Easy Banana Bread Recipe - Just Like Grandma's (2024)

FAQs

Why use mushy bananas for banana bread? ›

Ripe bananas are not only softer and easier to mash and blend into a batter, but they are also sweeter, which is why baking recipes specifically call for ripe bananas in ingredient lists. As the bananas ripen, the fruit converts starches to sugars, making them sweeter and more flavorful.

Moisture is key when it comes to banana bread, and the ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with dry bread. If you don't use enough, your bread will be too wet.

Baking soda: Baking soda acts as a leavener, which means it helps the banana bread rise. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor, but it won't make the loaf taste salty.\

Using too much baking soda or baking powder can really mess up a recipe, causing it to rise uncontrollably and taste terrible.

These brown spots, often seen as a sign of spoilage, are actually a dead giveaway of peak banana bread potential. But, there is a limit. Black bananas or rotten bananas are a no-go. (Note that green bananas are also not a good choice for baking.)

Indeed, there is such a thing as a banana that's too far gone even for baking. That's why you should know just which levels of banana ripeness are actually good to use for banana bread. Visual checks can be tricky. Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking.

Adding more eggs makes for a spongy, less flavorful banana bread. Doubling the number of eggs I was using resulted in a spongy cake with a moist texture. While the banana flavor was present, it wasn't as prominent as it was in other loaves. This had more of a hint of flavor.

Actually the variance is a few ounces and could make a difference in your baking. This banana bread recipe calls for 2 cups sifted, all-purpose flour. Sifting flour lightens it and removes any lumps. This means you should sift the flour into a bowl, then measure it.

All-purpose flour.

However bread flour also works well.

Baking soda works best in conjunction with an acidic ingredient. In the case of banana bread, this may be buttermilk, brown sugar, molasses or the bananas themselves. Recipes generally include just enough baking soda to balance the acidity in the batter.

What happens if I use baking powder instead of baking soda in banana bread? ›

Baking Powder: Baking powder in banana bread gives the loaf its rise and fluffy texture. It's the best replacement for baking soda in banana bread.

Learning 1 – Too much baking soda makes banana bread turn green or blue.

Bake for longer: If the center of your banana bread is still gooey, you may need to bake it for a longer time. Check the bread every 5-10 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out with moist crumbs, continue baking until the toothpick comes out clean or with a few dry crumbs.

Baking powder: Baking powder can be used to replace baking soda, though not at a 1-to-1 ratio. Because the former is not as strong as the latter, it's important to use three times the amount of baking powder as baking soda. Be aware, a slightly bitter, off-putting taste might result from using that much baking powder.

That said, Rogers states that if your bananas are jet black and mushy, your safest bet is to cook with them rather than eating them out of hand or using them raw in things like smoothies or nice cream. "The riper the bananas get, the more levels of bacteria could be on them," he says.

Overripe bananas may not be as pretty as perfectly yellow bananas, but they are still perfectly safe to eat. However, they may have soft spots due to bruises and be more susceptible to bacteria and fungi. So, it's best to consume them before they become too soft and mushy.

Don't throw those overripe bananas away! Try one of these delicious recipes for coffee cake, cookies, ice cream, donuts, smoothies—and, yes, banana bread. Rebecca is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.