Dehydrated banana chips are the best — crunchy and crispy, sweet at the same time. I bet we all love bananas, and once you know how to dry them right, you’ll have a shelf-stable snack that beats anything from a bag at the store. Read on for four ways to do it: a dehydrator, a microwave, an oven, or just the sun.
In this article:
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read): Key Takeaways
- 🍌 Ripe bananas with light brown speckles dry best — skip the overripe ones.
- 🌡️ Dehydrator: 125–135°F (52–57°C) for 6–12 hours, checking every 3 hours.
- 🍋 A lemon juice dip stops browning and adds a little brightness.
- ☀️ No dehydrator? Oven, microwave, or full sun all work — just budget more time.
- 🫙 Store airtight, bone dry, moisture-free — that’s the whole game for shelf life.
Why Bananas Are Good For You
Bananas have been a staple for families across the world since as early as 500 BC. Ripe or unripe, they carry real curative and preventative value — high in antioxidants, and rich in potassium, fiber, vitamins C and B6, and magnesium.
They also have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling. Research points to bananas helping guard against type-2 diabetes, strengthening the nervous system, supporting white blood cell production, and even assisting with weight loss.
The nutritional value of bananas actually increases as they ripen, which is exactly why it’s worth preserving them at their peak.
How Do You Take Your Bananas?
There are plenty of ways to eat bananas — fresh, as fruit pudding, blended into a smoothie, or mixed with other fruits. You can also eat them dried, as a snack that travels well and keeps for months.
Dehydrated bananas are simply fantastic and turn into several different things, including banana fruit leather, crispy chips, and chewy wedges.
Let’s get into it — how do you make dehydrated banana chips using a dehydrator?
How to Make Banana Chips in a Dehydrator
With so many good dehydrators out there, making crunchy banana chips this way is one of the easiest routes to a genuinely healthy snack, on the go or at home.
We’ll get to how to dehydrate bananas without a dehydrator further down. For now, here’s how you do it with one.
Dehydrated Bananas Recipe Using a Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Bananas (as many as you want)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 cup)
- Water (1 cup)
- A bowl
- Dehydrator
- Mesh rack
- Cookie sheet
- Storage bags
Instructions
- Mix equal portions of lemon juice and water in a bowl, based on how many bananas you’re drying.
- Peel the bananas to remove the skin.
- Slice into round chips with real thickness — too thin and they’ll stick together. ¼-inch coins are ideal, though you can also slice lengthwise for variety.
- Dip the banana chips in lemon juice to prevent browning, flipping to coat evenly. Sprinkle a little nutmeg here if you want extra flavor.
- Oil the dehydrator rack so the chips don’t stick, or rub a little oil on the chips themselves.
- Place the chips on the drying rack without overlapping.
- Turn the dehydrator on and set it to 125–135°F (52–57°C). Ideal temps vary a bit by machine, but expect 6–12 hours. Check every 3 hours and rotate trays for **even drying**.
- After 12 hours, cool a sample to room temperature and taste for texture. Happy with it? Pull the rest, cool, and store — or keep going if it’s not quite there. The same steps apply for wedges, though they’ll take longer than chips.
FAQs & Tips to Make Your Banana Chips Even Better
Drying bananas in a dehydrator doesn’t take any special skill, but these tips make it even better:
How Ripe Should Bananas Be for Dehydrating?
Ripe enough, but not overripe — save the mushy ones for smoothies. Yellow bananas with small brown speckles is the sweet spot for dehydrating.
How Thick Do You Cut Bananas for Dehydrating?
For easier cutting on ripe fruit, chill the bananas for an hour or two first — it firms them up and cuts down on mushing and sticking.
Slice into round chips with real thickness — thin pieces tend to stick together. ¼-inch coins are the sweet spot.
How Long Does It Take to Dehydrate Bananas?
For the best chips, budget 6–12 hours. Once the time’s up, cool a sample (careful, it might be warm) and taste for texture before pulling the rest.
What Temperature to Dehydrate Bananas?
Set the dehydrator to 52–57°C (125–135°F). Ideal temps shift a bit depending on your machine.
How To Give Your Banana Crisps Another Flavor?
They’re good with zero extra flavor, but it never hurts to get creative. Try honey (you can even dehydrate honey), chopped nuts, chocolate, or coconut flakes.
Just know some of these flavorings can shift your drying time, so factor that in.
How to Store Dehydrated Banana Chips?
Resealable bags or glass jars both work — jars are great at home, bags are handier for travel.
All in all, moisture will be your worst enemy during storage. Make sure your containers are clean and completely moisture-free before you fill them.
Dry jars thoroughly with a clean cloth after washing. A little uncooked rice tossed in the jar helps soak up stray moisture, too.
How To Make Banana Fruit Leather
Here’s how to turn bananas into fruit leather:
- Peel the bananas and slice in half lengthwise, or leave them whole.
- Place them between two sheets of parchment paper, spaced 3 inches apart.
- Use a cutting board to smash them evenly, aiming for about 0.3cm thick.
- Place the parchment on the dehydrator rack and peel off the top sheet before you start.
- Set the dehydrator to 57°C (135°F) for 7 hours.
- Check progress at the 4-hour and 6-hour marks.
