How to Make Banana Chips

If you are ever looking for a nice healthy treat for yourself, here is how to make banana chips.

Banana chips are natural and healthy treats that give you the  satisfying crunch a good snack should.

Homemade baked banana chips are so much better than store bought, and you can make them the way you like them.

Bananas were first discovered in Southeast Asia, and were taken West by Arab traders in around 327 BC. 

Eventually bananas made  their way to Africa and the Americas. 

There are one thousand wild banana varieties in the world, but like most fruit, there is one type that dominates the markets.

The Cavandish, is the banana that most of us are familiar with, and it makes up 95% of bananas that are marketed.

This type of banana is a clone of all the others, so they are essentially the same banana in every way.

How is that for an interesting fact? 

In size, shape, flavor and seedlessness they are in fact the very same banana! 

Sad from a diversity perspective of course, and this is why I love to try local varieties whenever I can.

The most popular fruit in the world is the tomato which most of us don’t consider a fruit, followed by the banana which most of us do consider a fruit.

So by default I think that makes the banana the most popular fruit!

What are Banana Chips?

Similar to apple chips, banana chips are slices of banana that can be prepared in several different ways.

They can be fried, baked or simply dehydrated which will give them the crispiness they are known for.

They are sometimes covered in sugar, or honey and are sometimes fried in oil.

The sugary and fried  options will make this snack a little less healthy. 

The honey covered ones will definitely add the calories so you want to be aware.

Banana chips originated in India and soon spread and became popular around the world. 

They are a low cost nutritious snack that can be very addictive, in a good way of course!

However, that said, too many bananas, and therefore, too many banana chips can be a source for weight gain.

If you go for the fried variety of course there are all the problems that go along with fried foods etc.

And this is one of the reasons why you will be in much better shape making natural baked banana crisps yourself. 

Why Make Banana Chips?

Because I love banana chips, and they are tasty! 

Mainly because this is a wonderful alternative to sugary, and oily snacks that are so prevalent everywhere. 

It is a good way to get people to eat more fruit since the bananas turn out crunchy and sweet. 

It is a great way to store bananas for a long period of time.

Once fully dried and stored correctly, banana chips can last up to six months at room temperature. 

They can even last up to 18 months in the freezer.

And hey, bananas are good for you in all kinds of ways.

It is said that consumption of bananas in moderation can help to reduce swelling and minimize the development of type 2 diabetes.

Other benefits are that they benefit the nervous system by helping produce more white blood cells in the body.

Good for heart health, can aid in digestion, good for your skin, and can even give you energy.

But like anything else, moderation is key, one to two a day is considered right for most people.  

 And too much banana consumption can make you sleepy, and in some cases even cause a headache. 

In some cases constipation can be a problem especially if the bananas are on the green side.

How to Make Banana Chips

The indiginious bananas in the Middle East are small compared to bananas grown in Africa, or South America.

I just mention this because you will see the bananas I use will be small.

But they make up for their size in flavor, these bananas are mighty in the taste department!

You will want a very low temperature to bake the chips so preheat the oven to 225 to 250F.

Slice the bananas anywhere from half to a quarter inch thick depending on your preference. 

The thinner the slices the more chance the chips will break when first being turned.

But thinly sliced bananas will be crispier and crunchier than thicker with this banana chip recipe.

Place the banana slices in a single layer on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Brush with a mixture of water and lemon juice, and place in the oven for at least 90 minutes before turning.

Turn the banana chips, brush them with the lemon water mixture.  

And continue baking for another hour to an hour and a half, until done they are done.

As they cool the banana chips will crisp up even more.

Tips For Making

• Start with ripe bananas, this will give you the best flavor and outcome you can hope for
• Don’t bake the bananas too hot or too fast as there will be a danger of burning.
• You will want to check the bananas regularly as they cook, for this super easy method.