Bananas are a great source of vitamins and minerals, but they can be quick to spoil – but WRAP has shared a clever food storage hack to keep them fresh for up to three months.
Bananas, while full of goodness, can be tricky to store and quick to spoil. But smart shoppers have stumbled upon a trick to stop them rotting and keep the bananas usable for as long as three months.
With food costs skyrocketing and the pinch on purses getting tighter, this method could help you save money and cut down on those extra trips to the grocer. It’s also a solid step towards cutting down on food waste, a mission that WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) champions. That’s why they’re sharing tips to keep your bananas fresh.
WRAP – which runs the Love Food Hate Waste initiative – suggests that by freezing bananas in a sealed bag or an airtight box, you can stave off spoilage for a whopping three months.
So when those banana skins begin to show spots and soften, don’t bin them – peel and freeze them instead.
Frozen, these bananas become the star ingredient for smoothies, banana bread mixes, or a moreish healthy ice cream option, reports the Express.
Bear in mind that you should safely defrost them in the fridge, not at room temperature, to ensure they remain safe to consume.
WRAP saus: “Bananas can be frozen in a sealed bag or container for up to three months.”
They also emphasise the need for safe defrosting, saying that after being taken out of the freezer “it’s important to defrost it safely”. WRAP recommends defrosting the banana in the fridge and using it “within 24 hours”.
If time is short, put those bananas in your microwave’s “defrost setting” to thaw them more quickly.
If you’re not keen on freezing bananas, store them in “somewhere nice and cool, in a cupboard or on the side” for safekeeping.
But whatever you do, don’t put bananas in the fridge unless you want them to turn brown at breakneck speed.
Why should you freeze bananas?
For a nice sweet treat, put some frozen bananas into the oven with a splash of honey for a toasty treat that’ll have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
For the more adventurous, try tossing bananas into a vegetable curry or smash them into a sandwich filling.