- You’ll know it’s ready when it’s leathery, not sticky. If the bottom’s still damp, flip it and let the other side finish.
- Cool, slice into strips, and store in an airtight container for **maximum shelf life**.
How To Make Sun Dried Bananas
There are plenty of ways to dry bananas without a dehydrator, and the end result and nutrition stay about the same either way — only the drying time shifts.
Sun drying is one of the simplest methods, especially if you’re off the grid. No power, no specialized equipment.
All you need is a simple outdoor drying screen — buy one or build a rectangular frame with mesh across it. Use stainless steel or food-safe plastic mesh.
The best results come on hot, dry days with clear skies and low humidity, ideally at least 90°F (32°C). Sun drying can take up to 7 days, so it pays to dry a good batch at once.
10 Easy Steps To Make Sun Dried Bananas At Home Without a Dehydrator
- Select ripe bananas with a few brown speckles.
- Peel the bananas to remove the skin.
- Slice into thin rounds.
- Dip in lemon juice to prevent browning — skip it if you don’t mind the color.
- Sprinkle on some powdered cinnamon for extra flavor.
- Lay the pieces on the drying frame’s mesh in a single layer, no overlap.
- Cover with netting to keep insects and dust off.
- Place the frame in direct sunlight, away from car exhaust and disturbance, elevated off the ground.
- Bring it indoors overnight to keep dew off, and flip the chips halfway through drying so both sides dry evenly.
- On the last day, cut or bite a piece to check for full dryness, then store in an airtight container.
How To Make Dehydrated Banana Chips Using A Microwave
There are other ways to dehydrate bananas without a dehydrator, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have one yet.
Besides reheating leftovers, your microwave can also turn out banana crisps or wedges for on-the-go munching.
You don’t have to invest in a food dehydrator if the budget’s not there yet. This method has upsides and downsides — let’s start with the drawbacks.
Most microwaves have a small footprint, so you can’t fit a large batch of sliced bananas at once. Fine for one person, more of a hassle for a group.
Microwaves also aren’t built for dehydrating, so you’ll need to check often to keep the bananas from overdrying or burning.
The resulting crisps are really only good for same-day eating, so this method isn’t ideal if you want banana chips for storage. On the upside, it’s fast and easy.
Dehydrated Bananas Recipe Using A Microwave
- Choose well-ripened bananas with light brown speckles, not big dark spots.
- Peel the skins.
- Slice into small round chips — not too large for even drying, and not so small they burn.
- Oil a microwave-safe plate. Coconut or olive oil adds a little flavor if you want it.
- Space the slices on the plate without overlapping.
- Microwave on high for one minute to release moisture.
- Flip the slices, sprinkle on any spices (optional).
- Return to the microwave for 30-second bursts, flipping between each, until you’re happy with the texture.
- Serve right away or store in an airtight container — remember, these only keep for one day.
How To Make Crunchy Dehydrated Banana Chips Using An Oven
The good thing about using an oven to dehydrate bananas is you get to choose between chips or wedges, and you control the exact temperature — no babysitting or constant flipping required.
The best part: oven-dried banana chips can be **stored for months**.
Dehydrated Bananas Recipe Using An Oven
- Peel the bananas and slice into rounds or wedges, your call.
- Dip in lemon juice for flavor and to prevent browning.
- Place on a wire rack so air circulates and moisture drains — no overlapping.
- Set up your baking pan and preheat the oven.
- Sprinkle on sea salt or another spice if you like.
- Bake on the middle rack for even heating without scorching.
- Bake to your desired crispness — rounds take up to 3 hours, wedges up to 6. Longer time means crispier chips.
- Cool completely, then store in an airtight container.
- These will keep for several months.
Most ovens have their own baking guidelines — if yours has banana-specific settings, go with those instead.
Personal Tips You Can Steal
I chill my bananas for an hour before slicing when they’re extra ripe — it firms them up and stops them from sticking to the knife. I always dip in lemon juice even when I don’t mind the browning, since it also adds a little tang. And I add a splash of uncooked rice wrapped in cheesecloth to my storage jars, since moisture is the one thing that ruins a good batch.
Wrap-Up
These methods work well, especially when your banana supply is running high and you want to preserve them for days to come.
Dehydrating bananas also opens up better snacking options for everyone in the house. It’s worth noting you can rehydrate dried bananas for a tasty banana pudding too, though that shortens their shelf life a bit.
Bananas carry real health benefits, which is one more reason dehydrating them is worth the effort.
Using a food dehydrator is hands down the most effective way to dry bananas, since these machines are built purposely for the job — unlike a microwave or oven, there’s much less chance of messing up your snacks. Dehydrators are also more affordable today than ever. If banana chips are going to be a regular thing in your house, it’s worth the investment. Looking to branch out? Read our article on the best uses for a food dehydrator.
Worth noting: dehydrators vary a lot in temperature control. I find the ones with a built-in timer and controllable thermostat work best, even if they cost a bit more. If that convenience matters to you, my guide to the best Excalibur food dehydrators has several solid options.
P.S. Slice thicker than you think you need to — ¼-inch coins hold up better than paper-thin ones, which tend to shatter instead of snap 🙂
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