Bananas are known for ripening quickly and giving off ethylene gas, which can cause other fruit and vegetables to ripen and go off more quickly
Bananas, the beloved snack, are notorious for ripening on a whim and emitting ethylene that can spoil nearby fruits and veggies. Yet, there’s a nifty trick to keep your bananas from turning too quickly and avoid relegating them to smoothie or banana bread fate.
Savvy Facebook users in the Simple Savers group have been swapping top tips for extending the shelf life of this tasty fruit. An anonymous tipster on the Simple Savers Facebook page advised that bananas should be kept isolated from other produce, suggesting that a brown paper bag could be the secret to keeping them fresher for longer.
They said: “To the person who said their bananas did not last two days and then had to make banana cake. Storing bananas anywhere near other fruit makes them subject to ‘off-gassing’, which hastens the ripening of the bananas.
“Bananas need to be stored well away from all other fruit at home to prevent this. You may like to keep them in a brown paper bag with the top rolled over and pegged down if space is tight in your kitchen area. Doing this will prolong their life and save you.”
This sparked a flurry of responses from other members, with many echoing the sentiment that the fridge might just be the best place to stash your bananas, reports the Express.
Greg Rose revealed his banana storage hack, and said: “I store my bananas in the crisper of my fridge and take two out for breakfast. Works for me.”
Deborah said: “I keep mine in the fridge, and this stops them from getting overripe.”
Julie Hart said: “Put them in the fridge, they will go black on the outside but will still be fine to eat (not mushy).”
Another savvy individual suggested a different approach, finding success by wrapping the stems in newspaper before refrigerating.
Mark Horne explained his technique: “Wrap the stems in newspaper and store in fridge, lasts for around 15 days. Take out day by day when needed. Stored them bare in the fridge before, and they didn’t last as long.”
A different tip came from a user who claimed that a wet paper towel around the stems works wonders, negating the need for refrigeration.
Leigh Btchelor also said, “My dad wraps the banana bunch end in a wet paper towel, and they stay great for ages, even in the fruit bowl with other fruit. It has to be kept damp, though; if it dries out, it goes straight off.”