There’s nothing more divine than the first slice of warm, moist banana bread. And nothing more frustrating than finding the exposed end has gone dry and tasteless the next day.
In this guide, learn how to cut banana bread for a fresh slice every time. You’ll go bananas with this clever hack!
Best Banana Bread Slicing Hack
If you’re still slicing your banana loaf the old-fashioned way, there’s a smart way to do it. Check out the steps for the viral TikTok hack by @AsapSCIENCE below.
- After popping your banana bread out of the pan, place it on a cooling rack and wait for it to cool to room temperature.
- Now for the interesting part: Instead of cutting from one end, cut the bread crosswise right in the middle.
- You’ll have to make two cuts, of course, to make a slice. Extract and set aside.
- Put the two remaining halves back together in the middle. No more exposed ends!
- Enjoy your slice. We’re sure it’s still warm and moist, just the way you like it.
Use a bread knife when cutting your banana bread into neat, even slices. The serrated blade will ensure you don’t lose a good chunk of bread to crumbs compared to using a regular knife.
What’s So Great About This Cutting Technique?
The beauty of this cutting method is that the bread stays fresher for longer. This is the way to go if you plan to keep it at room temperature and ration it for the next few days. It’ll keep the soft insides safe from the elements that’ll otherwise dehydrate them.
With the traditional method, if you’re picky, you’ll probably slice off slivers of the exposed end that have gone tough and stale. And we know how hard it is to get a precise thin slice. There’s a good chance you’ll go over a few times until you’ve discarded all the not-so-good parts.
It’s a shame to waste something you’ve put your heart into baking, especially if the recipe is a family heirloom.
How Do I Cut Banana Bread If I Don’t Have a Bread Knife?
For a precision cut, use a sewing thread or floss (the mint-free variety, please) instead of wielding the bread knife. Follow these steps if you want to try this cool trick:
- Wedge a string under the bread and make a nice loop.
- Cross the ends and give it a pull. Then watch the string slice through the warm, moist center with minimal effort and fewer crumbs.
- Don’t forget to use the cutting hack mentioned above. Start in the middle and work your outwards.
Watch this video to bridge the gap between imagination and reality.
Why Is My Banana Bread Crumbling Down When I Cut It?
We hate to state the obvious, but your banana bread is crumbling down because you have a loaf of crumbly banana bread.
If this is news to you, we’ve listed down the reasons you have a crumbly banana bread:
- You used too much flour.
- You used too much leavening (baking powder or baking soda).
- You added more wet ingredients than needed.
Well, if you’re sure you haven’t committed any of these crimes against banana bread, then it all boils down to these missteps:
- You used a regular knife. No matter how sharp it is, it will just slide on the crusty exterior. You can even get yourself hurt. When cutting a bread loaf, you’ll apply a sawing motion. That’s why you need a serrated knife, which is pretty much a miniature saw.
- You didn’t wait for it to cool down and firm up. You’ll get the cleanest slice if you wait for the bread to cool down and solidify.
- You didn’t grease the pan. Skipping this part is the surest way to ruin your banana bread. It will stick to the pan, and it’ll be a nightmare to remove it.
How Thick a Banana Bread Slice Should Be
A slice of banana bread should be between one-half inch and an inch.
If you’re the type to watch your calorie intake, here’s a quick gauge: A ¾ inch slice of banana bread is approximately 200 calories. So do the math! If you don’t mind calories at all, you can go thicker than that!
How Long to Wait Before Cutting Banana Bread
Well, it all depends on the size of your loaf. Of course, the bigger your banana loaf is, the longer it will take to cool down.
Typically, you’ll wait for 10 minutes before you remove the banana bread from the pan. Put it on a cooling rack and wait for another 10 minutes. Then have fun slicing.
We know you can’t wait to slice it and dig in, but you need to be patient. You’ve already got this far, and we know you can do it.
Help! I’ve Cut My Banana Loaf the Old-fashioned Way
So you’ve already sliced your banana bread starting from one end and eat a slice, exposing the soft, moist center. No worries because we’ll tell you how to store a banana loaf that’s missing the toasty ends to prevent it from going stale.
Follow these steps to store your banana bread after you’ve cut it:
- Keep the slices together in a neat pile.
- Cushion the bottom of your container or a resealable bag with a paper towel to soak in excess moisture. Warmth—there’ll always be some left inside—turns to moisture. And moisture leads to soggy bread and invites mold, too.
- You want your banana bread cozy, so you’ll have to cover the top with a paper towel too.
- Secure the lid of your container. You’ll want to hear the pop so you know you have an airtight seal. If you’re using a Ziploc bag, seal it nicely too.
If you want to enjoy your bread for longer, the way to go is to freeze it. Though we doubt you’ll wait that long to eat it.
Instead of a paper towel, use a cling wrap or beeswax to wrap the bread. Put it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to two months.
Final Thoughts
After learning this hack on how to cut banana bread, there’s no going back.
Always get a slice from the middle. Then put the halves back together like it’s one whole loaf of banana bread again.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.