Keeping bananas fresh can feel like an impossible task as they seem to grow brown spots and turn mushy in just a few days – but one clever hack could see them last for 2 weeks
This banana-storing hack could revolutionise your fruit game – and it’s so easy to do.
If you’re a fan of bananas, you’ll know that they really don’t seem to last for very long when you get them home from the supermarket. They’re quick to ripen and before long they end up covered in brown spots and are far too mushy to eat – meaning they get chucked in the bin or perhaps turned into banana bread.
But did you know that the reason your bananas don’t last is probably because you’re storing them incorrectly? That’s what one food storage expert has claimed, as she said that not only are you cutting down the shelf life of your bananas, but you could also be causing your other fruits to go off too.
Linda Loosli, an expert from Food Storage Moms, explained that you should never store your bananas in the fruit bowl with your apples and oranges, as this could cause all your fruits to go mouldy quickly. This is because bananas produce a growth hormone called ethylene through their stems – and while the gas is needed to help fruit grow, it also starts the ripening process and can make fruit spoil at a faster rate.
The expert said: “One mistake people often make is that they start hanging their bananas too close to other fruits in the kitchen. If you’re buying many fruits, including apples, oranges, and pears, try to keep them separated from your bananas.”
And not only should you separate your bananas from other fruits, but you should also separate them from each other, The Express reports. Linda added: “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.”
What you should do to stop bananas from spoiling is to separate them and wrap each stem in a piece of cling film. This will stop the ethylene gas from being released and could help your bananas stay fresh for up to two weeks.
Linda noted: “When wrapped in plastic, the bananas contain more of their ethylene gas, which prevents the ripening process from happening too quickly. 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.”
You can also store your bananas in the fridge to make them last longer, but you should do this after they’ve turned yellow and begun ripening. “The cold temperatures will keep them from ripening at all, or in the time you want to use them,” Linda explained, “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.”
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at [email protected].
