Supermarket giant Morrisons has confirmed that bananas last longer and stay fresher when stored away from other everyday kitchen fruit. The key culprit is ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone released by bananas that accelerates ripening in surrounding produce.
Why Fruit Bowls Are the Worst Place for Bananas
Most households place bananas in a fruit bowl upon returning from the shop, but this is actually one of the worst storage methods. Natalie from Morrisons explained: "Don't keep bananas next to other fruit as the bananas release a gas called ethylene that will cause your fruits to ripen too quickly. Don't keep ripe bananas in a plastic bag either as this seals the ethylene in and causes them to go brown/black."
Ethylene gas is a plant hormone that certain fruits emit through their stems, softening them and making them more flavoursome. However, bananas produce particularly high quantities of ethylene, and when stored alongside other fruit, the gas builds up in the air around the fruit basket, causing all produce to spoil faster.
Simple Storage Tips to Extend Freshness
To keep bananas yellow for longer, store them separately from other fruit on the kitchen worktop, away from warm spots like windows or the hob. This simple change can keep them fresh for at least a week longer than if kept in a fruit bowl.
Separating bananas individually from the bunch also helps, as they ripen more quickly when clustered together due to trapped ethylene gas. Wrapping each banana stem in tin foil or clingfilm further restricts ethylene release, keeping the fruit yellow for considerably longer—often extending freshness by 10 to 14 days.
When to Refrigerate Bananas
Once bananas begin to turn brown, placing them in the fridge slows ethylene gas activity. However, green bananas should never be refrigerated, as cold temperatures prevent proper ripening.
Morrisons' advice aims to reduce food waste, especially during summer when higher temperatures accelerate ripening and attract flies. By following these steps, households can enjoy fresh bananas for up to two weeks longer.
