Perhaps my favorite aspect of group exercise classes (like my beloved BodyPump!) is the ability to simply show up, workout and be done. There’s no planning or thinking through a regimen involved. It’s like plug-and-play exercise.
Easy peasy. That’s how I roll.
Today’s workout began with a 20-minute warm up before I headed into BodyPump to feel the burn. The class was a decent one that left my biceps tingling and my quads screaming. Always a good sign!
Walk + Breakfast
I came home to a dog who demanded exercise. Okay, so Sadie didn’t demand a walk, but I know she’d make me pay for neglecting her morning exercise by trying to sit on my face as I try to work this afternoon.
Actually, even with a morning walk, she’ll still do that. I’m such a sucker.
We walked for slightly more than 20 minutes before heading to the backyard for 10 more minutes of playtime. Then my tummy told me it was time to come inside and get crackin’ on breakfast.
I had many different breakfast ideas flowing through my head this morning. A yogurt bowl? Baked pancake? Eggs with toast?
In the end, the thought of a smoothie reigned supreme. I just can’t help it! In the summertime, there’s no better breakfast.
Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie:
- 1 1/4 c. almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp. peanut butter
- 1 tsp. xanthan gum (for thickening)
- 1 large handful fresh spinach
How to Freeze a Banana
To many of you, this may seem incredibly simple. To others, it boggles the mind. I’ve received a handful of questions from readers (and my best friend!) about how to properly freeze a banana.
Don’t worry, PBF is a judgment-free zone, so if freezing a banana properly is a skill that has eluded you, it’s okay. Take my hand. We’ll figure it out together. 
(If it makes you feel any better, I had to read Monica’s tutorial to learn how to make iced coffee. There are some skills that just bypass us at birth.)
First, remove the skin. If you don’t, terror awaits you when you try to peel a frozen banana.
Then place the banana into a plastic bag and freeze! You may also cut it up into pieces before freezing to make it easier to blend if you’re going to use the banana in a smoothie.
As you can see, I almost always have several frozen bananas on hand. I like to freeze them when they’re slightly overripe because I find that they have the most flavor when the banana peel begins to get a little spotty.
See? Nice and simple! 
(I think this post may have caused Melissa to die a little inside.)
Of Possible Interest
- Recipe: Healthy and Delicious Apple Crumble (FitSugar.com)
- Top 10 Yoga Poses to Increase Your Metabolism (Shape.com)
- 12 Ways to Improve Your Family’s Health (AOLHealth.com)
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I am so glad you posted this because I seriously was freezing bananas for my smoothies with the peel on and wow, that’s gotta be the most annoying thing in the world to try to peel a frozen banana! I now have a huge tupperware container of frozen bananas in my freezer, waaay more convenient and then they don’t go bad so quickly 🙂
I learned this the hard way after freezing unpeeled bananas.
Now I do it the same way- breaking them in half for perfect smoothie portions. And I love that it allows me to not waste overripe fruit!
have a great day 🙂
Haha I think that’s how a lot of people learn!
Breaking the banana up into pieces is a great idea, I never do that and it’s going to make my life SO much easier! Great, easy tip. I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before! I also want to make your chocolate banana bowl, looks delish.
Digging the blog–smoothie addict now—happy for you and your new life–jealous of your workouts!!! Not much time, energy here with three kids– :). Hugs-
haha, that’s funny that you said you had to refer to someone else on how to make iced coffee…well thank you…you saved me the leg work this morning. Figuring out how to make that was totally on my list of things to do this morning! And now I don’t feel so bad about not knowing how to do that!! 😀
Thanks for posting the iced coffee link!! I can never seem to make it right and always wonder why the almond milk leaves chunks in my drink.. Ew :/
No prob! Monica’s blog is awesome… and hilarious!
I get excited when my store has the bags of ripe bananas on sale for a really low price… they are the perfect ones for freezing!
I’ve been freezing bananas for ages & just used my sending last one.
in australia right now, due to natural disasters, our banana prices have gone through the roof. the last bunch I bought we $14 per kg. its insane. I’m saving my last banana!!
I love freezing bananas!! Makes for great smoothies!
Never thought to peel before freezing — I freeze my bananas with the peel on and never had an issue. I guess it does make sense to peel and cut them beforehand though!
I learned to freeze bananas the hard way — the first time I did it I left the peel on! It was awful!
When I go to the store I buy 2 bunches of bananas — one to eat and one to let ripen and then freeze. Frozen bananas make such a difference in smoothies — the texture and taste is way better.
Yes! They make smoothies so creamy!
Frozen bananas are a staple in my fridge. I can’t actually remember the last time I ate one that wasn’t frozen lol! Have a lovely day Julie! 🙂
Oh yeah, I was totally freezing my naners with the peal on and still in the bunch. Try peeling a banana from the bunch that is frozen – yeah not so easy. I ended up throwing the whole thing away (this was 2 days ago). Total blonde moment. 🙂
Haha I love that you wrote this post!! I seriously did not realize for the longest time (aka figured it out 3 weeks ago) that you should peel the banana before putting it in the freezer. It gives you such bad freezer burn on your fingers if you have to peel it later! And thanks for the link to making iced coffee – I can NEVER make mine correctly!!
“If you don’t, terror awaits you when you try to peel a frozen banana.”
I can attest to this! lol. I wish this was posted last week…because I definitely tried to remove the peel of an un-peeled frozen banana with a knife this weekend and ended up slicing open my finger. =( Lesson learned!
Oh my gosh! That IS terror!
That caption on Sadie’s picture this morning had me absolutely cracking up!
I actually like to keep the peel on when I freeze my bananas. I think they get more frozen if I do? I know weird but then I just peel it with a knife like I am peeling an apple. Then I love to put it in the blender and make banana ice cream. I dont add milk or anything. Just the banana and if I want pb in it I will add that too!
