How to Eat a Banana

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Co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD

Last Updated: November 11, 2024 References

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For some people, a banana might be a completely new and foreign fruit, while for others it could be a part of their daily lives. Eating a banana is relatively simple: you find the right one, peel it, and eat it. But did you know that there are lots of other ways you can eat a banana? You can eat it in your cereal or in a smoothie. You can even eat it frozen, fried, or grilled!

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie ^{[1]
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1 banana, peeled and sliced
½ cup (120 milliliters) yogurt
¼ cup (60 milliliters) milk
¼ cup (65 grams) peanut butter
5 to 7 ice cubes (optional)

Makes 2 servings

Frozen Banana Bites ^{[2]
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1 banana, peeled
1 cup (175 grams) dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 to 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter (optional)

Fried Cinnamon Bananas ^{[3]
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2 bananas, peeled
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Grilled S'more Banana

1 banana, peeled
2 tablespoons miniature marshmallows
2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons crushed graham crackers

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Eating Bananas

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1
Acquire a ripe banana. for a banana that is yellow and lightly speckled with small brown or black spots. Some people prefer the firmer yellow-all-over stage; some prefer the softer, sweeter, stronger-flavored yellow-and-brownish stage.
- If the banana is not ripe, you can leave it on a warm counter for a day or two.
2
Peel the banana . Some people prefer to peel the entire thing and then eat it, while others peel as they go. There's many ways to peel a banana. If you have not peeled one before, you might find one of these methods easy:
- Peel the banana from the stem end. Snap back the stalk at the top of the fruit, then pull it downwards alongside the fruit. Pull the rest of the skin off in similar strips.
- Peel the banana from the blossom end. This is the flat, brown stub at the end of the banana. Pinch just behind the blossom end to break it apart, then peel bits of it downward.
- If you don't want the whole banana at once, cut it in half before peeling. Cover the half you won't be eating right away with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge.
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Bananas have fibrous strands between the skin and the fruit. These usually come off along with the peel, but sometimes they may stick to the fruit. Gently peel these off before eating the banana. They are not bad for you, but many people find them to have a bitter taste and odd texture.
4
Eat the banana. You can eat the banana bite by bite, peeling a little bit of it as you go. You can also peel it all at once, slice it with a knife, and eat it with a fork. You can even use it in smoothies, dip it in chocolate and freeze it, fry it, or even grill it! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Add a sliced banana to cereal or oatmeal.
- Drizzle some honey over banana slices for extra sweetness.
- Make a peanut butter banana sandwich on whole wheat bread.
- Cut a banana in half lengthwise, and fill it with peanut butter. Put the banana back together, and eat it like a sandwich.
If you are in an in-closed area, such as a room, throw it away in a closed bag or closed trashcan, otherwise the banana will fill the room with its odor. Alternatively, you can also save the banana peel to use as compost in your garden.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Making a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

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Slicing the banana up first will make it easier to blend and give you a smoother drink in the end. For an extra-thick smoothie, use a frozen banana.
For a thicker smoothie, omit the milk and use ⅔ cup (165 grams) yogurt.
If you don't like peanut butter, you can use another type of nut butter, such as almond. You can also use some chocolate sauce instead (start with 2 tablespoons, then add more if needed).
If the smoothie is not thick enough for you, toss in 5 to 7 ice cubes.
You can garnish each glass with some whipped cream, or a swirl of chocolate and/or caramel sauce. ^{[4]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Making Frozen Banana Bites

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Peel the banana first, and remove any fibrous strands. Cut the banana into thin slices with a sharp knife.
Cover a baking sheet with wax paper and spread the bananas across it in an even layer.
Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Give the mixture a stir, and heat for another 15 seconds. Stir it until all the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is smooth. If necessary, heat the mixture for another few seconds. ^{[5]
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If you'd like, you can glue two banana slices together with some peanut butter to make mini banana sandwiches. This is completely optional, but it makes quite the treat! ^{[6]
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5
Dip the banana slices in the cooled chocolate. Once the chocolate has cooled, spear a banana slice onto a fork, and dip it into the chocolate. Use a spoon to help you pour chocolate onto any hard-to-reach areas.
- For an added touch, you can dip the banana slice into some crushed walnuts for extra protein.
Keep dipping banana slices until you have none left.
At this point, they are ready to eat. You can store them in small, plastic sandwich bags for easy snacking.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Making Fried Cinnamon Bananas

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Set the bananas slices aside, but have them ready for frying.
Stir them with a spatula as they melt so that they get mixed together. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, you are ready for the next step.
As the bananas cook, they will start to caramelize and turn a golden brown color. If they start to burn too fast, however, turn the heat down.
They are ready when both sides are a golden brown color. Be sure to have a plate ready for serving.
You can serve them on their own, or with other foods, such as: French toast, ice cream, pancakes, or yogurt. ^{[7]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Making a Grilled S'more Banana

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If you don't have a grill, you can preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) instead.
Be sure that you are slicing the banana inside the curve. Do not slice it all the way open, however; you want the two halves to be connected at the bottom, like a hot dog.
The chocolate and mini marshmallows will make a small pile on top of the banana. You can layer them, like making s'mores, or you can mix them together first.
If you are using an oven, bake it for 5 to 6 minutes, and then broil it (uncovered) until the marshmallows are golden brown.
This is that final touch that will make the banana more s'more like. If you don't have any graham crackers, you can use any cinnamon-honey flavored crackers or cereal.
The s'more like flavor makes it an ideal camping trip treat!

Expert Q&A

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Question

What are the benefits of eating bananas?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Bananas are believed to offer several health benefits, including potential antibacterial properties and they are also rich in vitamins. However, it's important to clarify that bananas are not typically considered a primary treatment for any medical condition. Instead, they are often categorized as complementary or alternative treatments. While they may provide some support for overall health, it's essential to rely on proven medical treatments and consult your doctor for specific health issues.

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Question

Can the peel be eaten?

Community Answer

They can be. Monkeys eat the peels, but they don't taste great. The peels, not the monkeys. Although I doubt monkeys taste great, either.

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Question

Is banana skin toxic?

Community Answer

No, they are not toxic but would taste terrible if eaten. Most people remove the peel before they eat the banana, but the skin can be used in cooking.

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Tips

Consider getting an "exotic" banana instead. Not all bananas are long and yellow; some are small, wide, or even colored differently. ^{[8]
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Research source} For example, red bananas are smaller, softer, and sweeter than common yellow bananas, with a slight raspberry flavor.

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Eat a banana as a post workout snack to help regain lost energy. ^{[9]
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Bananas are full of potassium, which can help reduce menstrual cramps! ^{[10]
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Warnings

Bananas release ethylene as they ripen. This may cause any surrounding fruit to ripen faster than usual. Store your bananas away from the rest of your fruit to prevent this.

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Bananas (as well as other types of fruit) may cause bloating and gas.

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Avoid mistaking bananas for plantains. Plantains look similar to bananas, but are larger, firmer, and darker colored. They are also very starchy and not meant to be eaten raw; they are meant to be cooked or fried.

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Don't refrigerate a banana until it has ripened. It will stop ripening in the fridge and start turning brown instead.

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How to Eat a Banana

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie ^{[1]
X
Research source}

Frozen Banana Bites ^{[2]
X
Research source}