Frozen bananas are a pretty magical ingredient; not only do they add sweetness and body to a host of recipes, but they also pack a nutritional punch [1]. Moreover, freezing this staple fruit [2] puts overripening on pause, avoiding food waste. Once you learn how versatile their frozen form is, you'll never toss out a brown-spotted bunch again.

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Frozen bananas add body and sweetness to smoothies of all ilk (it's no accident that they're a popular ingredient). Try a banana almond smoothie [3] that's both milkshake-like and breakfast appropriate; a strawberry, banana, peach smoothie bowl [4]; an on-trend acai bowl [5]; a cinnamon-y snickerdoodle-inspired smoothie [6]; or get creative mixing and matching frozen fruits, liquids (like almond milk, coconut water, or juice), and yogurt to find your new favorite recipe.

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A summertime staple, chocolate-covered bananas satisfy sweets cravings without feeling too indulgent. Keep things supersimple and drizzle on a little melted chocolate [7], spice things up with a recipe inspired by Mexican hot chocolate [8], or assemble petite chocolate-covered banana almond butter bites [9].

Image Source: The Young Austinian [10]
It might sound crazy, but if you whirr frozen banana slices in a food processor, the resulting texture is shockingly similar to soft serve. Once you're tried it out in its most elemental, one-ingredient form [11], experiment with other flavors like chocolate [12], mango [13], cherry-chocolate [14], cookie dough [15], and a vegan take on Dole Whip [16]. Banana "ice cream" also makes a great filling for ice cream sandwiches [17] and ice cream bonbons [18].

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Had your fill of frozen treats? Create near-instant banana puree, by microwaving frozen bananas until thawed — the freezing and thawing process breaks down the fruit's structure making it extraeasy to mash. Use the resulting puree in banana nut bread [19], banana chocolate chip pancakes [20], vegan chocolate banana bread [21], banana nut muffins [22], or microwaveable banana bread oatmeal [23].