Bananas are a beloved fruit in many households across the UK, but keeping them fresh can sometimes be a challenge.
With a short window between under-ripe and over-ripe, knowing the right storage techniques can make all the difference in extending their lifespan.
The key to keeping bananas fresh for longer starts with the buying process.
Sarah Taylor, food hygiene expert at High Speed Training, has shared her advice on how to keep some particularly tricky types of food stored safely.
She said: “The first step to keep bananas fresh for longer is to buy them when they’re still green, helping to give you the longest window when they’re at their best. “
Once purchased, it’s crucial to remove them from any plastic packaging. Plastic traps the moisture released by the fruit as it ripens, speeding up the process unnecessarily.
She added: “You should remove them from their plastic packaging, which traps the moisture released by the fruit as they ripen, making them ripen even faster.
Furthermore, bananas should be kept separate from other fruits.
The ethylene gas they produce as they ripen can cause nearby fruits to ripen more quickly.
Instead, store bananas in an open bowl on the countertop, away from other fruits.
While it’s common practice to refrigerate many fruits, bananas fare better outside of the fridge while they’re still ripening.
Refrigeration can actually prolong the ripening process, leading to mushy bananas sooner than desired.
However, once bananas reach the desired ripeness, they can be stored in the fridge to extend their lifespan, remaining good to eat for a week or more.
For those looking to preserve bananas for later use, freezing is an option.
Frozen bananas are excellent for use in smoothies or baking, as the texture may not be ideal for snacking once thawed.
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