Bananas are often stored in fruit bowls on kitchen worktops, but it’s actually the worst place for them – and there’s one unexpected area that will keep them fresh for longer
Bananas, commonly spotted sitting in fruit bowls across kitchen counters, are being stored incorrectly – causing them to lose their freshness far too quickly.
Many people aren’t aware that bananas, alongside other fruits such as apples, release ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that accelerates ripening and boosts taste.
Yet when fruits are bunched together, the surplus ethylene gas circulating speeds up the ripening cycle for every piece of fruit present – useful if you’re trying to ripen items like avocados.
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Bananas are infamous for their brief shelf life owing to their substantial ethylene gas output, and being confined in a fruit bowl simply accelerates their deterioration.
Going against typical habits, Richard Thomas from fridge.com recommends that the refrigerator is the optimal location for bananas once they’ve ripened, as it reduces ethylene production and prolongs their freshness, reports the Express.
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Richard explained: “Storing bananas in the fridge can be a practical way to extend their shelf life, especially once they have reached the desired level of ripeness.”
He added: “The cooler temperatures in the fridge slow down the ripening process, which is caused by the emission of ethylene gas from the bananas.”
This clever storage technique ensures your bananas remain pleasant to eat for extended periods without venturing into overripe conditions that result in bananas becoming brown, squishy, or even worse, mouldy.
It’s crucial to wait until bananas turn completely yellow before chilling them, as refrigeration can drastically halt the ripening process, leaving green unripe bananas unable to develop properly and lacking taste.
Choosing refrigerator storage does mean the yellow peel will probably darken or turn brown due to cold damage – tropical fruits such as bananas don’t appreciate low temperatures. However, the flesh stays undamaged, remaining fresh and bright yellow, which means you can extend their lifespan significantly.
For best fridge positioning, place them in the middle section rather than the more humid bottom crisper compartments as these will simply shorten the banana’s shelf life.
A fruit bowl might offer you just a few days with your bananas, but the chilled environment of a fridge could provide you with up to a fortnight extra, helping to cut those shopping expenses.
Meanwhile, Richard has offered some advice: “When refrigerated, bananas can last significantly longer than at room temperature.”
He added: “Typically, you can expect bananas to last anywhere from seven to 14 days in the fridge. The peels may darken, but the bananas inside will remain firmer and fresher for a longer period.”
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