So They Don’t Turn Black: How to Store Bananas at Home

A banana is one of many people’s favorite fruits, but where and how they should be stored to keep the fruit tasty and appealing is a big question.

Why bananas turn black very quickly – mystery solved

Bananas, as a rule, are plucked still green, and they ripen already in the process of transportation. Additionally, the fruits are treated with various chemicals to extend their shelf life. As the banana ripens, its peel turns more and more yellow, and then black spots start to appear on it. These dots are the signal that the fruit is already overripe, but the final stage of “readiness” of the banana is a completely black peel.

The taste is not affected by the change in color of the banana skin at first, but the riper it is, the greater the chance that the flesh will also change its structure. Overripe bananas do not taste at all like moderately ripe ones – the pulp of such fruits is too sweet and may even smell a little like yeast. Nutritionists recommend that before eating bananas rinse them under water to wash off the chemicals from the skin, and black bananas in general should not be eaten.

How to keep bananas in the fridge – tips

It is not recommended to store bananas in the refrigerator – at low temperatures, the rinds darken faster. However, if you do not have the opportunity to eat the purchased fruits immediately, and you can only leave them in the refrigerator, observe the storage conditions:

  • Put the fruit in the door, on the middle shelf, or in a special compartment for fruits and vegetables;
  • Wrap bananas in paper or newspaper;
  • slice into pieces and put in a container;
  • drizzle peeled bananas with lemon juice.

Bananas can also be frozen – to do this, cut them into circles and put them in vacuum bags or containers. An alternative option is to mash potatoes and bananas and freeze them as such.

In answer to the question about how to store bananas properly at room temperature, we remind you that it is best to leave them in a kitchen cabinet, pantry, or cellar. The place should not be very warm, but with good ventilation.

In addition, it is better to choose fruits with green tails, as copies with yellow ones will be stored worse. Naturally, you should pay attention to the integrity of the skin when buying – it should not have cracks and scratches. If you buy bunches of bananas, leave them hanging and do not place them on kitchen surfaces.

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Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

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