{"id":15185,"date":"2022-08-22T04:58:59","date_gmt":"2022-08-22T04:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecofamilylife.com\/?p=15185"},"modified":"2022-08-24T02:59:12","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T02:59:12","slug":"what-happens-if-you-use-unripe-bananas-for-banana-bread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecofamilylife.com\/kitchen-hacks\/what-happens-if-you-use-unripe-bananas-for-banana-bread\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens if You Use Unripe Bananas for Banana Bread?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most of us have made banana bread, and the first thing we learn is that the bananas have to be nice and ripe, but what if you only have unripe bananas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banana Bread made with unripe bananas will cook and be edible, but the taste and the texture of the bread will be a little bit different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This article will explore 6 things that happen when you use unripe bananas for banana bread and what you can do to ripen them fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Things That Will Happen When You Use Unripe Bananas for Banana Bread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While you can make banana bread<\/a> with unripe bananas there are a few things you should be aware of. Here are 6 things that will happen when you use unripe bananas when making banana bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. The Banana Bread Will Taste Less Sweet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Banana bread should have a rich, sweet banana flavor, and unripe bananas are not nearly as sweet as ripened ones. The starch will still be \u2018insoluble\u2019 or not broken down into simple sugars which taste sweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make the sweetest banana bread using the natural sugars in the fruit, look out for bananas that are soft and have brown spots on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Put bananas in a brown paper bag with a ripe apple, avocado or even other ripe bananas. The natural ethylene gas released from the ripe fruit will help to ripen the bananas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The Banana Bread Might Be Drier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unripe bananas tend to make banana bread a little drier in taste<\/a>. Ripened bananas give the bread<\/a> the moisture it needs to be yummy, so without ripened bananas the taste is just not the same. It usually doesn\u2019t make it too much drier, but it will definitely dry it out some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The Banana Bread Might Have Chunks of Banana in it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because unripe bananas are not nearly as soft as ripened bananas, they may not combine with the other ingredients flawlessly to make a nice smooth mixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When I baked this banana bread with unripe bananas there are visible chunks of banana. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can try to mash up unripe bananas but it is a lot more difficult than mashing up bananas that are well-ripened. There\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ll be a little chunkier than they should be, which can change both the taste and texture of the bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The Banana Flavor Might Not be as Strong<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you make banana bread because you love the taste<\/a> of this fruit, you might be disappointed in the taste of the bread once you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banana bread made with unripe bananas tends to lose its banana-like flavor when you use unripe bananas, and that\u2019s something most people don\u2019t like about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. The Bread Might Have a Sour Taste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depending on how new your bananas are, they could give the banana bread a slightly sour taste. If you\u2019ve ever tasted unripe bananas on their own, you\u2019ll understand what we\u2019re saying. The less ripe bananas are, the more sour they tend to taste, and this applies to banana bread as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. The Bananas are Harder to Mash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since riper bananas are softer bananas, they are much easier to mash up with your fork. Unripe bananas tend to be much harder, so mashing them up can be difficult to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unripe bananas are much harder to mash. Cut them up into pieces first, microwave them for 30 seconds to soften them.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While you can put unripe bananas in a food processor, you\u2019ll have to watch it very closely so it doesn\u2019t split the fiber from the liquid causing it to split.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Use a potato masher to squash the bananas into small pieces before mixing it through.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6 Ways to Ripen Bananas for Banana Bread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check out these 6 easy ways to ripen bananas ready to make banana bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Use the Microwave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To ripen bananas in the microwave, you\u2019ll need to do one banana at a time. Take a banana and poke holes through the skin on all sides<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, place the banana in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Let it cool then check it for softness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s still hard, cook it another 30 seconds and that should do it. If not, keep cooking in 30-second increments until it\u2019s soft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cut the banana into small pieces and microwave it for 30 seconds. This will soften the banana making it easier to mash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Use the Paper Bag Method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Place bananas in a brown paper bag and place it in a place with some warmth \u2013 the top of your refrigerator is a great spot! This method takes 2-4 days, depending on the number of bananas you have and how unripe they are, but it\u2019s a simple method that works every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this great video showing 3 easy ways to ripen bananas at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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