Learning the art of food preservation is critical to homesteading and dehydrating bananas is one of the easiest skills to start with! Let me show you how simple it is to dry banana chips to enjoy anytime!
You’re at the grocery store, you spot some ripe bananas and decide to buy them. But once you get home, you realize that you’re not going to be able to eat them all before they go bad. What do you do?
Dehydrate them!
Dehydrating bananas is a great way to preserve them for later use! They are lightweight and easy to store, making them ideal for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Plus, they’re a healthy snack option.
How to Dehydrate Bananas
- You’ll need a bunch of bananas, about 8 medium-sized ones, and about 1/4 cup of lemon juice.
- To dehydrate bananas, start by peeling them and placing them into a shallow dish with lemon juice. The lemon juice will keep the bananas from turning brown while you work.
- Slice the bananas into 1/8″ slices and place them on your dehydrator trays, not touching.
- Set the temperature to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dehydrate the bananas for 12-24 hours, or until they’re completely dried out or at desired texture.
- Store the dehydrated bananas in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
What Kind of Dehydrator Do I Need?
You can use any dehydrator to dry bananas, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, this is the food dehydrator that I own and use.
If you plan to dry any amount of food for your family, I suggest investing in a higher quality food dehydrator that can hold large quantities of food and do a great job. I saved up for my Excalibur and I’ve never regretted it.
Ways to Use Dehydrated Bananas
Camping or Hiking – If you’ve ever tried to eat a banana while camping or hiking, you know how difficult it can be. Bananas are delicate and bruise easily, making them hard to transport without refrigeration. Bring along dehydrated banana chips for your trip!
Kid’s School Lunches – Children love dried fruit that they can carry easily and eat without a mess.
Make Trail Mix – When my kids were young, we would combine dried fruit with some store-bought cereal, nuts and anything else in the pantry that needed to be eaten up to make fun trail mixes!
There are many ways to enjoy dehydrated bananas. Add them to your morning oatmeal or smoothie for a boost of flavor and nutrition. Or use them in baking, like in this recipe for banana bread.
Dehydrated bananas are a healthy and delicious way to add flavor and nutrition to your diet! Make some soon and leave a comment about your experience and how you used them!
