Bananas are not only nutritious and delicious, but also affordable, making them a favorite for many people. However, the way they are stored is crucial. Improper storage can quickly cause bananas to ripen and spoil. According to a report by the British Daily Express, Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh UK, stated that people often make mistakes in storing bananas, causing them to ripen too quickly, shortening their shelf life unnecessarily.
To prevent bananas from ripening too quickly, Morley recommended keeping them away from other fruits, direct sunlight, and high temperatures. Bananas release a ripening hormone called ethylene, which can also affect fruits such as apples, pears, and avocados. Therefore, storing them separately can prevent the ripening effects from interacting.
She added that high temperatures can also accelerate the ripening process of bananas. If the kitchen countertop is warm, bananas will ripen much faster than expected. Surprisingly, bananas placed on the kitchen countertop at room temperature will ripen faster than those placed in cooler areas. The countertop environment allows bananas to come into contact with room temperature, promoting the natural conversion of starch into sugar inside the fruit.
Therefore, bananas should not be placed in overly warm locations. Although it is a common practice in the kitchen, if you want to keep bananas fresh, you should avoid doing so. As Morley mentioned, it is crucial to store bananas separately from other fruits. If you want to extend the shelf life of bananas as much as possible, avoid putting them in the same fruit bowl with fruits that release ethylene.
Tash Blythe, a British food safety expert, previously suggested that to extend the shelf life of bananas, you can separate them from a bunch into individual pieces, which can prolong their ripening time. Since ethylene is released from the stem of bananas, wrapping the stem with plastic wrap can slow down its impact on bananas, preventing them from ripening too quickly.
In addition, putting ripe bananas in the refrigerator can also help extend their shelf life. They may appear brown or overly ripe on the outside, but the flesh inside can still be fresh. (Related reading: Can bananas last two weeks? Experts teach you how to store them.)