Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mash the Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Small lumps are fine—they add texture to the final loaf.

Step 2: Combine Wet Ingredients

1. Add Sugar and Butter: Add the sugar and melted butter (or oil) to the bananas, stirring until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
2. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, add the vanilla extract, blending it into the mixture.

Step 3: Mix in the Dry Ingredients

1. Combine Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps ensure even distribution of the baking soda.
2. Fold into Wet Ingredients: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture, being careful not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to a dense, chewy loaf.

Step 4: Bake the Banana Bread

1. Pour into Loaf Pan: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
2. Bake: Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Every oven is different, so start checking around the 50-minute mark.
3. Cool and Slice: Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing it to cool completely on a wire rack. Wait until it’s fully cooled to slice for cleaner cuts.