Search

How to Dehydrate Bananas

This post may contain ambassador, sponsored or affiliate links. Feel free to read my disclosure policy.

Dehydrating bananas is great for making delicious snacks and making use of those bananas that are little over ripe (especially when there’s no more room in the freezer!)

Snapshot

Special Prep

none

Temperature

135°F

Time

8-12 hours

Mass Change

Approx 77% decrease

How to prep bananas for dehydrating

Prepping bananas for dehydrating is very minimal. The only prep required is peeling and slicing the banana. 

How to prevent bananas from browning while dehydrating

This preparation step is completely optional and up to personal preference. I personally skip this because it’s primarily for aesthetics. But if keeping your bananas from browning is something you’re interested in, it can be done! You can either lightly coat or spray the banana slices with lemon juice or a citric acid based pretreatment product before dehydrating. Keep in mind that both routes will slightly alter the taste of the bananas. 

Pro tip:

I typically recommend using over ripe bananas (some spots on the peel) because they result in a sweeter and stronger banana flavour, however, if you’re looking for something with more crunch, use bananas that are slightly underripe (a little green on the peel).

How to dehydrate bananas

Basic Steps:
  1. Slice bananas into 1/4″ inch thick rounds or lengthwise strips
  2. Optional: lightly coat or spray the banana with lemon juice or an ascorbic acid based product
  3. Arrange on a dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (avoid over lapping as much as possible)
  4. Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 135°F for about 8 hours

It’s that easy!

Notes:

  • Dehydrating times may vary (the water content and thickness of the bananas, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
  • It’s recommended to use a mesh liner on your dehydrating trays to prevent sticking
  • To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
 

How do you know when bananas are fully dehydrated?

Bananas before and after dehydrating

Bananas should be somewhat pliable, but will break in half. Thinner, crunchier banana chips will easy snap in half. No moisture should excrete when broken in half and squeezed. 

Jar test: If eager, you can place your bananas in a glass jar and tightly close the lid. If you notice moisture or condensation forming in the jar within 24-48 hours (or if the bananas become tacky) you know there is still moisture and more dehydrating time is needed. 

Note: You technically can’t over dehydrate bananas. If in doubt, dehydrate until you’re absolutely certain there’s no moisture left. 

Fresh to dehydrated conversion measurements ​

77%

The mass or weight of a banana decreases by about 33% once dehydrated

Ex. 1 medium banana (6″)

  • Pre-dehydrated: 96 grams | 24 – 48 slices | 3/4 – 1 cup sliced
  • Dehydrated: 18 grams |  24 – 48 slices | 1/3 – 1/2 cup sliced

Check out our shop!

A collection of handy knick-knacks to elevate your outdoor cooking experience

How to store dehydrated bananas:

Here are some tips to help you maximize the shelf life of your dehydrated bananas:

When dried and stored properly, bananas should have a shelf life of several years.

Rehydrating Dehydrated Ingredients

When & Why to Rehydrate Dehydrated Ingredients

Knowing how much water to use for rehydration is essential for getting the best texture and flavour out of your dehydrated foods. Some ingredients are best rehydrated just before use, while others can absorb enough liquid  during cooking – it all depends on how you’re using them! 

For Dehydrated Meal Prep

  • When preparing dehydrated meals for outdoor adventures, understanding the water requirements for different ingredients ensures you add just the right amount, giving you confidence in your meal creativity and preparation.

Before Cooking or Baking

  • If a recipe doesn’t contain much liquid – such as stir-fries or casseroles – rehydrating beforehand prevents ingredients from staying too tough
  • Pre-soaking reduces cooking time, especially for hard ingredients like beans or root vegetables
  • Certain dehydrated ingredients (such as whole mushrooms or tomatoes) regain a better texture and flavour if rehydrated before cooking
  • Rehydrated ingredients absorb flavors more easily when cooked, making dishes more flavorful
  • Baking: Ingredients like dried fruits can be rehydrated to have a softer texture and to prevent them from drawing moisture out of the dough or batter

For Eating Raw

  • If you’re eating the dehydrated ingredients uncooked, but prefer a softer texture (such as using dehydrated fruits or vegetables in a salad)

Rehydrating Dehydrated Bananas:

Dehydrated banana to water ratio is typically 1 : 1 – 1.25

 Per 1/4 cup of dehydrated bananas:

Quick Simmer

  1. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil
  2. Turn down heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes
  3. Turn off or remove from heat and let sit for 2-3 minutes

Just Add Hot Water

  1. Add 1/4 cup boiling water and stir
  2. Let soak for 12-15 minutes

Add water & refrigerate

  1. Add 1/4 cup boiled water and stir
  2. Allow to cool, place in fridge and let soak for 24 hours

Note: it’s important to not let sit for more than 30 minutes in room temperature because of the risk of bacteria growth. 

FAQs

Can I use frozen bananas?

Yes, you can dehydrate frozen bananas slices – but fresh is best. 

Can I use an oven to dehydrate bananas?

Not unless your oven can maintain a low temperature of around 135°F (57°C). Bananas need to be dehydrated at this temperature to dry properly. If the temperature is too high, you risk either cooking the banana or causing “case hardening,” where the outer layer hardens, trapping moisture inside and preventing proper drying.

How to Dehydrate Bananas

5 from 1 vote
Dehydrating bananas is great for making delicious snacks and making use of those bananas that are little over-ripe (especially when there’s no room in the freezer!)
Course Snack
Servings 48 chips
Prep Time 5 minutes
Dehydrating time 8 hours

Notable Equipment

  • 1 Dehydrator

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bananas

Instructions

  • 1. Slice bananas into 1/4″ inch thick rounds or lengthwise strips
  • 2. Optional: lightly coat or spray the banana with lemon juice or an ascorbic acid based product
  • 3. Arrange on a dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (no over lapping)
  • 4. Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 135°F for about 8 hours

Notes

  • Dehydrating times may vary (the water content and thickness of the bananas, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
  • It’s recommended to use a mesh liner on your dehydrating trays to prevent sticking
  • To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
Tips:
I typically recommend using over ripe bananas (some spots on the peel) because they result in a sweeter and stronger banana flavour, however, if you’re looking for something with more crunch, use bananas that are slightly underripe (a little green on the peel).
Keywords: banana, bananas, dehydrating

Tried this recipe?

Click on the stars to leave a rating!

Share:

Leave a comment or question:

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments