Can I Juice a Banana? I Tried It – Here’s What Happens

I remember standing in my kitchen one morning, staring at a bunch of ripe bananas. I thought, “Can I juice a banana?” It felt like a good idea at the time. I mean, bananas are soft, full of flavor, and super healthy. Why not turn one into juice, right?

So, I tried it. Let me tell you what happened, step by step because you need to hear this before you try it.

Spoiler alert: It didn’t go well. But I learned something important, and now I know exactly how to get that banana goodness into a drink the right way.

Let’s get into it.

Short Answer: No, You Can’t Juice a Banana

You can’t juice bananas. They don’t have the kind of liquid you can squeeze out. They’re soft and mushy inside, but they don’t have juice like an orange or apple.

Note that juicers normally squeeze fruits like oranges or apples. What they do is they separate the watery juice from the dry pulp. That’s because these fruits have plenty of liquid inside for the juicer to easily extract.

But bananas are different. Here’s what I learned the hard way:

• Bananas are starchy.
• They’re thick and creamy, not watery.
• They don’t have liquid you can “press out.”

When I fed a banana into my juicer, it just got stuck. The machine started making weird noises, and a thick paste oozed out from the sides. I opened the juicer, and it was packed with sticky banana bits. Zero juice. Just pulp.

I spent 20 minutes cleaning the machine. Not fun.

Why You Can’t Juice a Banana?

Bananas don’t juice well because of their composition. They’re thick and creamy rather than juicy. Fruits like apples or carrots are filled with water, making them easy to juice. Bananas, though, only have about 74% water. That might seem high, but apples have around 84%, and watermelons are even juicier at about 92%. So bananas just aren’t watery enough for juicing.

Because bananas are dense and starchy, when you put them in a typical centrifugal or cold-press juicer, you end up with a mushy paste rather than clear juice.

What Happens If You Try Juicing a Banana? (My Experience)

I once tried putting a banana in my juicer, and honestly, it didn’t go well at all. Instead of juice coming out, all I got was a sticky blob of banana mush stuck inside the machine.

Here’s what really went down in my kitchen:

1. I peeled a ripe banana.
2. I cut it in half and dropped it into the juicer chute.
3. Turned the machine on.
4. Expected magic to happen.

What actually happened? The banana didn’t go through. The blades spun, but the banana just mushed up and stuck to everything. Nothing came out into the juice cup. I waited. Still nothing. Then I realized the banana had clogged the machine. It wasn’t juicing; it was smearing.

I had to stop everything, take the juicer apart, and scrape banana goop from every corner. My hands were sticky. The counter was sticky. My mood? Not great.

So, I’m telling you now—don’t try this at home. Save your juicer and your time.

Can you juice a banana peel? (Explained)

Technically, you could juice a banana peel, but it’s not practical or tasty at all. Banana peels are tough, chewy, and contain very little juice. If you put them in a juicer, you’d probably end up with almost no liquid and just a messy pulp stuck inside your machine.

Another reason people don’t make juice of banana peel is the taste. Banana peels are bitter, and most people find them unpleasant to drink. Juicers usually handle fruits that are juicy and sweet, like apples or oranges. Banana peels just aren’t made for juicing because they’re mostly fiber and don’t have enough liquid.

But banana peels do have good nutrients, like potassium and fiber. Instead of juicing them, some people put small amounts into smoothies. When blended with sweeter fruits, the bitter taste becomes less noticeable.

Note: If you ever try this, wash the peels carefully first because banana skins often have chemicals from farming.

There are other ways people use banana peels too. For example, some people boil them to make tea or even cook them to reduce bitterness. These ways can make banana peels safer and more enjoyable to consume.

So, yes, you can technically try juicing banana peels—but it’s not worth the effort. It tastes bad, doesn’t produce much juice, and can damage your juicer. If you’re curious about banana peel nutrients, blending small bits into smoothies or cooking them is definitely a better and easier option.

What’s the Right Way to Make a Banana Drink?

The best way to make a banana drink is definitely with a blender. Juicers don’t work because bananas are creamy, not watery. Moreover, blending preserves banana nutrients and fiber, keeping your drink healthy and tasty.

So, if you’re dreaming of “banana juice,” what you really want is a banana smoothie or a banana blend with other fruits.

How to Get That Banana Flavor in a Drink (Without Juicing)

Let me walk you through three ways I make banana drinks that actually work and taste amazing. 

1. Banana Orange Blend

This one is super fresh and sweet. Here’s what I do:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 peeled orange
• Half a cup of water
• A few ice cubes

Here are the steps:

Step	Instruction
Step 1. Peel banana	Remove peel from one ripe banana.
Step 2. Peel orange	Remove peel and seeds from one orange.
Step 3. Add to blender	Place banana and orange into blender.
Step 4. Add liquid (optional)	Pour in ½ cup water, juice, or milk for smoother blend.
Step 5. Blend	Blend on high until smooth (about 30–60 seconds).
Step 6. Serve	Pour into glass and enjoy immediately.

2. Banana Milk Smoothie

This one is filling. Here’s my exact recipe:

• 1 banana
• 1 cup milk (or almond milk)
• 1 spoon of honey
• A dash of cinnamon

Do these steps:

Step	Instruction
Step 1. Peel banana	Remove peel from one ripe banana.
Step 2. Slice banana	Cut banana into smaller chunks for easier blending.
Step 3. Add to blender	Place banana pieces into blender.
Step 4. Add milk	Pour in 1 cup of milk (dairy or non-dairy).
Step 5. Blend	Blend on high until smooth and creamy (30–60 seconds).
Step 6. Serve	Pour into glass and enjoy chilled.

3. Banana Peanut Butter Power Smoothie

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 spoon peanut butter
• 1 cup milk (or almond milk)
• 1 spoon honey
• A dash of cinnamon
• Ice

Follow these steps:

Step	Instruction
Step 1. Peel banana	Remove peel from one ripe banana.
Step 2. Slice banana	Cut banana into chunks for easier blending.
Step 3. Add to blender	Place banana pieces into blender.
Step 4. Add peanut butter	Add 1–2 tablespoons of peanut butter.
Step 5. Add milk	Pour in 1 cup of milk (dairy or non-dairy).
Step 6. Optional add-ins	Add ice or ½ scoop protein powder for extra boost.
Step 7. Blend	Blend on high until smooth and creamy (30–60 seconds).
Step 8. Serve	Pour into glass and enjoy immediately.

Can You Buy Banana Juice in Stores? Is That Real Juice?

You might be thinking, “Wait, I’ve seen banana juice at the store.” I’ve seen it too. But here’s the truth: It’s not pure banana juice.

What companies do is mix banana puree with other juices like apple or orange juice. They blend it with water and sweeteners to make it drinkable.

Alright, quick tip next time you’re reaching for that fancy bottle of “banana juice” at the store—flip it over and read the label. Spoiler: it’s usually something like “banana puree” mixed with “apple juice” or “grape juice concentrate.” So no, it’s not just a banana magically squeezed into a bottle. I wish it were that easy.

Final Answer: Can You Juice a Banana?

No, you can’t juice a banana with a juicer. I’ve tried it, and it was a total mess. Bananas don’t have juice like apples or oranges. They’re creamy, not watery.

But here’s the good news: bananas are made for blenders. Smoothies? Amazing. Mixed fruit drinks? Delicious. Want to fake banana “juice”? Blend it with fruits that do have juice, like pineapples or oranges, and you’ve got something tasty without much hassle.

Trust me, use a blender.