Good Uses For Brown Bananas

It’s sad to have to throw out fresh fruit or vegetables because they’ve gone a few days beyond their freshest. How many times have you pitched an overripe banana? There are uses for brown bananas. Most people immediately think of banana nut muffins and banana bread. Why is the banana brown? The starch in the banana has turned to sugar, so the riper a banana is, the more sugar it contains. While there are benefits for consuming brown bananas, using it in recipes with high sugar content may wipe out many of those benefits.

Brown bananas provide a good source of antioxidants.

The riper the banana, the more antioxidants it contains. As with all bananas, brown bananas contain a high amount of potassium, are good sources of fiber, boosts energy levels, contains iron to prevent anemia and helps lower blood pressure. Consuming all types of bananas can lower the risk of heart disease, aid in preventing depression and anxiety, and boost the immune system.

Make a preworkout or post workout smoothie.

You can cut them in small pieces and put them in the freezer if you’re not ready to make a smoothie immediately. This high protein/carb drink is perfect for a preworkout or post workout snack. All you need is a blender and these ingredients: A large banana, a cup of ice cubes, ¼ cup of Greek yogurt, ½ cup of your favorite milk, including oat, almond or other type, a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and a dash of vanilla extract—approximately a half teaspoon.

Make your own banana ice cream, lactose free!

You can go simple or make a more complex version of banana ice cream. The simple option is to slice the banana in one-half to one inch coin style pieces, freeze them, blend them and enjoy. Another option is to add extras to the ripe banana. Cut four bananas into one half to one inch slices resembling coins and freeze. Soak ½ cup of raw cashews overnight, then rinse and drain. Measure out ¾ cup of almond milk and approximately a tablespoon of maple syrup (optional). First combine approximately ¼ cup of the almond milk with the cashews and blend, then add the balance of the milk and the rest of the ingredients. Blend for 3 minutes or until it’s smooth.

• You can freeze ripe bananas for use later. First slice them in uniform size rounds, place them in a single layer on a baking tray lined in parchment paper and freeze for two hours. Then pack them in freezer bags. Freezing them first prevents them from sticking to one another.
• You can make healthy banana pancakes. These are perfect for brown bananas and the darker the better. It combines milk, whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, eggs, vanilla extract and butter.
• Brown bananas are especially good for digestion thanks to the presence of the simple sugars it contains. However, because they’re of the high glycemic index, they should be consumed with care by diabetics.
• Make a facemask from a mashed ripe banana. Apply it to your skin and wash off in 20 minutes. You can even make a dog treat with ripe bananas. Mix it with your dog’s favorite food for extra magnesium, fiber and potassium for your dog.

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