Foodies have shared a simple trick which will help keep bananas fresher for longer – as they are one of the hardest fresh produce to keep due to their short shelf life
There’s nothing more annoying than going to grab a banana only to notice it’s already gone brown – but now this simple trick will make them last even longer.
Whether you’re in need of a morning snack as you’re running out the door, or you fancy a banana smoothie, the popular fruit is very versatile and easy to eat on the go.
However the only downside is they don’t last very long, and they can be brown and mushy by the end of the week if you don’t manage to get through the whole bunch in time.
But thankfully, foodies have realised by wrapping the stalks in tin foil will help preserve them a little longer and stop them from ripening too fast.
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With food costs at an all time high, making your groceries last as long as possible is essential for many, and this easy trick could help you save money and cut down on extra trips to the supermarket for more. It can also help reduce food waste which is impactful for the environment too.
Bananas are one of the biggest producers of ethylene gas, which is a natural chemical compound that promotes ripening and most of this gas is released through the exposed stem of the bananas. This allows the bananas to continue to carry on ripening once they are picked off the stem.
According to Food Republic, wrapping the top of your bunch with aluminium “helps to trap in some of the ethylene, so it won’t escape into the atmosphere and touch the body of the bananas (or other produce you have sitting nearby, for that matter).
“This slows down browning and gives you more time to enjoy your bunch. Plastic wrap should also work, in case you don’t have any foil around.”
Another reason your bananas may turn brown quickly is down to bruising. Any marks and blemish spots on the peel will release ethylene and accelerate the browning even more. Banana skin gets softer as it get older, so it can damage even by just sitting in a fruit bowl – so hanging your bananas may be a good idea.
Lifting them from the hard surface mimicks them hanging from a tree, and will stop them from going soft while placed on a hard surface. You can buy special fruit bowls with hanging hooks specifically for this. They are also very sensitive to light, so it’s always best to keep them stored in a cool and dark place but avoid putting them in the fridge
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