Bananas are so much better than you think. Containing high amounts of potassium, fiber and iron, consuming it on a daily basis can help you with so many health issues. It can even improve your brain power and relieve hangovers.
But, can you juice a banana?
The answer is obvious if you really think about it.
Bananas aren’t like most juicy fruits. They don’t have enough liquid content to turn them into a juice. It’s either you add a lot of liquid to them or you add bananas to other fruits and vegetables to create a delicious juice.
We’ll get to the recipes later but for now, let’s deal with something more important first.
Problem with Juicing Bananas
Juicing bananas just won’t work. Apart from that it doesn’t have enough water, it’s also rich in Potassium. It’s dry that it makes juicing impossible.
If you insist on turning your bananas into a juice, two things can happen:
One is that you end up with a clogged juicer. And two is that you end up with a really mushy mass and you won’t have a great time “drinking” that.
Now, here’s the thing:
While you can’t technically juice a banana, there’s one thing you can do to extract liquid from bananas. The secret is amylase.
Amylase is a type of natural enzyme with a unique ability to break down starch into sugar. From there, it transforms the sugar into glucose.
To know how the magic happens, read on.
Using Amylase To Juice Bananas
The process of juicing a banana through this method isn’t easy or fast. It will take a bit longer than the usual juicing process. If you’re too impatient or you simply don’t like doing a lot of work in the kitchen, this may not be the “solution” for you.
Now, to get started, you need to prepare about 2 kilos of banana. Peel each one and make a puree out of them. Once you got the right consistency, transfer the pureed bananas into plastic bags. Make sure to let all the air out.
Next, transfer the puree into your pot of water. Leave it for about 5 hours at a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66 degrees Celsius). Within that time, you can expect amylase to start working and breaking down the starch so you’ll end up with a clear liquid.
Once the liquid is there, take a nut bag and strain the pureed banana. You can massage it to really get the juice out through the nut bag.
As for its taste, well, the process can capture the natural essence of the bananas. You just won’t have to deal with any chalky or mushy consistency.
Cool, right?
Now, if you don’t have the time to go through that tedious process or if you simply prefer to have more fun with your juices, below are the recipes you can totally add to your favorite juicing/smoothie list.
3 Banana Juicing / Smoothie Recipes You Need To Try
It’s totally understandable why you can’t get enough of bananas. In addition to their sweet taste, they are also full of health benefits.
To satisfy your cravings, here are three recipes you can check out:
1. Orange Banana Juice
Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day. If you’re in a hurry in the morning, this orange banana juice recipe will definitely be handy.
Apart from providing fiber and potassium, this drink also has vitamin C. It is one of the best vitamins when it comes to improving the skin, immune system and your body’s wound healing capabilities. It can also lessen your risk for cataracts.
For this recipe, you need to prepare the following:
- 2 oranges which you need to rinse and cut in halves
- 1 medium banana that’s peeled then chopped
- 5 to 6 ice cubes
- Honey (optional)
To do:
- Use a citrus fruit juicer to squeeze the juice out of the oranges.
- Next, pour the liquid into blending jar and add your ice cubes and chopped bananas.
- Blend everything together until you get a really smooth puree.
- Pour into your glass of choice and enjoy. You can add a bit of honey for more sweetness.
Source: https://foodviva.com/juice-recipes/banana-orange-juice-recipe/
2. Banana Juice With Coffee
Coffee is seriously hard to let go. If you are looking for ways to make the drink a lot healthier, then this recipe is for you.
Apart from the goodness of caffeine, the recipe also includes ingredients that can easily fill you up. It’s perfect for when you don’t have that much time to prepare a decent breakfast in the morning.
For this, prepare the following:
- A banana
- A cup of almond milk
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
- A shot of espresso
- 2 tablespoons of oats
To do:
Using your blender, process all the ingredients together until you get a really nice mixture.
3. Banana Blueberry Smoothie
Now, this drink is full of antioxidants which you need to make sure your cells are healthy and resistant to damage. It’s also a good source of protein for building muscles and repairing tissues.
To enjoy this recipe, you’ll need:
- A banana
- A teaspoon of honey
- A half cup of plain yogurt
- A cup of milk
- A tablespoon of peanut butter
- A half cup of frozen berries
- A tablespoon of flaxseed
To do:
- Put your flaxseed meal into your blender and grind.
- Next, place the rest of the ingredients inside the blender and process until you get a smooth mixture.
- Transfer into your glass and enjoy.
Source: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/186813/blueberry-banana-and-peanut-butter-smoothie/
Conclusion
Bananas are tasty and healthy. There’s no doubt about that.
And while you can’t really turn them into juice (unless you rely on amylase), there are so many juicing/smoothie recipes you can try. They won’t only make your bananas a lot healthier, but they can also add more flavor to your drinks. Imagine the fun you’ll experience in creating them right from your kitchen. It’s enough to make you stop thinking about how to juice bananas.
