Bananas are one type of produce we rarely have to think much about regarding proper storage. We just plop them down on the counter. Once they threaten to turn to mush, we either freeze them or make banana bread. They can bruise or ripen too quickly or not ripen quickly enough; like avocados, bananas are on their own timeline.
However, if you’re looking to enjoy bananas fresh, there are some nifty storage methods to stop them from browning and going mushy quickly. Jen Mellor, from the lifestyle blog Just Average Jen, has shared several hacks to keep this fruit “fresh for longer”. One of the tips she offered will have your bananas lasting at least a week “without going bad”.
Bananas are incredibly perishable. Therefore, how you store your bananas determines how long they will last.
To keep bananas fresh longer, you need to understand their fast ripening process. Banana stems contain ethylene that is released and speeds up the ripening process.
Households need to consider adapting storage tactics that slow down the ripening process, thereby increasing the longevity of their bananas.
Instead of keeping your bananas in the fruit bowl, Jen recommends moving them to your fridge. However, this should only be done when the bananas are ripe.
If you put your banana in the fridge too soon, it can cause the banana to have a bitter flavour, discolouration, and keep it from fully ripening.
Jen said, “You can keep bananas in the fridge for seven days without going bad. Due to the cool temperatures of the fridge, you can store ripe bananas in the fridge to stop the ripening process.”
However, refrigeration does not prevent the peel, not the actual fruit, from turning brown. Therefore, avoid leaving them in the fridge for too long to avoid rotting.
Experts at Zest Food Service also recommend putting ripe bananas in the fridge to extend their freshness. They said: “You can store them in the fridge and this will maintain the firmness and flavour of the banana, but will allow the skin to turn brown, even though the fruit inside remains light coloured.”
Jen also pointed out that it’s worth buying unripened bananas. She said: “When you buy unripened bananas, it’s easier to monitor and control the rate of ripening. The more unripe the banana, the longer the shelf life and vice versa.”