The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Banana bread, commercial flavor?

Ahappycamper's picture
Ahappycamper

Banana bread, commercial flavor?

have a confession to make. I really love commercial banana bread....like the stuff you would find at Walmart, sprouts, mimis cafe and other places. I've tried to make banana bread at home with online recipes and most taste good and all call for real bananas but I'm not getting the banana taste I get from commercial baked goods.

Is it because the bananas used in these commercial goods is a fake artificial banana or banana extract?

I've gotten comments before that it's really ripe bananas that I need to use and I do use these but still find that it doesn't give the commercial flavor 

Abe's picture
Abe (not verified)

Which one do you like the best and what are the ingredients on the packet?

mutantspace's picture
mutantspace

i make a banana bread but first cook the bananas in a caramel  - intensifies the banana flavour...really good. You could try that?

 

garybcookin's picture
garybcookin

I am not sure but I am willing to bet most home baked banana bread contain more actual banana and no banana extract. The lower amount of banana would change texture and the extract would affect the flavor. Also add in the commercial additives and that is most likely what you are missing.

Debra Wink's picture
Debra Wink

Maybe the flavor difference has more to do with the other ingredients, like the flour and/or leavener. Next time you're at Walmart take a look at the ingredient list.

What color is the crumb? Is it lighter and brighter than a typical homemade loaf?
Like this one:  Mrs. Wilson's Banana Bread

And does it taste more like a cake than a muffin? Those are signs that the batter is more acidic from bleached flour, and/or baking powder instead of baking soda.