How Long Do Ripe Bananas Stay Fresh On Your Countertop?
While bananas can be an a-peeling and nutritious snack, they unfortunately don't stay fresh for very long once they are ripe. Once the fruit has turned from green to its eye-catching yellow, it can stay unrefrigerated on the kitchen counter for two to six days, depending on its level of ripeness. For a slightly longer wait time, bananas can be placed in the fridge for five to seven days before they go bad. Bananas can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, however, they are the most tasty when eaten within the first 90 days.
Underripe bananas will be firm to the touch with a starchy and bitter taste. They are green with mild yellow spots and are not yet ready to be consumed. Fresh bananas that have perfectly matured will be pleasantly sweet and higher in sugar. They will also be very soft with a bright yellow hue and a few brown dots. Dark brown to black coloration signifies they are overripe. If the inky-colored banana is leaking, smells fermented, or if mold is present, then its time to toss it. Freezing the fruit should be done when the color is not too dark and some yellow can still be seen. The banana also should not be too mushy.
Read more: 10 Greek Yogurt Brands, Ranked Worst To Best
When the bananas are still green, it's not a great idea to put them in the fridge as the chilly and dry air will decrease the ripening process and slow it down. Therefore, the prime place to put the fruit as they are still ripening is on the countertop and away from the sun. Room temperature air is the best atmosphere to keep the produce natural. Once the bananas are ready to eat, the fridge is the top choice to ensure freshness and delay spoilage.
A tip to help keep the sweet banana crisp and garden-fresh is to wrap the stems in plastic as the stalks contain ethylene gas that tenderizes the fruit. The plastic helps trap the gas, creating a barrier that preserves the banana's natural quality and taste. Use a rubber band to secure the cling film but also keeping the plastic wrapped as is, is also just as effective. The fresh fruit can be used to make yummy brown butter banana bread, crumb muffins, cookies, and banana cream pie.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
This California Carb Capital Has A Law About How You Carry Bread In Public
With some of the absolute best restaurants in the country and world-class bakeries popping up left and right, foodie culture reigns supreme in San Francisco. Arguably, the city's uniquely tangy sourdough bread is just as iconic as the city's skyline, or the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Made with a special strain of bacteria that gives the bread its signature funkiness, it's hard to find a San Francisco bakery that doesn't carry the crusty delicacy. But believe it or not, there's one odd rule still on the books that might make even the most serious of bread connoisseurs scratch their heads. Despite being a mecca for all things carbohydrates, it's technically illegal to carry any bread, cakes, or pastries down the street in the city unless they're properly wrapped. That's right, after purchasing a freshly-baked loaf of sourdough bread, you must cover it up on public streets or even in your car to avoid breaking the law. If caught breaking Section 407 of the San Francisco Health Code, which has been on the books for over a century, you could potentially face legal punishment, although the exact details of such a punishment are not specified by law. Of course, the law is rarely (if ever) enforced nowadays, and is merely a remnant of a different era in the city's history. With that in mind, if you're walking down the streets of San Francisco eating a croissant, chances are you don't need to hide it from the police. Read more: 15 Vintage Snacks No One Remembers Anymore You might be wondering how such a strange law made its way into the San Francisco books. While the exact date of enactment and the specific reasoning behind it aren't explicitly detailed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, it's speculated that the law traces back to the early 1900s, when an outbreak of the bubonic plague (yes, that bubonic plague) made its way to The Golden City. As the plague wreaked havoc throughout the city, its residents began to panic. Chinatown was quarantined, and a slew of government officials, including the Governor of California and then-President William McKinley, put forward public health measures that were aimed at stopping the spread of the plague. As the plague raged on, many San Franciscans believed that the infection was spread by city rats that picked up the plague from sick humans. In reality, the plague was actually spread by bacteria-ridden fleas. With all that confusion, it's not difficult to theorize why San Francisco's city officials enacted a law aimed at limiting food's exposure to the elements. It might be a bit overkill, but if breads, cakes, and pastries were covered up on the streets and during travel, they wouldn't be as likely to attract rats or accumulate any germs or pests that could cause infection. While the bubonic plague isn't of concern to San Francisco in the 21st century, this culinary leftover still serves as a reminder of a dark time in the city's history. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 Energizing Snack Recipes to Make Ahead and Eat All Week
