Overripe bananas: 9 clever ways to use them.

The article lists nine ways to use overripe bananas and explains that ripening converts starch into sweeter sugars; examples reported include banana ketchup, refrigerator jam, vegan egg substitute, banana chips, and frozen banana bark.

The article describes nine culinary and preservation uses for overripe bananas and explains why the fruit becomes sweeter as it ripens. It notes that starch converts to fructose and that the appearance of dark spots signals increased sweetness. The piece highlights both everyday recipes and culturally rooted preparations. It also contrasts refrigerator-style preservation with traditional canning safety concerns. Key points: - Ripening process: the article reports that starch in bananas converts into fructose as they brown, which concentrates sweetness. - Banana ketchup: described as a Filipino condiment that originated during World War II; homemade versions mix mashed ripe bananas with sugar, vinegar, aromatics and spices, and the article notes refrigerated or frozen storage times for batches. - Jam and canning safety: bananas are low-acid and not safe for standard water-bath canning on their own, so the article distinguishes refrigerator-style banana jam from shelf-stable jams made by adding higher-acidity ingredients like lemon juice or strawberries. - Vegan egg substitute: the article reports that mashed banana can replace eggs in baked goods, adding moisture and acting as a binder, and it notes that recipes sometimes adjust leavening (article mentions increasing baking powder by about ½ teaspoon) because bananas do not provide the same lift as eggs. - Banana chips and drying: the article outlines options for crisping overripe banana slices, mentioning oven drying at lower temperatures (around 200–250°F) for several hours, air-fryer methods (about 300°F for roughly 30 minutes), or using a dehydrator. - Desserts and freezing: examples include stuffed French toast, hummingbird cake, banoffee pie, campfire bananas, and frozen banana bark made by layering banana slices with peanut butter and melted chocolate before freezing. Summary: The article presents a range of culinary uses and preservation methods that repurpose overripe bananas, from condiments and jams to snacks and desserts. Undetermined at this time.