Easiest way to freeze and defrost bananas for speedy smoothie prep
Freezing a banana whole in its peel not only saves time, it preserves freshness and makes smoothie prep a breeze.
Healthy recipe developer and cookbook author Bethany Ugarte shared a simple method for freezing and defrosting the self-contained fruit.
Instead of slicing or mashing and freezing bananas in a container or plastic zip top bag, Ugarte told "Good Morning America" there are a few reasons why leaving the fruit in its own skin is best.
It prevents browning and freezer burn. "You can literally store them for a month and they’re good as new," she said.
It reduces plastic waste by eliminating wrappers or baggies.
It keeps the bananas sanitary, because she said there's "less chance of contamination since it’s freezing in the peel."
And finally, it's a "food prep time saver," just toss it in the freezer and pull out when ready to run under warm water to loosen the peel, then slice and go.
