Dried Banana

Name: Dried banana — banana slices or whole small bananas that have been dried, sold as chewy dried bananas (sometimes called banana “figs”) or as crisp banana chips. Many of the crisp chips sold as snacks are fried in oil rather than simply dried, and this makes a big difference to their nutrition. The fresh fruit has its own page under Tropical Fruits.

Description

Bananas are native to Southeast Asia and Pacific islands, and have been dried as a way to preserve a perishable crop in tropical regions for a very long time. Sun-dried bananas are a traditional food and snack in parts of Africa, South Asia and Latin America, where they are flattened into chewy bars or left whole until they become dark and sticky.

Commercial banana chips are different: they are generally sliced and either deep-fried, often in coconut or palm oil and sometimes coated in sugar or honey, or dehydrated without oil. Fried chips are much higher in fat and calories than plain dried banana.

Main nutrition value

Dried banana is a concentrated source of carbohydrates and energy, and a good source of potassium and fibre, though fried chips add a lot of fat.

How best to be consumed

Check whether the product is dried or fried, since the two are quite different foods.

1. Choose plain dehydrated or sun-dried banana over fried, sugar-coated chips where you can.
2. Add a few slices to porridge, muesli or yoghurt for sweetness.
3. Mix with nuts and seeds for a trail mix with more staying power.
4. Use as a portable energy snack on hikes or long days.
5. Check the label for added sugar, oil and preservatives.

Overconsumption could cause…

Drying removes water but leaves the sugar, so dried fruit is far more concentrated in sugar and energy than the fresh fruit.

1. A lot of extra calories and saturated fat from fried banana chips, particularly those cooked in coconut or palm oil.
2. High added sugar if the chips are coated in honey or syrup.
3. Blood sugar spikes, since dried banana is a concentrated source of fast-acting carbohydrate.
4. Tooth decay from sticky, sugary pieces.

GroupsDried FruitsBanana family (Musaceae)Dried

Made fromBanana

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Wikipedia — Banana, used for origin and general background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana Wikipedia — Dried fruit, used for general background on drying and storing fruit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_fruit