Here's how to store banana bread so that it stays soft, moist, and tastes as delicious as the day it came out of the oven. This ultimate guide covers the best methods for keeping banana bread fresh, whether you want to store it on the counter or in the fridge. Keep reading for tips and tricks so that you don't bite into a stale piece of banana bread or let it go to waste.
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Guide To Storing Banana Bread
If you love banana bread as much as I do, then you know there's nothing quite like enjoying warm, freshly baked banana bread straight out of the oven. However, you might be wondering how to keep your leftovers fresh.
That's why it's important to know how to properly store banana bread so that it tastes delicious for as long as possible. In this helpful guide, I cover each method to use so that you can enjoy it up to a few days or even a week after baking!
If you made a few extra loaves and need to store your banana bread for a longer amount of time, check out my full article on how to freeze banana bread!
Best Ways For Storing
There are several easy storing methods you can use to prolong the freshness of your delicious banana bread. The best one to choose depends on how quickly you think it will be eaten. Keep reading to learn about each method and the shelf life from the shortest to the longest.
1. Storing At Room Temperature
The most ideal place to store banana bread is on your kitchen counter at room temperature. This method will give you the softest texture and will taste the closest to when it was pulled fresh out of the oven.
To store at room temperature, follow these simple steps:
- Start by letting it completely cool down to room temperature.
- Lay a paper towel out in the bottom of a storage container or plastic resealable storage bag.
- Then place your completely cooled banana bread on the paper towel.
- Then top the banana bread with a second paper towel and wrap the sides. This will act as a barrier and help protect the bread from the air. It will also absorb any moisture released from the banana bread to avoid mold.
When using this method, your banana bread will keep fresh for about 3-4 days. It's important to keep an eye on it each day to see if it starts to become soggy or if the paper towels start collecting moisture.
You can move the bread to the refrigerator or freezer after a few days if you are worried about it, but it's best to eat it beforehand. If you notice any signs of mold or spoilage, discard it immediately.
2. Storing In The Refrigerator
If you prefer to eat your slices of banana bread chilled or need to store it longer, then you can store your loaf in the refrigerator. It's important to note that it can dry out faster than storing your banana bread at room temperature or in the freezer.
Here are the steps for storing in the refrigerator:
- Allow it to completely cool down to room temperature for about an hour or two.
- Wrap the bread tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Store the wrapped banana bread in an airtight container or a resealable plastic storage bag with the excess air released.
- When you're ready to serve, bring it to room temperature by leaving the wrapped bread on the counter for at least 30 minutes. This will help restore its texture and flavor. *Or enjoy chilled if preferred.
Storing banana bread in the fridge will keep it fresh for up to 7 days or more.
3. Storing In The Freezer
If you need to store banana bread for longer than a week, you can also freeze it! Simply wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil tightly, then place it in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty storage bag.
Frozen banana bread can last up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge or at room temperature, depending on the amount of time you have.
How Long To Let Banana Bread Cool
It's crucial to allow your banana bread to completely cool to room temperature before storing it, which will take about 1-2 hours. Banana bread tends to retain heat very well, so make sure that the center is cooled too.
If you wrap banana bread that is still warm, it will turn soggy due to condensation. If condensation is trapped, mold will eventually form, and your leftover banana bread can go to waste quickly.
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Tips For Storing Banana Bread
- Always allow the banana bread to cool completely at room temperature before storing it.
- Wrap the banana bread tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will help prevent air exposure and keep it moist.
- When storing banana bread at room temperature, it's best to store it in a cool and dry place that's away from sunlight or heat sources. A kitchen counter or pantry is a good option.
- Check the banana bread regularly to make sure that it hasn't gone bad. If you notice any signs of mold or spoilage, discard it immediately.
- It's always a good idea to consume within 2-3 days for the best results.
Now that you know how to store your banana bread properly, I hope that you've found this article to be helpful! Leave a comment down below to let me know what you think and if you have any additional questions!
🍌🍞🥐 Tasty Bread Recipes To Try
- Sweet Potato Cornbread - This tasty bread is packed with mashed sweet potato, brown sugar, and warm spices.
- Pineapple Banana Bread - An incredibly moist and flavorful banana bread recipe that adds crushed pineapple.
- Yellow Squash Bread - If you are looking for a way to use up your excess summer squash, turn it into a super moist and delicious bread!
- Apple Banana Bread - A sweet and fruity bread that makes an excellent breakfast, snack, or dessert.
- Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread - An easy and quick banana bread that's loaded with mini chocolate chips and crushed walnuts.
- Apple Banana Muffins - My apple banana muffins with a brown sugar streusel topping are the perfect treat when you have overripe bananas.
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📖 Recipe Card
How To Store Banana Bread: Double Chocolate Banana Bread (+More Tips & Tricks!)
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (melted, cooled)
- 4 bananas (4 medium or 3 large browned, overripe bananas)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoon milk (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup butter
- ⅛ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini)
Instructions
Chocolate Banana Bread
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease your loaf pan or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted, cooled butter with bananas and mash up the bananas. Add the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder and sugar and stir to combine.
- Stir the unsweetened cocoa into your wet ingredients, then add the salt, flour and stir until you have a somewhat thick and lumpy batter.
- Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes, if using the smaller loaf pans. Check the loaves by inserting a knife through the center of the loaf. You can have crumbs attached, but should not still have a batter appearance on the inserted knife.
- If you are using a larger loaf pan for one loaf of double chocolate banana bread, then bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 1 hour before checking your banana bread with an inserted knife. When baking a larger loaf, I start checking at the hour mark but the bake time runs about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Remove the loaves from the oven and allow to cool in the loaf pan(s) for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Ganache
- Once the chocolate banana bread loaves are cooled, heat the ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and matching ¼ cup butter in a small microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments. Stir between each 30 second interval until your ganache is smooth and shiny. Spread or drizzle over your chocolate banana bread. Top by sprinkling (optional) mini chocolate chips over the ganache.
Notes
- Using room temperature ingredients helps to ensure that the batter mixes together perfectly without over-mixing, creating the best texture for your bread!
- To make two loaves, use the 8"x4" smaller loaf pans and bake at 375°F (190°C).
- To make one loaf, use a standard 9"x5" loaf pan and bake at a reduced temperature of 350°F (175°C) to prevent scorching the crust of your double chocolate banana bread.
- Check the loaves by inserting a knife through the center of the loaf. You can have crumbs attached, but should not still have a batter appearance on the inserted knife.
- Feel free to mix in some tasty additions like chopped pecans, walnuts, (more) chocolate chips, banana slices, or more!
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