Banana bread has long been a staple of the Western world’s diet, and with good reason. The moist, rich cake uses up fruits that are so black you would otherwise throw them away.
For this reason, and the simplicity of the other ingredients involved, banana bread trended in the United Kingdom during their first lockdown.
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How long does fresh banana bread last?
Freshly baked banana bread should be stored on the countertop rather than in the refrigerator.
To keep it for as long as possible, allow the banana bread to cool completely.
How do you store banana bread on the countertop?
Place it onto a plate and cover it with a layer of plastic wrap. If you do not like using plastic wrap, a plastic airtight container will do the job even better.
If you wish to store it in a rigid plastic container, we recommend placing a couple sheets of kitchen paper at the bottom and top. We would recommend placing kitchen paper underneath the base and at the top of the plastic wrap too.
This is important because banana bread is a very moist cake and the kitchen paper will help to absorb excess moisture.
If you store it like this, it will keep perfectly for up to 4 days. It will remain safe to eat after this point, but it may begin to turn slightly stale. If this is the case, we suggest popping a slice in the toaster for a quick refresh before you eat.
The cooler and dryer the location you are storing your banana bread, the longer it will last. If you smell any foul odors or notice any mold, please dispose of the banana bread.
How long does frozen banana bread last?
Provided you prepare the banana bread for the freezer correctly, it will keep indefinitely.
For the best results in terms of flavor and texture, we recommend consuming it within 3 to 4 months.
How do you freeze the banana bread?
There are a few different methods depending on the quantity of banana bread your household consumes at once. If you only occasionally have a slice of banana bread, we suggest freezing it in slices.
For smaller households, you could consider freezing a half loaf. If you are banana bread fiends, we have also detailed how to freeze a loaf whole.
Freezing slices of banana bread
Your first step is to cut your cooled banana bread into the desired slice size.
Wrap each slice individually in 2 layers of aluminum foil, and then place all of the slices in a large ziplock bag. It is important to double wrap each slice as if any moisture or air gets in, the banana bread will develop freezer burn.
Press as much air out of the ziplock bag as possible and label and date the bag.
Place it in the freezer for easy access to ready to eat banana bread.
Freezing a half loaf of banana bread
Your first step is to cut your cooled loaf of banana bread in half.
Again, you should double wrap each half of the loaf in aluminum foil before placing in a labeled and dated ziplock bag.
Press as much air out of the bag as you can, and then place in the freezer.
Freezing a whole loaf of banana bread
We think you know where we’re going with this one by now.
Double wrap the loaf of banana bread in aluminum foil. Place inside of a large ziplock bag, labeled and dated.
Press as much air out of the bag as possible and seal, before storing in the freezer.
How to thaw banana bread
Slices
Take a wrapped slice of banana bread out of the bag in your freezer. Place it on your kitchen counter for around 20-30 minutes to thaw.
If you are not this patient, you can remove the aluminum foil from the slice and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Alternatively, you could place the slice in your toaster to give it a crispy edge.
Half a loaf
This should take around 2 hours to thaw on your kitchen side. Leave it in the wrappings to defrost.
For a faster method, remove the banana bread from the plastic bag but leave it in the foil.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it in the oven for 40 minutes.
Remove from the oven and leave to sit in the foil for 10 minutes. Unwrap and serve!
A full loaf
Take the loaf of banana bread out of your freezer and remove it from the ziplock bag. Leave it in the aluminum foil though.
Allow it to sit on your side for 4 hours, and then it should be perfectly defrosted and ready to eat.
You can use the oven method for a full loaf too. Again, take care to ensure it is just wrapped in foil.
Leave it in the oven for 90 minutes, and then allow to stand for 10 before slicing into it.
Why is it important to cool the banana bread completely before storage?
This is because warm things emit steam. If you place a warm loaf inside a sealed container the steam will rise and hit the surfaces of the container.
These will be colder in temperature than the steam and will cause it to change state - from a gas to a liquid.
This condensation will then drip back down onto the surface of your banana bread, making it soggy. If you are freezing your banana bread, this is the perfect environment for freezer burn to develop.
Summary
The most important part of banana bread storage is ensuring it is fully cool before wrapping it. When wrapping, you should seal the loaf completely to prevent air from turning it stale.
Paper towels and double wrapping will be your best friends when it comes to storing banana bread. We hope that you now feel confident in how to store freshly baked banana bread.
