How to Store Banana Bread to Keep It Fresh

❓ What’s The Best Way To Store Banana Bread?

So, you’ve made a magnificent loaf of Caramelized Banana Bread Recipe, Banana Bread With A Crunch, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, or Sourdough Walnut Banana Bread, or maybe you’ve made my Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes or Banana Raspberry Sour Cream Muffins. 

Congratulations! You’re about to have some very tasty days ahead with your homemade bread and overripe bananas. But after making your loaf of bread, now what? If you’re reading this post, chances are you’re looking for a great way to keep your cooled bread fresh and moist for as long as possible. I don’t blame you! 

At the end of the day, an important question to ask is how long you want your banana bread (or any other quick bread) to last. Are you planning on eating it within a few days? Or are you trying to save it for the long haul?

If you plan on eating it within the next 4-5 days, I suggest keeping it at room temperature. To stretch the shelf life to slightly longer than a week, you can pop it in the fridge. If you need to make your banana bread last for longer, the freezer is your friend!

🍌 How To Store Banana Bread At Room Temperature (Eat Within 4-5 Days)

If you plan on eating your delicious banana bread within no more than a week of baking it, the best way to store it is at room temperature. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Cool Banana Bread. This is a VERY important step. You need to let the loaf cool completely before attempting to wrap it, or you’ll end up with condensation. I prefer popping my warm banana bread onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Condensation not only leads to a soggy bread, but can also create an environment for mold to thrive - and mold growth is a hard no!

Step 2: Cover. If you’re keeping your loaf on the countertop, you don’t need to add a ton of protection here. Planning on eating it within the next day or two? A glass cloche should do the trick! If you want to keep it for longer, consider adding a bit more protection.

You can pop it in an airtight container with a lid or ziploc bag and it’ll do great for 4-5 days! If your loaf is particularly moist, consider adding a paper towel to the container to help soak up any excess moisture and set in a cool place.

❓ How To Refrigerate Banana Bread (Eat Within 7-10 Days)

Ok, so you’re coming to the end of your leftover banana bread, but you’re worried it’s right on the cusp of going moldy. You don’t want to freeze it because you plan on eating it within the next day or two, so what’s your move? At this point, your best bet is to refrigerate the banana bread.

However, contrary to what you might think, refrigerators are dry environments that aren’t usually good for bread. Because of this, you’ll need to take some extra precautions. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Cool Banana Bread. This is a VERY important step, no matter how you plan on storing the bread - let the banana bread cool!

Step 2: Wrap. In order to keep the loaf nice and moist in the refrigerator, you’re going to need to add an extra layer of protection. I suggest loosely wrapping the cooled banana bread loaf loaf in a piece of parchment paper (to keep it from sticking), then wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

Step 3: Cover. Now that the bread is well wrapped, you can pop it in an airtight container or zip-top bag and place it in the fridge. When wrapped this way, it should last for over a week.

❄️ How To Freeze Banana Bread (Eat Within 3 Months)

Banana bread freezes really well! The steps for refrigerating and freezing banana bread are the same. Make sure to cool, wrap, AND cover your loaf of banana bread before popping it inside the freezer.

This will ensure that the entire loaf is in tip-top shape and avoid freezer burn. When stored this way, the frozen bread should last for up to 3 months! I use a freezer bag, plastic bag, or air tight storage container to store frozen banana bread.

❓ How To Reheat Quick Bread

If you’ve refrigerated or frozen your entire loaf of banana bread, chances are it’s not quite as tasty as you remember. Why? Well, turns out, it’s science: flavors become duller when foods are cold. Don’t worry though, because there’s an easy solution: heat it up! 

You can either let nature take its course by allowing the bread to heat up to room temperature, or you can give it an assist. The best options - feel free to quickly zap a slice of refrigerated banana bread in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds, or toast it in the toaster oven at 350F for about 5 minutes.

If the banana bread is frozen, I suggest letting it defrost until it is no longer frozen but still chilly. Then you can heat up the individual warm bread slices in the microwave or the toaster oven as needed.

🍌 Ways To Use Up Banana Bread

While there are definitely ways to extend the lifespan of your banana bread (e.g. refrigerating or freezing it), there comes a time when you just need to use it or risk losing it. When that happens, what should you do? 

If you’re not prepared to eat a whole loaf slice by slice, consider making:

• French Toast - Cut an individual slice of banana bread into roughly ¾ - 1-inch thick pieces, dip in a simple custard, pan fry with butter and slather in peanut butter. YUM! 
• Sweet Crumb Topping - The first step is to break the remaining banana bread into crumbles using your hands and toss with a bit of butter, vanilla, and extra spices. Spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350F until golden and crunchy, about 7-10 minutes.
• Trifle - Layer pieces of banana bread with sliced bananas, salted caramel, vanilla pastry cream, and lightly sweetened whipped cream in wine glasses for a simple, elegant dessert. It's one of my favorite things to enjoy with a group of friends!
• Bread Pudding - Cut the extra banana bread into cubes, place in a buttered baking dish, top with a simple custard, then bake. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel. 
• Sweet Crackers - Oops, you've ended up with stale banana bread? Grab a couple of slices and slice thinly, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush with a touch of butter, and bake at 350F until dry, crispy, and lightly golden, about 5-7 minutes.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Cool the loaf ENTIRELY. Don’t wrap or cover your banana bread until it has cooled ALL THE WAY to room temperature. If you jump the gun, you risk creating a layer of condensation, which will then rain down on the loaf and make it soggy. 
• Consider slicing it before freezing. If you slice the loaf before freezing, you can pop out a single slice at a time whenever the craving hits. To reheat a single slice, pop it directly in the toaster oven or microwave. Or you can thaw banana bread in the fridge overnight. Easy peasy!

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