Bananas, the beloved portable and versatile fruit, have long been a favourite for their convenience and use in countless recipes. Yet, these potassium-rich snacks are notorious troublemakers in the kitchen, ripening on their own whims and emitting ethylene gas that hastens the demise of nearby produce. But fear not, there’s a nifty trick to delay the ripening process and keep your bananas yellow for longer.
To prevent your bananas from spoiling too soon and being demoted to smoothie or banana bread ingredients, Facebook users in the Simple Savers group have been sharing their top storage tips. An anonymous tipster on the Simple Savers Facebook page suggested that bananas should be isolated from other fruits, and a brown paper bag could be the key to extending their freshness.
Their advice was clear: “To the person who said their bananas did not last two days and then had to make banana cake. Storing bananas anywhere near other fruit makes them subject to ‘off-gassing’, which hastens the ripening of the bananas.
“Bananas need to be stored well away from all other fruit at home to prevent this. You may like to keep them in a brown paper bag with the top rolled over and pegged down if space is tight in your kitchen area. Doing this will prolong their life and save you.”
This prompted fellow group members to divulge their own banana preservation strategies, with many advocating for refrigeration as the ultimate solution, reports the Express.
Greg Rose revealed his banana storage hack, saying, “I store my bananas in the crisper of my fridge and take two out for breakfast. Works for me.”
Deborah shared her method: “I keep mine in the fridge, and this stops them from getting overripe.”
Julie Hart advised on the aesthetic trade-off: “Put them in the fridge, they will go black on the outside but will still be fine to eat (not mushy).”
Another savvy individual found that wrapping the stems in newspaper before refrigerating bananas extended their shelf life.
Mark Horne disclosed his technique: “Wrap the stems in newspaper and store in fridge, lasts for around 15 days. Take out day by day when needed. Stored them bare in the fridge before, and they didn’t last as long.”
An alternative approach was suggested by a user who swears by a wet paper towel around the stems, negating the need for refrigeration.
Leigh Btchelor explained their family’s method: “My dad wraps the banana bunch end in a wet paper towel and they stay great for ages, even in the fruit bowl with other fruit, has to be kept damp though if it dries out, it goes straight off.”