The Best Dehydrated Banana Chips

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Dehydrated banana chips are super easy to make. Best of all, you can save money by making your banana chips at home instead of buying them in the store. However, before we get to the banana chips recipe, let’s talk about the health benefits of the star ingredient: bananas.

Health Benefits Of Bananas

Just like mangoes, bananas are associated with several health benefits. Bananas contain multiple bioactive compounds, including phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines, and phytosterols. These compounds can have a positive impact on health and wellness. In addition to this, these compounds have antioxidant effects that protect the body against oxidative stress. 

Bananas are an excellent source of carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins. In fact, the main carbs found in bananas are starch and non-starch polysaccharides. Starch provides the body with energy, while non-starch polysaccharides possess immunomodulatory activities.

Plant-based polysaccharides can also protect against gastrointestinal disorders. Bananas also served as an effective treatment for several diseases and reduced the risk of many chronic degenerative conditions in past times.  

How Long Do Dehydrated Banana Chips Take To Make?

The dehydrating time of bananas depends on your dehydrator, the size of the banana slices, and whether you want chewy or crispy banana chips. On average, it can take 12-16 hours to dehydrate bananas. In addition to this, if your banana chips are thicker than 1/4-inch, they will take longer than 16 hours to dehydrate. Additionally, if you prefer crispy banana chips, it will take longer for them to dehydrate. 

How Ripe Should My Bananas Be?

While you can make banana chips using green bananas, I doubt they will be delicious. Green bananas are not sweet. Therefore, they do not have a lot of flavor.

Additionally, avoid using overripe bananas to make banana chips. If your banana is overly soft, it will be difficult to cut into slices and it will fall apart while you are dipping the bananas in the lemon water and placing them on the dehydrator trays.

It is best to use a ripe, slightly soft but firm banana to make banana chips. To test the ripeness of your banana, cut it and taste it. If it is soft yet firm with a sweet flavor, it is perfect for making banana chips. 

Tips For Making Dehydrated Banana Chips  

Making banana chips is not as easy as cutting bananas into slices, placing them into your dehydrator, and pressing the start button. To make the best banana chips, follow these tips. 

Cut your bananas into 1/4-inch slices. If you cut your banana slices larger than 1/4-inch, they will take longer to dehydrate. Like apples, bananas can turn brown when they are exposed to air. To prevent the banana chips from turning brown, dip them in a lemon juice and water solution before placing them onto the dehydrator trays. 

Line your dehydrator trays with parchment paper. Even though the banana chips will stick to the parchment paper, it will be easier to pull them from the parchment paper than the tray. If you do not line your dehydrator with parchment paper, the banana chips will break apart when you try to peel them away from the tray. 

How Do I Know When The Banana Chips Are Done 

Whether or not the banana chips are done depends on whether you want crunchy or chewy banana chips. Chewy banana chips will be slightly sticky and pliable but not mushy, while crunchy banana chips will have a crisp texture. 

Do not check the banana chips for doneness while they are still hot or warm. Remove one tray from your dehydrator and let it cool to room temperature. Peel one chip from the dehydrator tray. If the banana chip tears, the edges stick to the parchment paper, or the chip is mushy, the banana chip is not done yet.

Check a few more banana chips to confirm your findings and remove any chips that are done dehydrating. Return the undone banana chips to the dehydrator and dehydrate them for an additional 1-2 hours until they are dried.

How To Store Dehydrated Banana Chips

Because the dehydrated banana chips are free of preservatives, they have a relatively short lifespan. Place the dehydrated banana chips into an airtight container and store them in the fridge or at room temperature for up to 1 week.

For long-term storage, you can keep the banana chips in an airtight container for a few months or vacuum seal them and keep them for up to 1 year. However, the banana chips must be conditioned to prevent mold from developing.

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How Do I Make Dehydrated Banana Chips In The Oven

If you don’t have a dehydrator to make banana chips; you can make banana chips in the oven. Simply program your oven to 250°F and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Combine 4 tablespoons of water and lemon juice together. Slice the bananas, then dip them into the lemon water and arrange them in an even layer on the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake the banana chips for 1 1/2-2 hours until they are dehydrated. Let the banana chips cool completely. The banana chips may be soft after you remove them from the oven. However, the banana chips will crisp up as they cool down.

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