Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth.
Add the melted butter and mix well to combine. Next, add in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir until just combined.
Gently fold in the flour until no streaks are visible, but be careful not to overmix. If you’re adding nuts or chocolate chips, now’s the time to fold them in!
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake in the preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.