Canning Bananas

[Mom5farmboys]

I went grocery shopping at Aldi's today and they had 2lb bags of bananas that were very ripe for .25 cents a bag! I bought all they had, 42 bags total! Score!!

Anyway I was thinking of canning them. I can use them in banana bread, oatmeal cookies, oatmeal (for breakfast), and smoothies.

I know they are low acid and need to be pressure canned. Has anyone done this before? How long do pints need to be processed?

I am so excited! If I can't can them I can freeze them in 1 cup servings, but we just bought a whole pig and it will be here in a week, and I'm not sure how much freezer space I will have left after I get it.

Thanks for any help.

[CanNerd]

You can make Banana Butter or Banana Jam, but no way to 'can' bananas directly.

[NCLee]

Agree.

For long term storage, IMHO, the best way to preserve bananas is to dehydrate them. They can later be reconstituted for a variety of uses. Freezing is the only other option that I know of to keep bananas for any length of time.

Wish I could be more helpful. Do you have a dehydrator or know someone who will let you borrow theirs?

Lee

[Mom5farmboys]

I decided to freeze the bananas. I do have a dehydrator but I didn't really want to dehydrate them.

I put the really really ripe ones in a big mixing bowl, (after peeling them) and mashed them with a potato masher. Then I put 1 cup in a freezer bag and froze them. The firmer ones I cut into slices and froze on cookie sheets, tomorrow I will transfer those to bags as well. I picked through them and the ones that are still firm enough to eat I put in the fridge, My bottom 2 veggie drawers are packed, but my boys love bananas and they won't last long.

All total we figured about 40 lbs of bananas, not counting the peels! That will last us awhile! Thanks for your help.

[NCLee]

Glad you decided to go ahead and freeze them. You found a great bargain and I was afraid that lack of freezer space or a dehydrator would end up being a problem.

I like banana sandwiches for lunch, so I bet I know what those boys will be eating today. :) In fact I might join them as we have a couple that are getting too ripe.

Lee