ultimate banana nut bread

be sure to use very ripe, heavily speckled or even black bananas in this recipe. this recipe can be made using 5 thawed frozen bananas; since they release a lot of liquid naturally, they can bypass the microwaving in Step 2 and go directly into the fine mesh strainer. Do not use a thawed frozen banana in step 4; it will be too soft to slice. Instead, simply sprinkle the top of the loaf with sugar. The test kitchen's preferred loaf pan measures 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches; if you use a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan, start checking for doneness 5 minutes earlier than advised in the recipe. The texture is best when loaf is eating fresh, but it can be stored (cool completely first), cover tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days. Do The Right Thing don't even think of making banana nut bread with anything less than very ripe, heavily speckled fruit unless you're find with a bland loaf. As bananas ripen, there starch converts to sugar at an exponential rate. In lab tests, we found heavily speckled bananas had nearly three times the amount of fructose ( the sweetness of the sugars in fruit) than less spotted bananas.

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% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

1. Adjust oven rack to Middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. 2. Place 5 bananas in a microwave safe Bowl; Cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in the plastic with a paring knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 minutes. transfer bananas to a fine-mesh strainer placed over a medium bowl and allowed to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (you should have 1/2 to 3/4 cups liquid). 3. Transfer liquid to a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from the heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla. 4. pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flower remaining. Gently fold in nuts. scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana diagonally into 1/4-inch thick slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1 1/2 inch wide space down center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over love. 5. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes. Cool bread in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes, then remove Loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.