2 days ago
Extend shelf life of your bananas with expert's hack as soon as you get home
A farmer has shared a simple trick that stops ripe bananas from going off too quickly, so that you can keep them fresh for up to two weeks after buying them
Bananas, a household favourite, often go brown too quickly depending on storage methods, but fear not, there's a nifty trick to keep them fresher for longer. You might be tempted to bake banana bread with overripe bananas, but before you do, try this simple hack: wrap the stem ends of your bananas in cling film or aluminium foil to slow down the release of ethylene gas.
"By tightly wrapping the head of the bunch, the bananas will last longer." For those looking to extend the life of all their groceries, remember this tip: "Make sure to store your veggies and fruit separately in your fridge."
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Many people don't realise that bananas can actually last weeks if stored correctly, and contrary to popular practice, they shouldn't be lumped together in a fruit bowl.
Ethylene gas, emitted from the stems of bananas, is responsible for transforming green bananas into the soft, sweet yellow ones we love, but it also accelerates ripening.
Brenda Anderson, a farmer, culinary expert and the brains behind Little Lost Creations, advises that once bananas are ripe, popping them in the fridge is the best way to maintain their freshness.
Brenda revealed: "Then a friend of mine told me something she had tried. I thought it sounded a little crazy, but I thought I would give it a try.
"She said to put the bananas in a brown paper grocery bag closed tightly, and put them in the crisper in the refrigerator. She said the peel would go black but the banana would taste good."
Despite many believing that bananas should never be cooled as the skin turns black indicating spoilage, storing a ripe banana in the fridge actually preserves its freshness, keeping the fruit inside the skin perfect for consumption for weeks, reports the Express.
She added: "After two and a half weeks in the crisper in the refrigerator I took my bananas out to try them. I really wanted to put this method to the test.
"The peelings don't look like the banana is going to taste good but when I peeled the banana it had not gone mushy like I thought it would. It was still firm and tasted just a little riper than when I put them in the brown paper sack."
