Bananas are a staple in many houses. They’re an easy snack delicious on their own, or chopped up over cereal or in a fruit salad. However, they can be tricky to store.
If you don’t know the right way to store them, you may go to use your banana only to find it brown, mushy and covered in spots. If you want to prolong the life of your banana there is one easy way you can stop them turning brown – and you likely already have the thing you need for it.
Wrapping the stems of your bananas can make a real difference to how well they store. This is because fruit releases ethylene gas as it ripens, which speeds up the rest of the fruit ripening. In bananas, this gas is mostly released from the stem.
Simply cover the stems in foil or plastic wrap and secure it with an elastic band and it will buy you another day or so before the fruit becomes overripe.
Be aware, however, that bananas stored inside a plastic bag or in a covered container only traps the ethylene the fruit emits and accelerates ripening.
Another way to keep them fresh for longer is to keep them off the counter. Pressure on the flesh of the fruit can cause it to bruise and brown easier, so bananas are best stored hanging up.
Hanging also improves air circulation and prevents the buildup of ethylene gas.
By only wrapping the stems and hanging the fruit, you are much more likely to be able to keep your fruit fresher for longer.
Next time you reach for a banana, it won’t have to go straight to the freezer for future banana bread.