90% of people put their bananas in a bag and then are surprised that they end up in the bin 2 days later

Bananas are a fruit that everyone buys once in a while. It is a sweet but healthy snack that has many health benefits and can also be used in cooking and baking. However, bananas often turn brown before we have a taste for them. Then we throw them away unnecessarily. But proper storage of this fruit can extend its life by up to a week.

Bananas are an excellent source of energy because they are high in carbohydrates. They contain potassium, fibre, vitamin B6 and are also easy on the stomach, so they are good for diets and health problems. In addition, experts say that bananas can also improve mood thanks to the fact that they contain tryptophan. Most people bring bananas home in a plastic bag and leave them there for days to come. But then you can’t be surprised if they go bad quickly.

Why don’t they belong in a bag?

When you buy bananas at the store, you might put them in a plastic bag before weighing them. But you need to take them out of that at home. It’s true that some advice says to leave them in it, but that’s only if you buy green bananas and want them to ripen quickly. Once you have healthy bananas, you need to take them out of the bag, otherwise they will spoil very quickly.

The fruit releases a gas called ethylene. This accelerates ripening and builds up in the bag. Even within two days, bananas can be overripe, brown and soft. If you’re not careful, they can start to rot in two or three days. For the same reason, they should not be put on a platter with other fruit. The ethylene from bananas can trigger the rapid ripening process in citrus fruits and apples, and you’ll end up with rotten fruit at home.

So, while it is true that you can use the ethylene from bananas to help them ripen within a day if they are green, or to help other fruit ripen, it is generally recommended that bananas be stored in a way that does not interfere with the natural ripening process for yourself or other foods.

So how to store bananas?

The most ideal way to store bananas is in an open bowl on the kitchen counter or dining table. Somewhere cooler and in an open area with no other fruit nearby. It’s also a good idea to hang them on a hook, as they will bruise less. Some people put bananas in the fridge, but that’s not ideal either. Although their flesh can withstand the cold inside, the skin can turn black more quickly. Plus , with temperature changes, bananas lose vitamins.

Storing bananas in the fridge makes sense when you’ve already cut them up for your kids’ snacks or as part of a healthy breakfast, for example in oatmeal. Peeled bananas would spoil very quickly at room temperature.

Our final tip is: If you want to slow down the ripening process a little more, wrap the stems of the bananas with foil. This will reduce ethylene leakage and the fruit will last a few days longer.