How to Dehydrate Bananas & Make Banana Chips! - Fresh Off The Grid (2024)

FAQs

How to Dehydrate Bananas & Make Banana Chips! - Fresh Off The Grid? ›

For banana chips: Using a sharp knife or mandoline, cut the bananas into ¼” rounds. For banana leathers: Slice the bananas lengthwise into ¼" strips. Arrange banana slices in a single layer on dehydrator trays, ensuring there is space between pieces to allow airflow.

Making banana chips in a dehydrator is even easier, but takes longer (it's hands off time). Slice the bananas thin, just like above, and toss with an acidic juice if desired. Spray your dehydrator trays with oil, then place the bananas on the trays, and dehydrate at around 135° F for 8-24 hours.

Pretreating the banana slices before dehydrating can help prevent them from browning. If desired, gently toss the fruit slices in lemon juice or citric acid, taking care not to break the pieces. Spray the slices with a bit of cooking oil.

If you want your dehydrated bananas to have a light colour, you will have to pre-treat them with a solution that helps prevent browning before you dehydrate them. We use a simple mixture of lemon juice and water. The juice will not affect the taste of the bananas and bonus, it acts as a preservative.

The first secret to getting crunchy, dehydrated bananas is to pick a Goldilocks banana. Not too ripe, not too hard, but just right. A few little spots are okay, but much more and your banana is already developing those sugars that make oxidation happen faster and cause chewier chips.

Health Benefits of Dried Banana Chips

The good news is that these chips deliver several valuable nutrients. For example, a one-third cup serving contains around one gram of protein and another gram of fiber. It also provides magnesium, vitamin A, iron, phosphorus, and potassium in small quantities.

Pretreat the sliced bananas with lemon juice or a product like Fruit Fresh to prevent the dried banana chip from turning a dark brown to black color during the dehydrating time.

The frying oil should not be too hot. Further the deep frying should be done on medium heat till all the moisture in the banana chips are completely evaporated. The oil should be pure coconut oil. After removal from the pan the deep fried chips should be stored in air tight plastic covers to prevent moisture regain.

Bananas should be leathery when they are completely dried. To test, remove a slice and let it cool. It may have some bend but if you tear one in half and squeeze it, there should be no moisture that seeps out. If they have any signs of remaining moisture, put them back into the dehydrator or oven to dry longer.

Can you over dry bananas? Once you get to the stage where bananas are 28% of their starting weight, any additional time in the dehydrator will yield miniscule additional water evaporation. The dried bananas might get a little harder, but you can still enjoy them, even if you over dry them by an hour or two.

How do you keep bananas from sticking when dehydrating? ›

Use parchment paper

Dried apples, pears, pineapple, bananas and other fruit pop right off the paper when the drying is complete. Use a good-quality, thick parchment paper, so food will release from it without tearing.

While they may seem healthy at first glance, banana chips can be loaded with calories, saturated fat, and added sugar. For a healthier alternative, look for dehydrated, non-fried banana chips made without added sugar. Better yet, choose a whole banana.

Slice bananas into 1/8 to 1/4 inch slices. Optional: Dip banana slices into fruit juice to reduce browning. Sprinkle with cinnamon or other flavorings if desired. Dry until pieces bend like thick leather and no longer feel sticky.

Dehydrated Banana Slices | Commercial Dehydrators

In a bowl, mix together equal amounts of lemon juice and water. Peel the bananas and slice into 1/4-inch slices. Soak the slices in the lemon juice solution for about 10 minutes. This is to prevent them from turning brown.

Banana chips are best stored in an airtight container or zip bag for up to a week. If they last that long! You can also season them with salt or a dash of cinnamon, making this snack even better.

Pretreating banana chips

Pretreat the sliced bananas with lemon juice or a product like Fruit Fresh to prevent the dried banana chip from turning a dark brown to black color during the dehydrating time. Both pretreatment methods will slightly alter the flavor of the banana chips.

Pretreating Fruits

Place cut fruits in a solution of 3¾ teaspoons of powdered ascorbic acid (or crush 20 500-milligram vitamin C tablets) or ½ teaspoon of powdered citric acid in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes before placing on trays to dry.

Dehydrated bananas are typically sold in sliced or in powder form for use in recipes, and the healthiest products contain just one ingredient: dried or dehydrated bananas. Don't confuse banana "chips" with the unadulterated dried fruit. Such products are typically coated in oil, sugar and artificial flavors.