Bananas frequently turn mushy and discoloured just a few days after purchase, necessitating quick consumption to avoid wastage.
However, a simple trick could save money and reduce food waste as it seems most people are storing their bananas incorrectly in the kitchen.
Camilla, a recipe developer and founder of FabFood4All, shared that bananas will remain yellow and fresh if kept in the fridge.
In a TikTok video, Camilla confessed: “It appears I may have been living a lie my entire life. I was always told that you can’t keep bananas in the fridge because they go black.
“Last week my daughter informed me that all her university friends store their bananas in the fridge so I kept these bananas in the fridge for four whole days once they ripened.
“Usually by now they’d be completely black and covered in spots, so I’m going to open a banana to see if it’s true, can you keep a banana in the fridge without it turning black.”
Camilla then peeled the banana and was surprised to find the fruit inside was fresh and perfectly ripe. She exclaimed: “You learn something new every day.”
In the comments section, Camilla confirmed that keeping bananas in the fridge “definitely extends their life” for a further two weeks and added: “I can’t tell you how shocked I am.”
Contrary to popular belief, bananas can indeed be stored in the fridge. Keeping the fruit at a cold temperature halts the ripening process entirely, ensuring it stays fresh.
Banana peels will maintain their yellow colour if stored in the fridge for a few days, but will eventually darken to black if kept longer, though they’ll still be edible.
The fruit inside the blackened peel will stay yellow, fresh and firm. They’ll remain good to eat for just over two weeks after purchase.
It’s important to only refrigerate yellow and ripe bananas, as green bananas won’t turn yellow in cold storage.
Storing bananas in the fridge is generally better than keeping them in a fruit bowl, as most fruits emit a growth hormone called ethylene gas. When stored together, the increased production of this gas can cause fruits to spoil faster.
Keeping bananas in the fridge separates them from other fruits, thereby extending their lifespan.
However, if you’re short on fridge space, you could try wrapping the stems in clingfilm. This can help prevent the spread of ethylene gas and keep your bananas fresher for longer.
