Sun-dried bananas

Do you have an abundance of bananas at home? Dry them under our hot Zimbabwean sun. Drying bananas is easy and they are perfect as an on-the-go snack, or as a healthy snack in school lunch boxes.

 What  you need

1. Semi-ripe bananas – lady fingers or other small varieties work better
2. Freshly-squeezed lemon juice to stop the bananas turning black
3. Knife
4. Drying tray
5. Black netting

How to dry the bananas

1. It is always best to start drying any fruit or vegetables first thing in the morning so they can dry during the day.
2. Choose bananas that are just about to ripen; avoid overripe ones with any brown speckles.
3. Squeeze the juice of the lemons before you cut the bananas.
4. Cut the bananas thinly – 3mm slices are ideal. Any thicker and it will take longer to dry.
5. As soon as you cut the banana slices, place them into the lemon juice and make sure they have been completely coated.
6. Place the slices on a rack in the direct sun to dry. Make sure that air can flow freely under the drying rack.
7. If the fruit starts to attract flies, cover them with netting.
8. They take about one day to dry on a hot day, or two to three days on cooler days.
9. Make sure the bananas are completely dry before placing them in an airtight container; otherwise, they will get mouldy. Freeze them to make them last longer.

Tips for drying

1. Make sure you bring the bananas in at night and during the rain and put them in a dry area.
2. It is not a good idea to dry them in the oven as it denatures the vitamins and proteins if the temperature is too high.

Trail packs available

Trail packs of dried fruit are available at Maasdorp Market, 12 Maasdorp Ave, 9am to 12pm every Wednesday and Saturday.