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The Time is Ripe for Banana Bread
It’s hard to resist the smell of homemade banana bread baking in the oven; its sweet, spicy aroma quickly drifts throughout the house, pulling all those who catch a whiff toward the kitchen with the familiar comfort of knowing that something delicious is in store. The best part about banana bread is that it is so easy to make; you don’t need a fancy mixer or any special tools, just grab a bowl and an old-fashioned wooden spoon, stir, and you’ve got bread batter in the oven within minutes. The foolproof technique has been helping home cooks put the overripe bananas on their counter to good use for years.
Banana bread gained popularity in America in the 1960’s along with a surge in home baking. It is a “quick bread,” meaning, just as the name implies, that you can bake it as soon as you make it. Thanks to using chemical leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda instead of yeast, it does not require any kneading or waiting around for rising.
The Facts of Ripe
The darker the bananas are, the sweeter they taste, so there is never any reason to waste. Though they may look like they’ve gone bad and are not very desirable to eat out of hand, mushy bananas with blackened peels have developed a high percentage of sugar and are at their absolute peak in flavor. In fact, using bright yellow bananas will result in bland bread.
If you’re ready to make banana bread but your bananas aren’t, there is a trick to speeding up the ripening process: Keep green bananas in a bunch and place them in a brown paper bag with one ripe banana or apple; close the bag tightly and store in a warm place. The gases released by the ripened fruit will help the others to mature within about 24 hours. To save you some work and waiting, most stores have a special section for ripened bananas. Once fully overripe and browned, you can freeze any extra bananas for up to 6 months. Freeze them, unpeeled, in an airtight container or bag and they’ll be handy for a loaf of bread any time.
Fun Banana Bread Recipes
Go Bananas
Banana bread can be customized to whatever suits your taste, so have fun. Start with a basic recipe such as Nana’s Banana Bread and play with any combination of your favorite nuts, chocolate chips and/or dried fruits. Add peanut butter or chocolate to the batter for a twist in flavor, or top with glaze for extra flare. Have you ever thought of gifting banana bread? It is a great idea for a thoughtful, tasty offering that everyone will appreciate. Bake the breads off in small loaf pans, cool, wrap in cellophane and tie with a pretty bow.
