Keep bananas ripe for '16 days' with storage hacks which start in the supermarket
Bananas ripen very quickly, but there are many storage hacks to help them last longer, up to 16 days in fact.
Most bananas sold in supermarkets are green, but they turn yellow and then brown very quickly, especially in the summer.
This makes bananas one of the most wasted food, up to one million of them are wasted every day in the UK, according to Out of Date.
This is because people are often put off by the brown spots which appear, despite them still being edible inside.
Luckily, there are several ways to slow down the ripening process, and this starts in the supermarket.
If you buy bananas in a plastic bag, keeping them inside this bag will make them ripen much faster, even if the bag does have holes.
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Bananas, like many other fruits, produce ethylene gas which makes them ripen faster, accelerated if they are kept in a plastic bag.
Where bananas are then placed within the home is equally as important, and Britons should try to keep them away from other fruit.
According to a food hygiene expert at High Speed Training, the fruit shouldn’t be kept in a fruit bowl.
Instead, store them on a countertop, ideally “somewhere at room temperature and away from moisture, sunlight and overly warm temperatures whilst ripening”.
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The expert added: “Anywhere too warm will speed up the ripening process, so avoid keeping them near ovens or warm appliances.”
Separating the bananas from the bunch can also help them remain at their “prime ripeness” for much longer.
The pro continued: “The ethylene gas is released from the stem of the banana, so to slow the impact of the gas and avoid them over-ripening too quickly, you can also wrap the stems in a plastic wrap or cling film.
“This reduces the amount of gas that will be able to travel down the fruit and therefore allows them to stay fresher for longer.”
If this is too much hassle, a banana tree hanger is ideal as it means you can keep the bunch together, and slow down the ripening process.
They can be picked up affordably from many supermarkets as well as stores such as Dunelm.
Many people will then place them in the fridge once they have reached their preferred ripeness, with the expert agreeing this will help to make them last much longer.
The expert noted: “These bananas could last up to 16 days - again, don’t be put off by the brown or over-ripe banana skin, as the fruit inside should remain fresh.”
Bananas are also a great fruit to freeze as they can be used to make healthy ice cream or placed straight into smoothies.
Make sure to place them into a zip-lock bag to keep the freshness within and they will keep in the freezer for up to six months.
