The Best Ways To Keep Bananas Fresh
Those who love nothing better than a perfectly ripe banana, even with a tinge of green left, likely know just how quickly bananas can start to get brown spots. Luckily, there are tons of ways to use bananas at all stages of ripeness. Fresh bananas are perfect in fruit bowls, banana pies, sandwiches, and so much more. And overripe bananas are great for plenty of other types of dishes. Think along the lines of frozen for smoothies, baked in banana bread, or mixed into other baked goods as a natural sweetener.
But if keeping them as ripe as possible for as long as possible is important to you, then you need to know the best ways to keep bananas fresh. Though there are times that the fridge can be helpful, bananas are best stored on the countertop and in the freezer. And, with the right techniques, these storage options are a breeze.
Countertop
The biggest reason bananas ripen at the speed they do is because ethylene gas pours out from the tops of the stems. So by storing a bunch of bananas, rather than individually using a couple of different techniques, you can keep the fruit from ripening too quickly, according to Brooklyn Farm Girl.
The first way to help slow the process of ripening is to use a stand to hang the bananas (via Today). While you might only want to buy the fruit holder if bananas are a staple in your kitchen, it is a very easy way to keep them good longer. By hanging the bananas, air can move between the bananas more easily and help move the released ethylene gas away from the fruit to keep it from ripening. But if you don't want to invest in a stand, you can use an item you likely already have in your kitchen.
Another way to keep bananas fresh is to simply wrap the tops of the banana bunch with plastic wrap. Instead of letting the bananas breathe and have air to remove the ethylene, the plastic wrap traps it and prevents it from ripening the bananas.
Fridge
According to Foods Guy, you need to be very careful when you store bananas in the fridge. It's true that the colder temperatures help extend the shelf life of bananas, but if they are not placed there at the right time, you might not like the results. Keeping bananas in the fridge will slow the ripening process, but they will ripen over time.
To keep bananas in the fridge, you need to place them in there when they reach the level of ripeness you like most. But bananas that already have brown spots will not hold up well in the fridge. The peels will get darker faster, even though the banana is still fine on the inside.
You can also use citrus juice or a vinegar bath on bananas that have already been peeled or sliced. According to Today, you can toss the banana with a few teaspoons of juice, or a one-to-six ratio of vinegar and water, to keep it from turning brown. And don't forget to place the bananas in an airtight container or cover them with plastic wrap before placing them in the fridge.
Freezer
According to Today, bananas kept in the freezer will last about one month. Frozen bananas are useful not only in things such as smoothies, but they can also be thawed and used in baked goods like banana bread. If you know how you plan to use the bananas before freezing them, you can prepare them so they will be ready to use when you remove them from the freezer.
Bananas that will be used in baked goods can be removed from their peels and frozen whole. Just place them in an airtight container or resealable bags. Once they have thawed to room temperature, the whole bananas should be soft enough to mash if need be. You can also slice the bananas and freeze them on a sheet tray before placing them inside an airtight container. By freezing them in smaller bites, you can add them to fruit bowls or even blend them into smoothies more easily.