The importance of recycling ripe and overripe bananas is enormous from both a health and an environmentally friendly perspective. Ripe and overripe bananas, which are often mistakenly considered inedible, offer you an excellent opportunity to cook creatively while avoiding food waste. Here you will find recipe ideas for incorporating ripe bananas into your diet.
Using ripe bananas in various recipes such as banana bread, banana muffins or banana milk is a delicious way to take advantage of the fruit's natural sweetness. By putting ripe and overripe bananas to good use, you are promoting a sustainable food culture.
The banana – everything about the yellow fruit!
Banana bread – overripe bananas for a delicious classic
Banana bread with oats: Banana bread is more than just a simple pastry; it is a delicious way to use ripe bananas. In addition to the brown bananas, you will also need spelt flour, walnuts and maple syrup, which give the bread a special flavor.
This recipe is not only simple but also incredibly healthy and offers a great alternative to classic bread or cake. And it's so easy to make:
You need:
- 3 ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 150 g flour
- 100 g Verival oat flakes
- 150 g apple sauce
- 100 g almond slivers
- 50 ml milk or milk substitute
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tsp baking powder
- Cinnamon & cocoa (optional)
- Pinch of salt
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan oven: 160 degrees) and grease a loaf tin well.
Mash the bananas with a fork in a bowl. Scrape out the vanilla pod lengthwise with a knife. Then mix the oil with the brown sugar and the eggs. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and vanilla pod and stir this mixture into the oil and egg mixture. Stir in the banana puree.
Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake the banana bread in the preheated oven for about 55 minutes. Let your banana bread cool completely after baking before removing it from the pan. This quick and easy recipe makes about 10 healthy banana breads.
Banana pancakes – a fluffy breakfast
Imagine starting your morning with homemade banana pancakes. All you need are ripe bananas, eggs, a little flour and milk. Simply mix them together to make a smooth dough. As soon as the pancakes are baked golden brown in a pan with a little vegetable oil, they will not only look appetizing, but will also be a delight to the taste buds. You can also prepare banana pancakes without flour.
If you want to make a vegan version, all you need are ripe bananas, an egg substitute, a little flour and vegetable milk.
Banana milk and smoothies – fruity refreshment
Banana milk is very popular. People of all ages love this drink. However, due to its ingredients, it is very nutritious and is more of a meal. To make it, simply blend bananas with milk or a plant-based alternative. The more banana you use, the sweeter and thicker your drink will be. You can vary the recipe to suit your taste.
You can also add ingredients such as oat flakes, oat bran, or other fruits to the bananas. With the help of a blender and the addition of milk, natural yoghurt, almond milk, or oat milk, you can create delicious drinks in no time at all. The natural sweetness of bananas eliminates the need for added sugar and ensures a healthy taste experience.
Creative with smoothies
You can also use fruit juices as a base for banana smoothies, such as orange juice, apple juice, grape juice and many more. A squeeze of lemon provides a good portion of vitamin C. Basically, there are no limits to your imagination. Anything you like to taste and combine with bananas is possible.
Banana ice cream – nicecream – cool treat
Nicecream, or “nana ice cream”, is an absolute ice cream highlight. “Nana” is short for “banana”. That's because the classic recipe uses frozen bananas.
To make it, slice ripe and very ripe bananas. Put them in the freezer for a few hours. The bananas should be frozen all the way through. Then blend the banana slices with plant-based milk to create a creamy ice cream. And the best thing is: you only need 5 minutes, a blender and just 2 ingredients. It couldn't be quicker or healthier!
An overview of the benefits of nicecream:
- Niceream is sugar-free – only the sugar from the bananas provides sweetness.
- Nicecream is completely vegan.
- The vegetable milk makes the ice cream low in fat.
- No nutrients or vitamins are lost from the fruit.
Varieties of banana ice cream
Of course, you can also refine your banana ice cream with ingredients such as vanilla ice cream or cocoa powder as you like. Experiment with different flavors and create your own ice cream. Whether you like it classic or with added flavors like chocolate, nuts, or berries, the possibilities are endless. Be inspired by the wide range of flavors and find your personal favorite.
These frozen treats are not only a healthy alternative to conventional ice cream, but also a delight for anyone who loves bananas.
Other creative uses for bananas
Discover the versatility of bananas and learn how to use them in a variety of ways in your kitchen. But banana peel also has a lot to offer. Read more here.
Use banana peel
Did you know that banana peel is not just waste? Try out these tips for using it. Banana peels are an excellent additional fertilizer for flowers. Simply cut the banana peel into small pieces and rake it under the soil. The peel will quickly decompose in the soil and release valuable minerals and nutrients – such as magnesium, potassium, sulphur, phosphate, sodium and silicic acid – as well as lime.
Banana peel is also said to have a protective effect on plants. Placing pieces of banana around the plants that have been attacked should help to repel aphids.
Bananas as an ingredient in savory dishes
Bananas are not just for sweet dishes. Discover the world of savory dishes with bananas. Use ripe bananas and add banana slices to your favorite dishes. A pinch of salt can perfectly round off the flavor and add a surprising touch.
Desserts and sweet dishes
Bananas are a classic ingredient in desserts and sweet dishes. Let your creativity run free and incorporate bananas into chocolate banana desserts, delicious banana cakes or as banana puree. Combining bananas with coconut also provides exotic taste experiences. Try out new recipes and find new favorites to enrich your sweet dishes.
Verival – porridge and ripe bananas
We at Verival offer a wide range of muesli and porridge. These are quick to prepare. If you want to use ripe bananas, you can add them to any product.
Another great option is to refine your homemade porridge made from oats or oat bran with banana puree. For example, you can make a puree by cutting 2 very ripe bananas into pieces, adding yogurt (or a vegan alternative), and blending everything with a little cinnamon and honey if you like. This way, you can have a healthy breakfast in no time, with the natural sweetness of bananas.
Sport Porridge with banana – discover it now
Frequently asked questions
Can I still eat overripe bananas?
Yes, you can still eat overripe bananas without any problems. They are ideal for use in recipes such as banana bread, banana muffins or banana biscuits. Overripe bananas with brown spots are particularly sweet and are an excellent source of natural sweetness in baked goods. What's more, you are making good use of leftovers and helping to avoid food waste.
How to preserve bananas?
Bananas can be frozen for storage. Peel ripe bananas and freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Frozen bananas are great for making banana ice cream or nicecream. You can also use them as an egg substitute in various baking recipes.
Are very ripe bananas healthy?
Very ripe bananas are healthy and contain important nutrients such as potassium and vitamin B6. They are easier to digest than less ripe bananas and have a strong natural sweetness that often eliminates the need for added sugar in recipes.
Why ripe bananas for banana bread?
Ripe bananas are ideal for banana bread because they have a soft texture and intense natural sweetness that makes the bread moist and flavorful. The riper the banana, the more flavorful the banana bread. Plus, using brown bananas in banana bread is an excellent way to use up food.
How do bananas ripen after being picked?
Bananas continue to ripen after they've been picked by producing ethylene gas, a natural ripening gas. This process causes the banana peel to change from green to yellow and finally to brown, while the flesh progressively softens and sweetens.
How do I get green bananas to turn yellow quickly?
To ripen green bananas quickly, store them at room temperature and near apples, pears, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, plums, or tomatoes. These foods give off ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process of bananas.
When are bananas no longer edible?
Bananas are no longer edible when they show signs of mold or are very dark, almost black in color. As long as the inside of the banana still looks good and shows no signs of spoilage, you can still use it even if the peel is brown, for example for banana puree or banana cake.
