Are you concerned about your fresh-baked banana bread not lasting as long as you want it to once you’ve had a few slices? If so, there’s no need to worry! Just like other types of cooked bread, banana bread can be easily frozen, thawed, and reheated to be enjoyed another day. That being said, there are some ways of freezing and thawing banana bread that works better than others. Here’s everything that home bakers need to know about the best way to store banana bread to ensure that it stays just as fresh and delicious as the day you made it.
Related: Yogurt Glazed Blueberry Banana Muffins
How Long Does Banana Bread Stay Good?
If you’re planning to eat the loaf over a few days, you can leave it on the counter with a covering of plastic wrap without any issue. The bread should keep for about four days before you start seeing changes in its texture. After five to six days, the bread will begin to dry out, but it will still be safe to eat. Pop a slice or two into the toaster or oven, and you probably won’t even notice the difference. Just make sure you throw it out if you start to see mold spots.
However, if you’ve baked multiple loaves at once and want to save one for longer than a few days, the freezer is the best way to go. Frozen banana bread will last for a very long time, but it will be best if served within three to four months.
Banana Bread Freezing 101
When it comes to freezing banana bread, it’s recommended that you use foil, plastic wrap, and resealable plastic bags to help keep them fresh and reduce the potential for freezer burn. Be sure to treat these tools carefully so that you can reuse them once they’ve served their purpose.
Slices
Double wrap every slice of bread with foil, put them into a resealable bag, and remove as much air as possible to keep the bread from drying out. Just make sure not to squish the bread accidentally! Toss the bag in the freezer, and you’ll have a ready-made breakfast for the days you’re running late or are expecting some company.
Half Loaves
Like with banana bread slices, take the half loaf and wrap it up in foil before putting it into an air-tight, resealable bag. Just put the bag into the freezer after removing the air, and you’ll be all set.
Whole Loafs
Surprise, surprise, storing whole loaves is not really any different than slices and half loaves. Just wrap it in foil, put it in a resealable bag, and place it in the freezer for safekeeping.
Are you looking for healthy breakfast foods that taste great but will give you enough energy to make it through the morning? Take a look at GoNana’s top-quality banana bread mixes today to find your new favorite treat.
Banana Bread Thawing 101
After you’ve stored and frozen your banana bread, you’re going to need to thaw it out-and probably reheat it- once you’re ready for another piece. Like when it came to freezing the bread, the thawing method is just slightly different depending on how much bread you’re working with.
Related: Banana Bread Ice Cream Cake
Slices
Remove the slices from the freezer and resealable bag, and then leave them out on the counter for between 20 to 30 minutes. You can also pop a few pieces into the microwave or toaster to speed up the process.
Half Loaves
Half loaves take longer to thaw than individually wrapped slices of banana bread. Remove the loaf from the freezer and air-tight bag and leave it on the counter. It should be fully thawed after about two hours have passed.
Whole Loafs
Whole loaves are just like half loaves when it comes to thawing, except that they take about twice as long to completely thaw once removed from the freezer. Remove its wrapping and leave it on your counter for about four hours, and it should be ready to go.
Related: Banana Bread Chipwich
Banana Bread Quick Thaw: Half Loaves and Full Loaves
Not everybody has the patience necessary to wait for such a delicious treat to fully thaw after pulling it out of the freezer. If this happens to describe you and your situation, don’t worry. There are ways to expedite the thawing process so that you can start enjoying your banana bread much sooner. It will also bring the sweet aroma of sugar and bananas back into your home, just like the day you first baked the bread.
Remove the half or whole loaf from the freezer and its resealable bag. Ensuring that all plastic wrap has been removed- if you used any- but keeping the loaf secured in a layer of tinfoil, put it directly onto the rack of your oven- don’t preheat! Once the bread is inside, turn your oven on and set it for 350°F. If you’re heating up a half-loaf, set a timer for 40 minutes, and set a 90-minute timer for whole loaves. The bread will thaw as the oven starts to warm up and comes to the set temperature.
Once the timer has gone off, carefully remove the bread from the oven and let it sit on the counter for at least ten minutes before removing it from the foil. This allows the residual heat trapped by the foil to continue thawing and warming up the bread. As soon as the loaf and foil have cooled enough for you to handle them safely, remove the loaf, slice it up, and enjoy a piece with a nice layer of butter.
Are you looking for some delicious, nutritious, top-quality banana bread that you can make and enjoy from the comfort of your own kitchen? Check out GoNanas to learn more today.
