Bananas stay fresh and won’t brown ‘for months’ if stored away from fruit bowl

Staff
By Staff

There’s a simple trick to stop them rotting and keep them fresh for up to three months

Healthy delights - Peaches, Plums and Bananas. Arranged in a fruit bowl.
Bananas will last much longer in the freezer(Image: Katrin Ray Shumakov via Getty Images)

Bananas are a nutritional powerhouse but often end up going bad before we can enjoy them. However, savvy savers have discovered a nifty trick to extend their shelf life up to an impressive three months.

In these times of soaring food prices and tightening budgets, this handy technique could be a game-changer in reducing your grocery bills and the frequency of market runs. It’s also a great way to support WRAP’s (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) efforts to combat food waste through their Love Food Hate Waste campaign.

They recommend freezing bananas in a sealed bag or airtight container to prevent them from spoiling for up to three months, , as highlighted by the Express.

So next time your bananas start to get spotty and soft, don’t toss them out – peel then pop them in the freezer instead.

Once frozen, these bananas are perfect for whipping up smoothies, baking banana bread, or creating a deliciously healthy ice cream alternative.

For another delightful dessert, bake frozen bananas drizzled with honey in the oven – it’s a heartwarming treat that’ll leave you feeling cosy.

If you fancy something more unusual, why not add bananas to a vegetable curry or mash them up as a sandwich spread?

Close-up shot of Lady Finger banana with freckle
It’s a surefire way to stop bananas from going off(Image: Wachirawit Iemlerkchai via Getty Images)

Remember, when it comes to defrosting, do it safely in the fridge rather than at room temperature to keep them safe for eating.

WRAP advises: “Bananas can be frozen in a sealed bag or container for up to three months.”

They also stress the importance of safe defrosting practices, noting that once removed from the freezer, “it’s important to defrost it safely”.

For best results, WRAP suggests defrosting the banana in the fridge and using it “within 24 hours”.

Pressed for time and need to thaw bananas quickly? Just pop them into the microwave on the “defrost setting” for a swift solution.

If you prefer not to freeze your bananas, then keep them “somewhere nice and cool, in a cupboard or on the side” to maintain their freshness.

And unless you’re trying to brown them quickly, never store bananas in the fridge.

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