Bananas are budget-friendly and adaptable, securing their place as a household essential, yet their limited lifespan proves disappointing. The tender yellow fruit typically sits proudly atop a fruit bowl for several days, but when neglected too long, bananas deteriorate into a soggy brown disaster.
Food waste specialist Kate Hall has devised an ingenious method for maintaining bananas’ freshness for months using a freezer. However, her preservation technique isn’t conventional. During her appearance on the Channel 5 programme Fresh Vs Frozen: Which is Better?, Kate disclosed the “split” method she employs to preserve bananas for extended periods.
Kate stated: “When we stop and think about how far a banana, for example, has travelled – the land, the water, the energy, the transportation, the packaging, everything that has gone into that piece of food – that we’re letting go of… into the bin has an enormous impact on our planet.”
The food waste specialist observed that while placing an entire banana in the freezer is possible, “it does turn black and look rather disgusting when you defrost it”.
Rather than advocating for slicing the banana into circular pieces for freezing, Kate proposed an alternative approach: dividing it.
She elaborated: “You can just slice it on the tray but also, if you pop your finger into the end of the banana, it will separate into three fingers and then they are just amazing dipped in chocolate.”
Bananas can be safely frozen for up to six months; though they are best consumed within the first two to three months. Despite being safe to eat, bananas left in freezing conditions for extended periods may develop freezer burn.
Storing Kate’s split chocolate bananas is straightforward. Line a baking tray or freezer drawer with greaseproof paper and arrange the three “fingers” flat-side up.
Melt your preferred chocolate in a bowl (either over simmering water or in the microwave), then drizzle or spoon it onto the flat side of the bananas.
Allow them to cool slightly before placing the bananas in the freezer unwrapped (leaving them on the baking paper).
Once set, move the bananas to an airtight container or ziplock bag – this step is crucial to minimise freezer burn. The bananas can then be stored in the freezer for several months.