How to Freeze Dry Bananas at Home

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Learn how to freeze dry bananas at home to make freeze dried banana chips that are perfect for snacking or long-term storage.

Freeze dried bananas in a long oval dish on a wooden serving board.

If you've ever wondered how to freeze dry bananas at home, you're going to want to read all my tips and tricks for perfect light and crispy freeze dried bananas!

You know that moment when you open a bag of store-bought freeze dried fruit and the pieces crumble to dust before you can even taste them?

That is not what happens when you make your own. Homemade freeze dried bananas are insanely crunchy, wildly sweet, and they stay that way for months if you store them properly.

Here is everything you need to turn a bunch of bananas into the crunchiest, most delicious snack you will pull from your pantry all month.

If you are interested in other freeze-dried fruits check out this post on How to Freeze Dry Apples (my kids favorite). You'll also love How to Freeze Dry Strawberries!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Freeze-dried bananas are crispy, naturally sweet, and make the perfect snack for busy days, camping, or food storage. You can enjoy your bananas on the go without having to worry about bruising them!
They are a versatile ingredient that can be used in smoothies, baking and more!
Unlike dehydrated banana chips, freeze-drying bananas keeps more of the original flavor, texture, and nutrients.

A wooden bowl full of freeze dried bananas.

If you've ever asked, "Can you freeze dried bananas?" the answer is absolutely yes!

Supplies Needed

Home Freeze Dryer: I use a Stay Fresh Freeze Dryer, and I love it. You cannot replicate freeze drying with a dehydrator or an oven because the process requires a vacuum chamber and subzero temperatures to remove moisture without heat.

Parchment Paper: Parchment paper prevents the bananas from sticking to the freeze dryer trays.

A Sharp Knife: Some people say they use a mandolin, but I find that it's harder to prevent the bananas from squishing. So, I use a knife and try my best to cut them uniformly to ¼ inch.

A Scale: A heavy duty scale is needed for weighing the trays at the end of the cycle to make sure all the moisture was removed from the fruit.

Mason Jars or Mylar Bags: Mason jars are great if you want to snack on the bananas and reseal the jars. Mylar bags are perfect for long term storage or to take them on the go.

Electronic Mason Jar Sealer: My mason jar sealer has been awesome at keeping my freeze-dried foods from absorbing moisture!

Recipe Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients for freeze drying bananas.

Ripe Bananas are critical. Bananas that are yellow with small brown spots hit the sweet spot where the sugar content is high, but the structure is still firm enough to slice cleanly. Too green and they taste starchy. Too ripe and they turn into mush under the knife.

Prep Your Freeze Dryer

Before starting the freeze-drying process, make sure your freeze dryer chamber is dry and clean. Check the oil level.

Pre-cool the machine if your model recommends it. For the Stay Fresh Freeze Dryer, you do not need to pre-cool it.

How to Make Freeze Dried Bananas

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full printable recipe with ingredient measurements is below!

Pre-cool your freeze dryer if your freeze dryer requires it.

Line your freeze dryer trays with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Peel the bananas and slice them into ¼ inch rounds.

Lay the banana slices in a single layer on your trays.

Pro Tip: You can add a second layer of parchment paper on top of the first layer of bananas and a second layer of bananas. Drying time will be longer.

A picture of someone's hands slicing bananas and a picture of the bananas lined on a parchment covered freeze drying tray.

Load the trays into the freeze dryer, close the door tightly and make sure the seal is secure. Make sure your vacuum valve and drain valve are closed.

Run the freeze dryer according to your manufacturers instructions. For specific instructions on the StayFresh Freeze Dryer that I use check further down this blog post.

Depending on your freeze dryer, humidity, and how many bananas, it should run between 20-30 hours.

See my tips below to check for doneness.

A freeze dryer tray lined with parchment paper with freeze dried bananas on it.

How to Check if Bananas are Done Drying

Freeze dried bananas should feel completely dry, very light, and snap cleanly when you break them. If they bend without breaking or feel even slightly pliable, add extra dry time.

The best way to check for doneness is to pull out each tray, weigh each tray and add it back to the freeze dryer for 2-3 more hours and weigh the trays again.

If the weight stays the same, then they are fully dry. If the weight decreases, then you repeat until the weight no longer changes.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

The ripeness of the bananas directly impacts texture and flavor. A perfectly ripe banana has natural sugars that concentrate beautifully during freeze drying, giving you candy-like sweetness.
You do not need to pre-treat the sliced bananas with lemon juice or citric acid. Some guides suggest this to prevent browning, but if you work quickly the freeze-drying process locks in color naturally. Adding acid changes the flavor and is unnecessary.
As soon as the bananas are done freeze drying allow them to quickly cool and then immediately package them to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air.
Run full loads whenever possible. Freeze dryers use a lot of energy, so you want to maximize every cycle. If you don't have enough bananas add other fruit such as strawberries.

A wooden board with freeze dried raspberries, bananas, and strawberries.

Specific Instructions for StayFresh Freeze Dryers

How do you freeze dry bananas in the Stay Fresh Freeze Dryer? I've created a video that walks you through the process!

How to Store Freeze Dried Bananas

After you remove the trays from the freeze dryer, allow the bananas to briefly cool and then immediately store them.

Long Term Storage: For long-term storage use a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber. Seal the bananas inside with an impulse sealer and store the bags in cool, dry place.
Shorter Storage: For short term storage (a few weeks to a couple months) use mason jars and remove the access air with an electronic mason jar sealer.
On the Go Snacks: Small mylar bags are great for taking bananas on the go. I use the one with windows and use my impulse sealer to seal them.

A glass mason jar laying on it's side with freeze dried bananas spilling onto the counter.

How to Rehydrate Freeze Dried Bananas

The easiest way to rehydrate freeze dried bananas, is with water.

Place the freeze dried bananas in a bowl.
Add enough water to cover the banana slices.
Let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes.
Drain any excess liquid before using them.

The bananas will soften and become similar to fresh bananas, although they may be slightly softer in texture after the freeze drying process.

Ways to Use Freeze Dried Bananas

There are endless ways to enjoy freeze dried bananas. Try them in smoothies, yogurt parfaits, or breakfast cereal.

You can also grind them into a powder and add them to smoothies, ice cream toppings, baked goods, frostings, or banana pudding.

I love using freeze dried banana powder in banana bread or banana muffins for an extra concentrated flavor boost!

Flavor Variations

Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the bananas before adding them to the freeze dryer.
You can also combine freeze dried bananas and strawberries for a delicious fruit mix.

A wooden bowl full of freeze dried bananas and strawberries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to freeze dry bananas?

If you're wondering how long to freeze dry bananas, most batches take between 20-36 hours depending on the slice thickness, the amount of fruit, and your machine.

Can you freeze dry bananas?

Yes! Bananas freeze dry beautifully and become crispy, sweet, and shelf-stable.

What's the difference between freeze-dried bananas and dehydrated banana chips?

Freeze-dried bananas, are light and crispy. While dehydrated banana chips are typically chewy or dense. Freeze drying also preserves more flavor and texture.

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