Can you put a banana in a juicer?

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits around the world. They are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Many people enjoy eating bananas raw as a snack or adding slices to cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, and other foods. But can you also juice a banana in a juicer?

Can You Juice a Banana?

Yes, you can juice a banana in a juicer! While banana juice may not be as common as orange or apple juice, it can certainly be made. When put through a juicer, bananas produce a thick, cream colored liquid that is naturally sweet and tasty.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when juicing bananas:

• Use ripe bananas. Unripe, green bananas do not juice well and will produce a starchy, unpleasant juice.
• Peel the bananas first. The peels contain bitter compounds that can ruin the flavor.
• Add liquid. Bananas are thicker than most fruits. Adding a bit of water, milk, or juice helps thin out the banana juice for better extraction.
• Combine with other fruits. For better flavor, combine bananas with sweet fruits like apples, oranges, mangos, or berries.

As long as you use ripe bananas and account for their thickness, they will juice just fine and produce a tasty, creamy beverage.

Nutrition Facts of Banana Juice

Here are the nutrition facts for homemade banana juice made from 2 ripe bananas and 1 cup of water:

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	210
Total Fat	0.6 g
Sodium	2 mg
Potassium	852 mg
Total Carbs	53 g
Dietary Fiber	5 g
Sugars	25 g
Protein	2 g

As you can see, banana juice is high in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber – the same key nutrients found in whole bananas. It has a fairly high amount of natural sugars but is fat free and low in sodium.

Benefits of Banana Juice

Drinking fresh banana juice provides many of the same benefits as eating bananas:

• Potassium – Bananas are one of the best sources of potassium, an electrolyte that helps lower blood pressure by reducing sodium in the body.
• Vitamin B6 – This B vitamin boosts mood and can reduce risk of heart disease and anemia.
• Fiber – Banana juice contains soluble fiber that promotes healthy digestion and helps you feel full.
• Antioxidants – Bananas contain antioxidants like vitamin C, catechins, and dopamine that reduce inflammation.
• Electrolytes – The potassium, magnesium, and sodium in banana juice can replenish electrolytes lost after exercise.
• Bone health – The potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C in banana juice supports bone strength.

Additionally, some studies suggest that nutrients and compounds in bananas may help:

• Lower blood pressure
• Improve insulin sensitivity
• Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation
• Enhance brain function and mood

More research is needed, but banana juice appears to offer many of the same wide-ranging benefits as bananas themselves.

Potential Downsides to Banana Juice

Banana juice does have a few potential downsides to consider:

• Lower fiber content – Juicing bananas removes the fleshy pulp, meaning you lose some of the fiber compared to eating whole bananas.
• High sugar content – The natural sugars in banana juice spike blood sugar rapidly compared to whole bananas.
• Quickly oxidizes – Exposing banana juice to air can cause it to brown quickly. Drink juice soon after making it.
• May cause bloating – Some people may experience gas and bloating from the fiber and sugars in banana juice.

Overall though, banana juice is safe to consume and provides many nutrients. Just be mindful of portion size as juice is lower in fiber and easy to over-consume.

Tips for Making Banana Juice

Follow these tips for making fresh, delicious banana juice at home:

• Use ripe, spotted bananas. Under ripe bananas will not juice well.
• Peel bananas first to avoid bitter flavors from the peel.
• Cut bananas into chunks and freeze overnight. Frozen bananas juice more easily.
• Mix in some liquid like water, milk, or orange juice to thin out the banana puree.
• Combine bananas with berries, apples, mangos, or other fruits.
• Sweeten if desired with a bit of honey, maple syrup, or vanilla extract.
• Pour juice through a strainer if a smoother consistency is preferred.
• Store juice in an airtight container and drink within 24 hours.

It only takes a few minutes to whip up a nutritious glass of banana juice. Be creative and try different flavor combinations!

Can You Juice Banana Peels?

Banana peels are edible when peeled from very ripe, yellow bananas. However, it’s not recommended to juice banana peels.

Here’s why:

• Banana peels contain tannins that impart a bitter, astringent flavor.
• The fiber in peels does not break down well and can jam up juicer blades.
• Pesticides used on the peel can get transferred to the juice.
• Peels have lower nutrient content compared to the flesh.

Occasionally people may juice a very ripe, organic peel for the nutritional benefit. But in most cases, peeling bananas before juicing results in a better flavor.

Best Juicers for Bananas

You can use any juicer to make banana juice. However, these types of juicers work especially well:

Juicer	Features
Centrifugal	Fast, good for hard fruits/veggies. May need to cut banana into small pieces.
Masticating	Slower, but can juice bananas whole. Creates high juice yields.
Triturating	Most efficient for soft, pulpy produce like bananas. Highest juice quality.
Blender	Blends bananas into smoothies well. Straining may be needed to get thick pulp out.

Masticating and triturating juicers are best suited for bananas since they fully squeeze out the pulp and can juice whole chunks. But any juicer can work!

Delicious Banana Juice Recipes

Bananas pair well with many flavors. Here are some tasty banana juice recipes to try:

Tropical Banana Juice

• 2 bananas
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 orange, peeled
• 1⁄4 cup coconut water
• Ice cubes

Banana Apple Juice

• 2 bananas
• 2 apples, cored
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp honey (optional)
• 4 ice cubes

Banana Avocado Smoothie

• 2 bananas
• 1 avocado, pitted
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 1 tsp vanilla

Chocolate Banana Juice

• 2 bananas
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tsp honey to taste

Get creative and come up with your own banana juice blends! They make a tasty and nutritious breakfast or snack.

Storing Banana Juice

Like other fruit and vegetable juices, homemade banana juice should be consumed soon after making it for best flavor and nutrition.

Here are some banana juice storage tips:

• Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
• Drink within 24-48 hours. After 2 days, quality declines.
• For longer storage, freeze juice in ice cube trays or popsicle molds.
• Frozen banana juice cubes can be blended into smoothies.
• Add lemon juice to help preserve color and vitamin C content.
• Minimize exposure to air to prevent oxidation.

Enjoy your homemade banana juice right after making it for the freshest taste and texture.

Is Store Bought Banana Juice Good?

You can occasionally find premade banana juice or juice blends in stores and online. However, homemade juice is usually best.

Here’s how store-bought compares to fresh banana juice:

	Store Bought Banana Juice	Homemade Banana Juice
Quality	Can oxidize and separate during storage	Freshest taste and texture
Preservatives	Often added to improve shelf life	No preservatives needed
Processing	Pasteurized, which reduces nutrients	Minimal processing preserves nutrients
Sugar	Sometimes sweetened with added sugar	Only natural sugar from fruit
Cost	More expensive	Cheap to make at home

While shelf-stable, store-bought juices are convenient, homemade juice is healthier and tastier in most cases.

Conclusion

Bananas may not be the first fruit that comes to mind when you think of juicing. However, their sweet flavor and creamy texture actually make them perfect for fresh homemade juice.

Banana juice is easy to make with a juicer or blender, and provides ample potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. It also contains less sugar than many fruit juices.

For best results, drink your banana juice soon after making it. And experiment by mixing bananas with berries, citrus, avocados, and more to create delicious and nutritious juice combinations.

So next time you want a sweet, satisfying beverage, try whipping up some fresh banana juice. Your body will thank you for all those beneficial nutrients!