How to Dehydrate Bananas

It couldn’t be simpler to dehydrate bananas and make banana chips. When Ben came home with three huge bundles of bananas this week, I was excited to dust of the dehydrator and put it to use.

Why Dehydrate Bananas?

Dehydration is a great tool for preserving fruits and vegetables. There are several reasons why you might want to add it to your regular preservation routine.

• Dehydrated fruits and vegetables retain most of their nutritional value.
• You can greatly reduce the amount of space your food takes up. For example, 10 pounds of apples will dehydrate down to around 1.5 pounds.
• Dehydrated foods don’t take up freezer space or require pulling out your canning equipment.
• It’s a fairly simple process.
• Fruits that have been dehydrated make excellent additions to granola or trail mix and can be a quick, healthy, on-the-go snack.

Elements of Dehydration

The dehydration process has three key elements.

1. Heat: You need heat high enough to remove the moisture from your food but not actually cook it.
2. Dry Air: Dry air pulls the moisture from your food
3. Air Circulation: This takes that now “moist” air and moves it away from the food.

These elements will leave you with food that has 80-95% of the moisture removed.

What Do I Need to Dehydrate Bananas?

Aside from a dehydrator, there aren’t any fancy tools you need to dehydrate bananas. A knife and a cutting board are your essentials. Here are a few other items you’ll want to gather before you get started.

• Dehydrator – We have an old NESCO. An oven can also be used.
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Mason jar or other airtight container for storage
• 1 cup lemon or lime juice
• Bowl

The Process

Pre-treat

Pre-treating is a simple process that will prevent your bananas from oxidizing. Oxidation will turn bananas and other fruit brown. In addition to some discoloration, oxidation also reduces your amount of vitamin A and C.

To pre-treat, simply add 1 cup of lemon or lime juice to one quart of water. Soak the peeled bananas in the water for around 10 minutes. Allow them to dry thoroughly before adding them to the dehydrator.

I was in a bit of a hurry when I dehydrated these bananas so I skipped the pre-treating step. It’s not required but will preserve those vitamins and give you a prettier banana chip.

Slice ’em up!

Slice your bananas about 1/4 inch thick. You can go thinner or even a little thicker, but I find 1/4 inch doesn’t leave them thin enough to be brittle, or so thick that they take a long time to dehydrate.

You can do round slices, angled ones, or whatever floats your boat.

Dehydrate

Place your bananas on the dehydrator racks. Make sure they have space between them to allow air to flow freely.

Set your dehydrator to 135 degrees F, and allow it to run for around 24 hours. This will vary depending on the time of year and the bananas themselves. Sample some of the chips as it dehydrates. I turn mine off when they are still a little chewy but definitely not moist. Anywhere from slightly chewy to crisp is what you are looking for.

Store

Keep your banana chips in a food-safe container. Glass mason jars are an easy option. Store them in a cool, dark place. Dehydrated goods like around that 50-70 degree mark.

Make sure you label and date. I always forget this step and then play “guess the date” down the road.

They will keep for six months to a year. If at any point moisture or mold appears in the jar, toss them in the compost.

How do I Re-Hydrate Bananas?

Put your bananas in a bowl or shallow pan. Add boiling water just to barely cover them. Let them sit for around 10 minutes, then use.

Can I Dehydrate Bananas without a Dehydrator?

Yep! A dehydrator is still the best choice if possible. Ovens work, but they really only heat your food, they don’t do much for removing moisture or circulating air.

Oven Method

• Slice your chips a little thinner, about 1/8 an inch.
• Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 250 degrees F for 1/2-2 hours, flipping halfway through.
• Allow to cool before storing.

Open Air Method

Bananas can also be dehydrated using just warm days and fresh air. I have never done this method and I think it would take some experimentation. If you want to try this method you’ll need a few 90 degree days, good air circulation, protection from direct sun, and a way to keep the bugs away.

Pin it for Later

Need that perfect granola to toss your dehydrated bananas in? Check out my easy, healthy, granola recipe!