Homemade sweet, crunchy dried banana chips are a healthy snack that you can easily make yourself. In this guide, I'll walk you through three simple methods for dehydrating bananas: using a food dehydrator, your oven, or even an air fryer.
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If you're anything like me, you're always on the lookout for healthy snacks you can feel good about eating. That's why I'm excited to share with you one of my favorite recipes: homemade dried banana chips!
Not only are they sweet, crunchy, and totally addictive, but they're also a fantastic way to reduce food waste and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.
I've been on a bit of a dehydrated fruit kick lately, experimenting with everything from dehydrated watermelon to dehydrated strawberries and even dehydrated pineapple. But today, we're focusing on the humble banana. I'll walk you through three simple methods for turning those ripe bananas on your counter into a snack that's perfect for on-the-go munching or satisfying your sweet tooth at home.
👨🍳Dried Banana Chips In A Dehydrator
- Spray your dehydrator rack with cooking spray and preheat it to 135°F (57°C). If you don't spray your dehydrator racks, the bananas will release their sticky juices and stick to the rack, so be sure not to skip this step.
- Peel the bananas and slice them into thin rounds, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Try to keep the slices the same thickness.
- Dip the banana slices in lemon juice to prevent browning. This step is optional but it does keep the bananas from turning brown in the dehydrator. Don't worry, this won't affect the flavor. You can also use pineapple juice for this step.
- Arrange the banana slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays or baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Make sure they are not touching each other to allow for proper air circulation.
- Place the trays in the dehydrator and let the bananas dry for about 6 to 8 hours, or until they're dry and crispy. Check them periodically and rotate the trays if necessary for even drying.
- Once the banana chips are fully dehydrated, remove them from the dehydrator or oven and let them cool completely. Store the cooled banana chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a few weeks.
🎛️How To Make Dried Banana Chips In The Oven
For those without a dehydrator, the oven is a viable alternative. Simply preheat your oven to its lowest setting, typically around 170°F (75°C). Arrange the banana slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them for about 2 to 3 hours, or until they're crispy.
Keep an eye on them to prevent burning and rotate the trays if necessary for even drying. While the oven method may take a bit longer, it still yields deliciously crunchy banana chips.
💨Dehydrated Bananas In An Air Fryer
If you're short on time and craving banana chips, try dehydrating them in your air fryer.
Spray your air fryer insert with cooking spray and preheat it to 135°F (57°C). Slice your bananas and dip them in lemon juice to prevent browning. Place the banana slices in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for approximately 2 to 3 hours, checking periodically until they reach your desired level of crispiness.
The air fryer's circulating hot air quickly removes moisture from the bananas, resulting in perfectly crunchy dehydrated banana chips!
Top Tip
When dehydrating bananas in an air fryer, it's a good idea to use a liner for your air fryer insert. The bananas wil release sticky juices, so using a liner will save you a lot of clean up time!
If you don't have a liner for your air fryer, you can use parchment paper that's perforated with holes. This will negate the need to spray the insert with cooking spray too.
❄️Storage Instructions
Store dried banana chips in an airtight container at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
To prevent moisture absorption, you can place a desiccant packet or two in the container.
For optimal texture and flavor, condition the dried banana chips by placing them in a sealed container for 7 to 10 days, shaking the container daily to redistribute any moisture. Stored properly, your dried bananas should stay fresh for up to a year.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
They make a great addition to trail mix, granola, or yogurt parfaits. You can also use them in baked goods like cookies, muffins, or banana bread for added texture and flavor.
Yes! Bananas are naturally rich in essential nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and dietary fiber. When you dehydrate your banana chips yourself, you can rest assured that they don't contain any extra sugars, oils, or preservatives. However, store bought dried banana chips are frequently enhanced with refined sugar, oils and preservatives.
zero food waste!
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Don't throw your banana peels away. Use them make banana peel bacon!
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📖 Recipe
Dried Banana Chips
Ingredients
- 5 medium-sized bananas adjust the amount of bananas according to the capacity of your dehydrator, oven or air fryer
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- cooking spray
Instructions
Dried Banana Chips In A Dehydrator
- Spray your dehydrator rack with cooking spray and preheat it to 135°F (57°C).
- Peel the bananas and slice them into thin rounds, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Try to keep the slices the same thickness.
- Dip the banana slices in lemon juice to prevent browning. This step is optional but it does keep the bananas from turning brown in the dehydrator.
- Arrange the banana slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays or baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Make sure they are not touching each other to allow for proper air circulation.
- Place the trays in the dehydrator and let the bananas dry for about 6 to 8 hours, or until they're dry and crispy. Check them periodically and rotate the trays if necessary for even drying.
- Once the banana chips are fully dehydrated, remove them from the dehydrator or oven and let them cool completely. Store the cooled banana chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a few weeks.
Dried Banana Chips In The Oven
- Preheat your oven to its lowest setting, typically around 170°F (75°C).
- Peel the bananas and slice them into thin rounds, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Try to keep the slices the same thickness. Dip them in lemon juice if you want to prevent browning.
- Bake them for about 2 to 3 hours, or until they're crispy. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning and rotate the trays if necessary for even drying.
Dried Banana Chips In The Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 135°F (57°C) . Spray the insert with cooking spray. This will prevent the bananas from sticking.
- Peel the bananas and slice them into thin rounds, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Try to keep the slices the same thickness. Dip them in lemon juice if you want to prevent browning.
- Air fry for approximately 2 to 3 hours, checking periodically until they reach your desired level of crispiness.
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