Overbaking

While a gooey underbaked loaf is undesirable, you should also avoid overbaking your banana bread, which will result in a dry loaf. You can avoid making this mistake by testing your bread before the timer goes off. Remove the pan from the oven a few minutes before the end of the bake time and test with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out wet, the cake requires more baking time. A common misconception is that the toothpick must be completely clean to indicate that the baking is complete. You're good to go if only a few crumbs remain. Returning it to the oven at this point will almost certainly result in overbaking.

If you leave the loaf in the oven for too long, there are a couple of quick fixes to repair your dry bread. To reintroduce moisture, place a damp kitchen cloth over the loaf for a few minutes. You can also make a simple syrup and soak your bread in it. Heat equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Make holes in your bread with a skewer and drizzle the syrup over the top.