How to Ripen Bananas in the Oven for Baking
Turn firm, yellow bananas into perfectly ripe ones for baking - in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- bananas ripe but firm, see notes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 170°C/340°F (150°C fan) and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Place the bananas on the baking tray, spaced apart. Bake for 15-25 minutes, until the skins have turned completely black and shiny and the bananas are soft to touch. Timing will depend on the size of the bananas.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool - they will be very hot.
- Snip off the end of each banana with scissors, squeeze the flesh directly into your mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Allow to cool completely before using in your recipe.
- If you have any leftover mashed bananas, they can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days in an airtight container.
Notes
Bananas: This method works best with bananas that are ripe but still firm - yellow with few or no spots. Green bananas won't be sweet or soft enough for baking, even after roasting.
Tips: Your baking paper may stain from sticky syrup the bananas release during cooking - this is completely normal. This method works for as many or as few bananas as you need - just adjust the quantity to suit your recipe.
