Bananas are often stored in a fruit bowl on the kitchen counter, but most people do not realise this is the worst place to keep them fresh.
Storing bananas in a bowl can cause them to spoil extremely quickly as most fruit produces a plant growth hormone called ethylene gas which causes produce to ripen so they become more flavourful.
When too much fruit is piled together then too much ethylene gas will be in the air, which will cause all fruit to begin ripening at a much faster rate.
Bananas in particular are already known for their short shelf life because they produce so much ethylene gas, and the confined space of a fruit bowl will accelerate spoilage.
Instead, Richard Thomas, an expert from Fridge, has shared that contrary to popular belief the best place to store bananas is actually the refrigerator.
Many people do not realise that bananas can be kept in the refrigerator once they are ripened as it will preserve the fruit as it slow down ethylene production.
Richard said: “Storing bananas in the fridge can be a practical way to extend their shelf life, especially once they have reached the desired level of ripeness.
“The cooler temperatures in the fridge slow down the ripening process, which is caused by the emission of ethylene gas from the bananas.
“This means that you can enjoy your bananas for a longer period without them becoming overripe.”
It is important to wait until bananas are fully yellow as storing them at cold temperatures will slow down the ripening process significantly.
This means that young green bananas will never be able to mature and will not taste as nice as if you wait for the fruit to ripen.
The only drawback to storing bananas in the fridge as it will cause the yellow peel to turn brown or black as the cold will damage the skin since it is a tropical fruit that is not accustomed to low temperatures.
However, the fruit itself inside the peel will stay fresh and its usual yellow self so you can keep bananas fresh for a much longer time.
Make sure to also store bananas in the middle of your fridge and not in the lower crisper drawers as there is more humidity at that part of the fridge which can shorten the bananas’ shelf life.
Bananas stored in a fruit bowl will typically only last a few days at most, but keeping them in the fridge can keep them fresh for one or two weeks longer to help save you a little bit of money on your grocery shop.
Richard said: “When refrigerated, bananas can last significantly longer than at room temperature.
“Typically, you can expect bananas to last anywhere from seven to 14 days in the fridge. The peels may darken, but the bananas inside will remain firmer and fresher for a longer period.”
