Think twice before tossing your bananas into a fruit bowlโthis common practice could be ruining your fruit faster than you realize. While it may seem convenient, storing bananas alongside other fruits can hasten their ripening and leave you with mushy, spoiled bananas in no time.
The culprit? Ethylene gas. This natural growth hormone is released by most fruits as they ripen. When fruits are piled together, the ethylene levels build up, causing everything in the vicinity to ripenโand rotโmuch faster.
Bananas are particularly sensitive to this gas, as they not only release a lot of it but are also highly reactive to it.
Where Should You Store Bananas?
To keep your bananas fresh, avoid storing them in close contact with other fruits, especially ethylene-sensitive ones like apples, pears, peaches, and mangoes. Instead, consider placing bananas in a separate bowl, away from the main fruit pile.
According to experts at Zest Food Service, pairing bananas with citrus fruits like oranges and lemons is a safer option since these fruits are less affected by ethylene gas. However, bananas should never be stored with delicate produce or ethylene-releasing fruits unless you’re trying to ripen them quickly.
The Wrap Trick
One effective way to extend your bananas’ shelf life is by wrapping the stems with cling film or aluminum foil. This simple step traps the ethylene gas at the source, slowing down the ripening process significantly.
โIf you block this crown with cling-film or silver foil, you can prevent the gas from escaping and severely slow down the ripening process,โ the experts explained. “This could give you another three to five days on the natural ripening timescale.”
Bananas and the Fridge: A Winning Combination
Once your bananas are fully yellow or slightly spotty, the fridge becomes your best ally. Contrary to popular belief, storing bananas in the fridge is not a bad ideaโit can actually help preserve their freshness for longer.
โWhen bananas are placed in the fridge, the fruit inside remains firm and flavorful, even if the peel turns brown due to the cold temperature,โ the experts noted. While the darkened skin might look unappealing, the flesh inside stays perfectly fresh.
The Doโs and Donโts of Fridge Storage
Do: Store ripe bananas in the fridge to maintain their flavor and texture for up to two weeks.
Donโt: Place unripe green bananas in the fridge. Cold temperatures halt the ripening process, leaving you with bananas that may never turn yellow or develop their full sweetness.
โKeep in mind that with delayed ripening, you effectively pause the process at the current stage,โ the experts advised. โIf you refrigerate a green banana or wrap the stem too early, it will stay unripe.โ
The Key to Longevity
By keeping bananas away from ethylene-sensitive fruits, wrapping their stems, and refrigerating them at the right time, you can extend their freshness significantly. These simple techniques could help your bananas last up to two weeks longer than usualโno more wasted fruit!
With these tips in mind, you can enjoy perfectly ripe bananas for much longer and save money in the process. Give them a try and savor your bananas at their best!
