How NOT to Freeze Your Banana Bread

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To get myself in that baking mood I decided to take some bananas out of the freezer* and make up my farmer’s market sized batch of banana bread.

Everything went well, I’ve posted the recipe below.  It wasn’t until I was trying to decide how to freeze the loaves that I ran into a bit of trouble.  I’m blaming my little sister, because she kept me on the phone discussing how well the imagery of the Holocene video matches the lines and sentiment of the song.  I mean that’s distracting right?  Deep thoughts like that running through your brain and then to be faced with how to freeze banana bread? 

So I had a brilliant idea!  While reaching for the plastic cling wrap I spotted the vacuum sealer rolls.  Yay, I’ll vacuum seal them!  I don’t get to use this little gadget that often so I was really excited that I’d thought of it.  I cut the length I needed, sealed up one end, slid in the loaf of bread, and then started up the vacuum process. 

I hadn’t yet frozen these lovely, fluffy, poufy, soft, moist loaves but surely they were still going to maintain their superb shape once I turned on that lovely machine.  Surely.

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For a very long time the shape of the bread did hold up under the powerful suction and I actually had a feeling that everything was going to be okay.  Then in about 5 seconds it turned into what you see above.  Don’t worry, I did learn my lesson.  The rest were wrapped in plastic wrap - then a paper bag, dated, and put into the freezer.

Besides being an easy and sweet treat for the family banana bread also makes a great food gift if you’re in a pinch!

Farmer’s Market Banana Bread (4-6 loaves)

Ingredients

  • 7 cups of flour
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/3 cup of shortening ( I like to use the butter flavored)
  • 1/2 cup of milk
  • 4 cups mashed bananas
  • 8 eggs
  • 1  cup of chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees and spray 4-6 loaf pans.  After buying a number of loaf pans this summer I’ve found I actually prefer using the super cheap aluminum ones.  They are smaller so I can get six loaves out of one batch.

Cream the sugar and shortening.  Add in half the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Next mix in the milk and bananas before adding the rest of the flour.  Mix until everything is well incorporated.  Finally add the eggs one at a time and then add the nuts if that’s your thing.

Evenly distribute the batter between your pans, sprinkle with a handful of nuts, and bake for 45-60 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test.

 

*This past summer when I was baking for the Farmer’s Market, I learned about freezing bananas.  So now when the overripe bananas are 29 cents a pound I buy a bunch or two and through them in the freezer once I get home.  They will instantly turn brown but when you take them out to thaw they will liquefy inside their skins.  For real.  I don’t even need to mash them anymore I just cut off the tops and poor them into the bowl.  The ones shown below are ALMOST thawed.

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Comments

  1. Oh no!! That was my first reaction. Then I laughed out loud and scared the dog! I can just imagine the feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment you had, and then, POOF! it was gone. Thank goodness it wasn't the only loaf, that would have been a disaster! Thanks for posting the recipe, and giving me a good laugh on a dreary Monday morning. I guess the best thing about the experience would have been eating the crumbs! (or am I the only one who would do that....)

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  2. haha! that's hilarious. it looks like a delish recipe though!

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  3. Just curious, why don't you peel the bananas before freezing them?

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  4. It is so much easier keeping them in their skins. You don't have to bag them when you place in freezer for one. Plus it keeps them moist, and little or no mashing at all. For another, once they are thawed simply snip one end of banana, slightly squeeze, and viola the banana slides right out into the bowl. Simple..simple..simple.

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  5. I use my vacuum sealer to do bread all the time. Just have to freeze it first then seal! Sounds like a delicious recipe.

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