having to throw those spotty bananas in the trash! Even the ugly ones deserve a little love!

1. Make a Frozen Treat

As it turns out, bananas freeze extremely well. If you don’t have time to use a ripe banana immediately, you can always pop it in the freezer for later use. Those bananas are perfect for making frozen treats like these!

Orange Banana Smoothie Popsicles

These healthy popsicles from Sugar Free Mom feature oranges and bananas that use their natural sweetness to disguise hidden veggies. Way to go, bananas!

Chocolate Banana Naturally Sweet Ice Cream

When thinking about what to do with overly ripe bananas, ice cream was definitely a front-runner! Bananas act as the base of this ice cream. The riper the better because they provide the only sweetness in this wholesome “ice cream” from Pinch of Yum.

Chocolate-Dipped Banana Cream Pops

Chocolate-dipped bananas are fun for kids, but these pops take that idea to the next level. These popsicles are made from pureed bananas that are frozen and coated with chocolate, coconut, and nuts.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Milkshake

Peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas are a heavenly trio! These milkshakes from Rachel Cooks are simple and use a whole ripe banana per batch!

Vegan Banana Cream Pie Blizzard

No need to stop by DQ for a tasty treat! Just scoop up those unwanted bananas and put them to delicious use in this healthy version of a Cream Pie Blizzard. The Minimalist Baker sure knows what to do with overly ripe bananas!

Chocolate Caramel Banana Ice Cream Bars

Eating Bird Food takes frozen banana ice cream and tops it with date caramel, nuts, and a crunchy chocolate shell. They seem naughty, but they’re actually a healthy frozen treat!

Next up: Smoothies!

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Chef Heather

Heather is a trained chef and writer from Houston, TX. She has a degree in culinary arts, and is married to her culinary school sweetheart who is also a chef. Heather has a passion for creating healthy meals that don't sacrifice on flavor. She loves Crossfit and is always looking for ways to make healthier versions of her favorite meals. Heather believes the secret to sticking with any healthy meal plan is to include foods that you really enjoy!

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