Latest news with #PeterSidwell
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Bananas 'stay fresh for two weeks' with top chef's genius hack
A chef has shared a genius tip on how to store bananas to make sure they stay fresher for longer - and there's one thing you need to do as soon as you get them home Bananas are a type of fruit that households need to store correctly, or they'll quickly turn brown. While overripe bananas can be put to good use in tasty banana bread recipes, there's a limit to how many loaves you can bake. A perfectly ripe banana is ideal for topping pancakes, pairing with peanut butter for a speedy snack, or simply enjoying as is. As bananas ripen, they emit ethylene gas, which causes them to brown. However, there are methods that could potentially slow down this browning process. Professional chef Peter Sidwell shared his tips on how to store bananas. He explained that since bananas thrive in warm, moist and bright conditions to ripen, they should be immediately removed from their plastic packaging to "keep your fruit fresher for longer". The chef advises keeping bananas away from windows, out of direct sunlight and away from any sources of condensation. He also suggests choosing a "cool spot", away from the oven or other heat sources. Bananas will continue to ripen at room temperature, so once they've reached your preferred level of ripeness, they can be placed in the fridge to "slow down the process". Peter advised: "I recommend using a banana preserving bag if you do want to keep your bananas in the fridge. Polyester bags will help keep your bananas fresh for up to two weeks - don't worry if the skin turns brown in the fridge, the taste won't be affected." The KitchenCraft Banana Reusable Storage Bag is available for purchase on Amazon for £8.99. Customers have praised the product for its freshness, value, performance, and quality. They've noted that it keeps bananas fresh for weeks, offers good value for money, and prolongs the shelf life of bananas, , reports the Express. Alternatively, households can opt for Lakeland's Yellow Banana Bag, retailing at £7.99. Customers reported that their bananas remained in good condition after two weeks, although they did note that the bag didn't prevent the banana skins from browning. However, remember never to refrigerate bananas before they're ripe as they'll "remain hard and tasteless". For those storing their bananas outside of the fridge, it's advised not to keep them near other fruits. This not only accelerates the ripening of bananas but also affects other fruits. An expert explained: "Bananas actually release a gas called ethylene from their stems which ripens them and surrounding fruit, making them go rotten faster. "Apples, pears and melons are particularly sensitive to this gas so it's best to store bananas separately from your other fruit." Another option for households is to wrap their banana stems in plastic to trap the ethylene gas and slow down the rotting process. A chef has also shared a handy tip for those who wish to consume half a banana and save the rest for later without it turning brown. Peter advised: "If you cut open a banana it will quickly become oxidised and turn brown. "If you only want to eat half and save the rest for later, I recommend sprinkling the remaining fruit with a small amount of lemon juice to lower pH levels and wrap in cling film to reduce more oxygen turning the fruit brown." For those who've just bought bananas but don't plan on consuming them immediately, freezing is an option. Peter suggested: "You can also freeze bananas for up to six months, but they will taste best after the first three months." Remember to peel the fruit before freezing to prevent them from becoming mushy when defrosting and to expedite the thawing process.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Woman's 'amazing' kitchen roll trick that keeps bananas fresh for 'ages'
A woman has shared her tried and tested hack to boost the longevity of your bananas - and people can't wait to try it. All you need is some kitchen roll and a splash of water Hands up if you've ever had your bananas turn into a squishy mess just days after purchasing them. Despite being a popular fruit in Britain, bananas are infamous for their rapid transition from rock-hard to overripe. Unless you're planning on baking loads of banana bread (like many did during lockdown), these overripe fruits often end up in the bin. However, one woman swears by her quick and easy hack to keep bananas fresh for much longer. The trick takes only seconds and requires just one item: kitchen roll. In a TikTok video, user Dyanne demonstrated how she keeps her bananas looking fresh even after six days. "What I do is wash the bananas in cold water and then I wrap the tops in a kitchen towel, and keep them wet every single morning," she explained. "These are the same bananas I showed you six days ago, look... So you know what, it works... Your bananas will keep fresh a lot longer." Kitchen rolls are readily available at various online retailers and supermarkets, and you don't need to spend a fortune on them. You can grab a 'jumbo' roll at Morrisons for just £1.35. The hack was met with praise in the comments section, with one user describing it as 'insane'. "Thanks for the tip, next trip to the store I'm getting bananas and trying this," another commenter. Professional chef Peter Sidwell has a unique trick up his sleeve to prevent bananas from spoiling too soon. "Bananas actually release a gas called ethylene from their stems which ripens then and surrounding fruit, making them go rotten faster," he explained. As a result, he suggests keeping bananas away from other fruits like apples, pears, and melons, which are 'particularly sensitive' to this gas. Sidwell also encourages Brits to store their bananas in a preserving bag in the fridge. However, this should only be done once they've ripened, or else they'll stay 'hard and tasteless'. A woman has revealed her tried-and-true hack for extending the life of your bananas - and people are eager to give it a shot. All you need is a bit of kitchen roll and a dash of water.