This post would have really come in handy about a month ago. You are right about the terror. I would have to run my fingers under hot water to take the chill off.
The first time I tried to freeze a banana.. i didn’t peel it. Boy did I learn that lesson quick!
I couldn’t be happier that you posted this, I tried to freeze a banana by putting the whole banana in skin in the freezer. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized that was a dumb move. I had to microwave the banana for a few seconds to get the skin off, totally defeated the purpose if freezing it! Needless to say I have not frozen a banana since. This post just made my day
hahaha and your comment just made MY day. 🙂
I love your frozen banana tip! You can store them for a while so you’re not constantly buying them for you delicious smoothies, and frozen bananas give your smoothie a nice thickness as well! xoxo
Frozen bananas are the best thing for an awesome smoothie. I used to use ripe unfrozen ones, but once I went frozen I never went back! So good!
The first time I tried to follow one of your smoothie recipes, I learned the horror of peeling a frozen banana. I was so disappointed I couldn’t get the peel off!
I really need to try a SIAB. I have been trying different smoothie combos lately for after my workouts and with the summer heat settling in it seems like the perfect breakfast choice.
You are so wise my friend. Iced coffee ability did not slip my mind…it was actually inherited through birth rites. My parents are java junkies, therefore, that trait has genetically been passed on down. FROZEN BANANAS HOWEVER…I never knew this existed! I can’t wait to freeze em when I get home! I bet they taste great!
OMG I feel like SUCH a dork but I definitely tried to freeze a banana after reading one of your recipes… with the peel on. Shnikes!~ peeling it first and putting it in a baggie = genius lololol
This may sound dumb but I had no idea how to freeze bananas. I gave up trying and now I’ll be able to stop throwing them away/ I tried frig (made it mushy…like water maybe?) and in the freezer peeled but it was so hard to unpeel. This post is AH- MAZING!
See! I’m not the only one who didn’t get it!!!! 🙂 The peeling of the frozen banana became an x-rated experience…glad I can avoid that now.
Hahaha I love it! 🙂 Apparently a TON of people are in the same boat! I wonder if I only knew how b/c I saw my mom do it when I was younger?
Great post!
I tried making a chocolate smoothie using strawberries, cocoa powder, sweetener, milk (maybe some other things too) but i could still taste the strawberries! Haha i couldn’t finish it 🙁
random question: Do you ever eat anything at all before going to the gym/ run? I am always amazed at how much you get done in the mornings before chowing down on your breakfast. When I skip breakfast before I workout I am worthless. Any tips?
Thanks!
Haha! I was definitely one of the dorks who didn’t know how to freeze a banana!!!
Thanks for the how to! I always freeze them with the skin on but will be peeling from now on!
Trying to peel a frozen banana makes me want to repeatedly punch myself in the face.
That is all.
😉 Enjoy the sunshine!
LOL!
Yeah the first time I tried to freeze a banana I left the skin on. Lol!! It did nor go well!
I always have both whole frozen bananas and banana pieces in my freezer. Not only do I use them to make my smoothies creamy and delicious, but I use the pieces as a natural sweetener (instead of sugar or sugar-subs) for my oatmeal, yogurt, etc. etc.
Thanks for this tutorial – I’ve messed it up before. 🙂
Multiple friends and co-workers have asked me the same question – so, how exactly do you freeze your bananas?! LOL! I think it’s pretty legit, especially if you have never done so before!
Peeling a whole frozen banana is the pits… or the peels, actually. 🙂
The worst thing in this crazy mixed up world of ours is my beau/roommate’s intense allergy to bananas. Whenever he pops out of town for work or play, I go BANANAS (literally) and have banana soft serve like it’s my job.
hehe the first time I froze a banana, I forgot to take the skin off. Or rather, I guess I just didn’t think of the logical steps. Either way, I ended up giving up peeling off the skin of that frozen banana.
I made the mistake of freezing them with the peel on once – making a smoothie was a mess! However, I will freeze super over-ripe bananas with the peel still on – if I’m going to use them for baking. I just let them thaw on the counter, and they squeeze right out!
There really is no better breakfast on a warm {or any} day than a smoothie! Ahhh I’m obsessed!
This was a great post. I need a blender so badly. I keep hearing people talk about banana soft serve and making smoothies. I’m really missing out! A blender is going on the top of my list once we register! 🙂
Haha I love this tutorial. I actually tried to freeze bananas before, and ended up doing it wrong. I left the peel on and attempted to cut the peel off every time. I just couldn’t handle it anymore, and figured that freezing bananas was just too hard… But now I know better ahah.
And I STILL don’t know how to make iced coffee…
A quick tip for people on a budget (aka all of us), bananas seem to be easy to find on the ‘almost unsellable’ (for lack of a better word) produce rack. I NEVER pay full price for the bananas I’m going to freeze for smoothies and banana soft-serve. I instead have gotten them for as little as 19 cents a pound (compared to 69) because I don’t mind a few brown spots!
I’ve wanted to make banana soft serve but bananas in this house seem to disappear rather quickly. 😉
I’ll have to put some aside to freeze!
The first time I froze a banana, I definitely left the skin on. D’oh!
I freeze them both ways.. with the peel and without. Since I don’t eat bananas that get a little too brown and funky, I freeze them with the peel until I have 5 or so to make banana bread. The defrosted bananas look like sludge, but if you can get past that, they make delicious bread!
Yes, removing the peels is key! Microwaved black bananas to loosen the peel are just not fun.
Hi Julie! What type of camera do you use? Mine just broke, and I’m trying to find a good one to invest in. All your pictures turn out so great!