There is definitely a sweet spot when it comes to the ripeness of bananas. Too green and they’re almost chalky, too far gone the other way and they are mushy and overly sweet. Here are six effective ways to prevent your bananas from browning too quickly. As a backup plan, you can always make more banana bread or try out a delicious banana pudding recipe!
Hang them up
Believe it or not, there is a scientific reason why hanging your bananas from a hook is beneficial. Bananas begin to ripen as soon as they are picked from the trees – ethylene gas is released from the stems right after harvesting. However, when you hang your bananas, the gas works at a slower pace.
Bananas can also bruise more easily when they are resting on a countertop or squashed in a fruit bowl. The likelihood of bruising increases as they ripen.
You can find a fruit basket with a built-in hook or a small under-cabinet hook specifically designed for bananas. Either way, keep your bananas at room temperature while they ripen gracefully on the hook.
Buy your bananas green
The easiest way to extend the shelf life of your bananas is to buy them when they are still green. These bananas are picked before they fully ripen and gradually become the bright yellow beauties we enjoy. Instead of reaching for perfectly ripe bananas that catch your eye for banana muffins, opt for a green bunch that you can hang on your hook and watch as they ripen over time. If you want to enjoy a banana the day of your shopping trip, mix and match your bananas. Pick up a few green ones and a few that are more ripe and eat those first.
Wrap the stems
The ethylene gas responsible for banana ripening emanates from the stems, which means you can slow down the ripening process by wrapping the stems individually with cling wrap or aluminium foil. Some grocery stores sell bunches of bananas with plastic or wax on the stems, but for optimal results, separate your bananas and wrap each stem individually.
Store ripe bananas in the fridge
Storing bananas in the fridge is typically discouraged, but sometimes rules are meant to be broken. While green bananas should be kept far away from the fridge, fully ripened bananas can be placed in the fridge to prevent further ripening for a few days. The cooler temperatures will help maintain their freshness.
Freeze them
Freezing bananas is an incredibly simple method to preserve them for future use. However, the way you freeze them can greatly affect their thawing quality. Freezing an entire bunch will cause the peels to darken, and they will thaw poorly. Instead, consider peeling the bananas and freezing them individually or in slices in resealable airtight bags.
Keep them protected if you’re eating on the go
Bruising can wreak havoc on a banana, leading to mushy spots and accelerated ripening. This is where specialised hard cases designed for bananas come to the rescue. A banana keeper can hold one banana at a time and serves as an excellent solution for keeping individual fruits ripe and ready for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. If you have multiple overripe bananas to protect, you may want to consider purchasing more than one.
By following these six methods, you can ensure that your bananas stay fresh for longer, allowing you to enjoy their delicious flavour at your own pace.
How often do you buy bananas? Do you manage to eat them before they get too brown? Let us know in the comments section below.
Another way to have your bananas last longer is to buy Duchasse instead of the usual Cavendish variety. Duchasse last around twice as long as Cavendish which when they are ripe have a short remaining lifespan. Duchasse remain firm and can be eaten even when the skin turns black. They originate from Thailand and when green are popular for cooking, the Cavendish banana arrived from the UK.
Duchasse are mainly grown in Northern NSW and can more often be found in Asian food shops.
Another way to extend banana life is instead of using a bowl, place them in an open weave basket with a curved bottom so the gas can escape.
Excellent way to keep bananas, Keep them in the bag from the shop, Wrap in a tea towel and keep in fridge. Mine have been in fridge for nearly 2 weeks and still good