The word 'snack' often conjures up images of indulgent treats and empty calories eaten for pure pleasure. But not only can mindful snacking be part of a healthy diet, but eating a nutritious mini-meal can help you sustain your energy levels throughout the day. Especially if you have a long lag between breakfast and lunch, or lunch and dinner. If you have a little time to meal prep, these make-ahead snack recipes are for you. Related: Whether you're hiking a forest trail or navigating the urban jungle (or jungle gym), keep a stash of this 3-ingredient trail mix on hand to maintain balanced energy levels throughout the day. The recipe calls for a trio of tropical ingredients: dried mango, coconut flakes, and cashews. Feel free to substitute any nuts you have on hand. Try the recipe from . Cucumber sandwiches are a staple of high tea. Perhaps it's because they're rich in Vitamin B5, which is known to help boost energy levels. We suggest you make this classic late-afternoon snack with whole wheat bread and a bit of Greek yogurt to double down on the energizing effects. Try the recipe from . This healthy take on Almond Joy candy bars is just the thing when you're craving something chocolatey. It just takes 15 minutes to whip up 40 sticky-sweet energy balls that will keep for a couple of weeks. Try the recipe from . If you've got a bag of edamame in your freezer and staples like olive oil, salt, and pepper in your pantry, you've got everything you need to bake up a batch of this addictive, high-protein snack that's so much better than store-bought. Try the recipe from . You don't have to follow the keto diet to love these low-carb turkey roll-ups. Just dab a tablespoon of tangy French onion spread on a slice of deli turkey, top it with a crunchy mix of cucumbers, bell peppers, and greens (or whatever other veggies you've got in the fridge), and roll for a super fresh and energizing snack. Try the recipe from . The post 5 Energizing Snack Recipes to Make Ahead and Eat All Week appeared first on Clean Plates. Related Headlines Why I'll never fly without Travelzoo — savings, perks, and peace of mind 5 Drinks High in Magnesium, Say Dietitians
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
How Long Do Ripe Bananas Stay Fresh On Your Countertop?
While bananas can be an a-peeling and nutritious snack, they unfortunately don't stay fresh for very long once they are ripe. Once the fruit has turned from green to its eye-catching yellow, it can stay unrefrigerated on the kitchen counter for two to six days, depending on its level of ripeness. For a slightly longer wait time, bananas can be placed in the fridge for five to seven days before they go bad. Bananas can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, however, they are the most tasty when eaten within the first 90 days. Underripe bananas will be firm to the touch with a starchy and bitter taste. They are green with mild yellow spots and are not yet ready to be consumed. Fresh bananas that have perfectly matured will be pleasantly sweet and higher in sugar. They will also be very soft with a bright yellow hue and a few brown dots. Dark brown to black coloration signifies they are overripe. If the inky-colored banana is leaking, smells fermented, or if mold is present, then its time to toss it. Freezing the fruit should be done when the color is not too dark and some yellow can still be seen. The banana also should not be too mushy. Read more: 10 Greek Yogurt Brands, Ranked Worst To Best When the bananas are still green, it's not a great idea to put them in the fridge as the chilly and dry air will decrease the ripening process and slow it down. Therefore, the prime place to put the fruit as they are still ripening is on the countertop and away from the sun. Room temperature air is the best atmosphere to keep the produce natural. Once the bananas are ready to eat, the fridge is the top choice to ensure freshness and delay spoilage. A tip to help keep the sweet banana crisp and garden-fresh is to wrap the stems in plastic as the stalks contain ethylene gas that tenderizes the fruit. The plastic helps trap the gas, creating a barrier that preserves the banana's natural quality and taste. Use a rubber band to secure the cling film but also keeping the plastic wrapped as is, is also just as effective. The fresh fruit can be used to make yummy brown butter banana bread, crumb muffins, cookies, and banana cream pie. Read the original article on Tasting Table.