Bananas typically spoil within just days of being purchased – but there is a way their lifespan can be extended in your home
Bananas are a rather popular addition to breakfasts, whether it’s spread on toast or chopped up into a porridge. The only downside is if you’re only shopping for yourself, they can feel like throwing money away, as they’ll likely spoil before you get through the whole bunch.
However, they aren’t actually supposed to turn spotty and brown within a day of being purchased and can even stay fresh for weeks if kept away from the fruit bowl.
It might sound odd, but many fruits, including bananas, produce a substance called ethylene gas which helps them ripen and develop their flavour. However, too much ethylene in the air can cause fruit to ripen too quickly, drastically reducing their shelf life as they start to rot instead.
Bananas are one of the biggest producers of ethylene gas, so they really need to be stored separately from other fruit in your kitchen to keep everything fresh.
Making an error when storing bananas can lead to binning a large number of fruits before you’ve gotten around to eating them.
Writing on express.co.uk about how she solved this issue, Katherine McPhillips says, “While shopping the other day, I came across a banana tree, also known as a banana hanger, which helps keep bananas fresh for so much longer.
“It is fine to keep bananas on the kitchen counter on their own, but using a hanger allows more air to circulate around the fruit, which slows down the buildup of ethylene gas.
“Bananas will also be less likely to become bruised with a hanger, as soft spots cause them to spoil. Using a hanger keeps them tucked away so they do not take up too much space on your kitchen counter, so you can cook without any clutter.”
How to use a hanger to keep bananas fresh
Katherine writes: “I bought my hanger for £8 at Lakeland, but they can usually be bought at any supermarket with a kitchen utensils aisle or even online.
“Then, all I did was gently hang a bunch of bananas onto the hanger. It is best to keep them intact in a bunch, as keeping them separate can also speed up spoilage.
“I then placed the hanger in a cool spot in my kitchen. Try not to put your hanger next to your stove, as any heat or humidity while cooking will cause them to turn brown before their time.
“It has now been over two weeks, and my bananas are still yellow. They are just beginning to turn spotty now, but they last so much longer than when I kept them in a fruit bowl.
“This food storage technique costs a little money, but it is well worth the investment in my opinion, so you cut down on food waste, which will save you money in the long run.”