Bananas are a staple in most households, but there is nothing worse than buying fresh fruit only to discover it has quickly ripened and gone mushy – an expert has shared a simple hack to keep them fresh for longer
Bananas are a staple in most shopping baskets, but it’s frustrating when they ripen and turn mushy too quickly. While it might seem logical to store bananas in a fruit bowl, this could be the very reason they’re spoiling faster than expected, as bananas don’t fare well stored with other fruits.
Food Storage Moms’ expert Linda Loosli explained that bananas “ripen more quickly” when kept next to other fruits due to their production of ethylene, a growth hormone released from the stems. Ethylene gas is essential for fruit growth, but it also triggers the ripening process at the same time.
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When fruits that produce ethylene are stored together, they can spoil much quicker. Linda pointed out a common mistake: “One mistake people often make is that they start hanging their bananas too close to other fruits in the kitchen.”
She advised: “If you’re buying many fruits, including apples, oranges, and pears, try to keep them separated from your bananas.”
To prevent bananas from spoiling prematurely, Linda suggests separating the bananas at the stems, reports the Express.
She said: “You might think that the best thing to do when buying bananas is to keep them attached, grabbing one at a time when you plan to eat the banana or using it in a recipe. However, this isn’t the case.”
Instead, she recommends wrapping each banana stem in clingfilm. This prevents the release of ethylene gas and can keep bananas fresh for up to two weeks longer.
Linda shared a nifty tip for banana lovers, saying: “When wrapped in plastic, the bananas contain more of their ethylene gas, which prevents the ripening process from happening too quickly.”
She added: “If you don’t want the bananas to end up ripening fast before you’re ready to eat them or use them to make something, this is an important trick that will extend the life of the fruit.”
For those looking to keep their bananas away from other fruits and maintain their freshness, Linda advises storing bananas in the fridge once they turn yellow and start to ripen.
Linda explained further: “The cold temperatures will keep them from ripening at all, or in the time you want to use them.
“If they don’t ripen some, it’s difficult for you to use the bananas because they’ll lack that sweet taste that you love and enjoy when eating them.”
According to Linda, keeping bananas stored in this manner will ensure they stay “fresher for even longer” helping households save money and reduce food waste.