Why Does My Banana Bread Fall Apart? | Top 8 Reasons

Banana bread can fall apart if you add too much flour, too much mashed banana, too much baking powder or baking soda. Not baking the bread for long enough will also mean that it doesn’t set and will fall apart. It is essential to grease the baking pan and to allow it to cool for 10 minutes before taking it out to stop it from sticking and coming apart.

This article will explore why banana bread falls apart and the top things you can do to prevent it.


Key Takeaways

  1. Adding too much flour will cause banana bread to become too dry and it will fall apart.
  2. Avoid adding too many extra ingredients like nuts or chocolate chips to make sure the bread holds together.
  3. Make sure you bake the banana bread at the correct temperature, in a preheated oven until it has cooked all the way through to stop if falling apart.

Why banana bread falls apart and how to stop it

Check out the top reasons why banana bread falls apart and how you can stop it from happening.

1. Too much flour

The top cause of banana bread falling apart is adding too much flour. Adding extra flour will make the batter too dry. If the flour is self-raising, then the banana bread will rise too much and cause the bread to become crumble.

When you take it out of the pan it will fall apart. The ratio of ingredients that bind the flour together like egg will be too low and it will crumble.

To avoid this problem, measure the flour accurately using kitchen scales. I like to use the bowl that I am mixing into and measuring straight into that. You can also measure in cups, just remember to scoop the flour in gently. Scrape the top of the flour off flat with a butter knife to avoid adding too much.

Use kitchen scales to make sure you measure the flour accurately.

2. Too much mashed banana

Adding too much mashed banana to the batter will cause the bread to fall apart. Adding too many wet ingredients will stop the bread from holding together. Most recipes will call for 1-2 large bananas or 3 small ones. Any more than this usually causes the bread to fall apart.

If you have already added the banana to the mix you can add extra flour and egg to the mix to help the bread to hold together.

3. Too much baking soda or baking powder

Adding too much baking soda or baking powder to the banana bread batter can cause it to become crumbly and fall apart when you take it out of the pan.

Most recipes only have ½-1 teaspoon of either baking soda or baking powder. Most recipes will use baking soda as the acidity in the banana bread will allow it to activate, release carbon dioxide and cause the bread to rise.

Take care when adding the baking soda or powder. The best method is to use a teaspoon measure where you can flatter the top and make it accurate. If you are using a real teaspoon take care to make it mostly flat and not mounded on the top.

4. Not baking the banana bread for long enough

Banana bread that is not baked for long enough or at a hot enough temperature will become soft on the outside, pale and can fall apart when you take it out of the pan.

Make sure the temperature is set at 355 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Make sure the oven is preheated and you bake the bread until it has cooked all the way through.

Pop the banana bread back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes if it has not cooked all the way through.

I like to cook my bread for 50 minutes before I check the center with a skewer. That way I don’t let any heat out of the oven by checking too many times. Once the bread has cooked through int eh center and the skewer comes out clean it will for a crust on the outside that will stop the bread from falling apart.

5. Not greasing the pan enough

If the baking pan is not greased properly the bread can break apart when you try to take it out. To avoid this I like to use parchment or baking paper to line the pan. Good quality baking paper will make it easy to grab the whole loaf and lift it out of the pan.

To make sure that the bread doesn’t stick, you can add extra protection by greasing the parchment paper. You can rub butter on the base and spray the sides with vegetable oil.

If you prefer not to use baking paper, you can grease the pan directly. Rub butter on the base and sides and dust flour around the pan. This will help to form a protective layer and stop the bread from falling apart when you take it out.

I find the easiest way to stop banana bread from sticking and breaking is to use parchment paper.

6. Not letting the banana bread cool in in the baking pan

Trying to move banana bread out of the baking pan too early while it is too hot can cause it to fall apart. To stop this from happening, let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then you can lift the bread out from the sides by grabbing the baking paper.

7. Not letting the banana bread cool on a cooling rack

It is essential to let your banana bread cool on a baking tray after taking it out of the pan. This will allow the steam to escape, the crust to harden and it will help to stop the bread falling apart.

Putting the bread on a cooling rack is the best way to allow the steam to escape from all sides of the bread. Leaving it on the bench can cause steam to form underneath, causing the bottom to become soggy and the bread can fall apart.

8. Adding too many extra ingredients

Adding loads of extra ingredients to your banana bread can cause it to fall apart. Adding extra nuts especially fi they are large can cause the bread to become dryer and break apart.

The key to adding extra ingredients is to make sure they are broken up into small pieces and to avoid adding more than 1 cup at a time. Break up walnuts, pecans and almonds if you are adding them to your bread.

I like to add chocolate chips but adding too many can make the bread too wet inside and it won’t hold together.

My kids love chocolate chips in banana bread, just take care not to add too many.

Why Does My Banana Bread Fall Apart? | Summary

Banana bread is delicious and easy to bake. Avoid adding too many extra ingredients beyond the recipe as this can cause it to fall apart. Make sure you bake it until it is cooked all the way though. Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then move it to a cooling tray until it stops steaming.  

These tips will help you to stop your banana bread from falling apart.

Happy cooking.