How to Avoid a Bitter Banana Taste in a Smoothie

Bananas, filled with fiber and potassium, are commonly used in smoothies due to their thick texture and strong, sweet flavor. Drinking smoothies made with wholesome ingredients like bananas helps satisfy your appetite and nutritional needs, while maintaining a healthy diet. However, a bitter drink is not satisfying; start with the right ingredients for a delicious and filling smoothie.

Check the bananas you are using to be sure they are ripe and ready to eat; unripe bananas contain less sugar and can have a bitter taste 3. Overripe bananas are ideal for smoothies, since they are at their sweetest and have a more intense banana flavor.

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Ripen your bananas, if necessary, by placing them in a paper bag 2. Accelerate the process by putting a ripe banana or apple into the bag with unripe bananas; ripe fruit releases ethylene gas, which helps ripen the bananas.

Add sweet fruits to your smoothie, like raspberries and strawberries 2. Both blend well with bananas and can counteract any bitter taste.

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Pour ¼ to ½ cup of apple or orange juice into your smoothie; naturally sweet juice helps transform any bitterness.

Place 1 to 2 tbsp. of peanut butter into the blender when mixing your smoothie; peanut butter has a natural sweetness that pairs well with bananas 4.

Tips

When preparing bananas for your smoothie, make sure to remove any fibrous membrane left from the peeling, which often has a bitter taste, especially in less ripe bananas.

Use plain yogurt in your smoothie and sweeten it naturally with fruits and juices. Avoid adding sugars, honey or flavored yogurts with sugar, which adds unwanted calories.