A food waste expert has shared a simple trick that can keep bananas fresh for up to three weeks, preventing the common frustration of bananas turning brown and mushy too quickly. Amy Cross from The Cross Legacy, which provides resources and products to help families reduce food waste, explained that bananas are particularly prone to rapid ripening. She said: "Bananas are one of those items that you can just feel like you bring it home and look at it wrong and they go bad."
Keep Bananas Away from Other Fruits
Cross urges households to avoid storing bananas in a bowl with apples and oranges, as these fruits release ethylene gas that accelerates ripening. Instead, she advises keeping bananas at least three feet away from other fruits. This distance helps limit the spread of ethylene gas, which bananas naturally release as they ripen, slowing down the process and keeping them fresh longer.
Use a Banana Hook and Seal the Top
If you have a banana hook, Cross recommends using it to hang bananas, as this can also help extend freshness. Additionally, she suggests sealing the top of the banana bunch for as long as possible. "Doing so helps limit the spread of ethylene gas, slowing down the ripening process and helping them stay fresh for longer," she explained. Over the years, Cross has also found that organic bananas tend to stay fresher for longer than conventionally grown ones.
Freeze Bananas for Later Use
If bananas do start to go bad, Cross recommends freezing them. Rather than freezing them whole, she slices them into longer pieces and lays them on parchment paper to flash-freeze before transferring them into a bag. This method makes them perfect for adding to smoothies, reducing waste and providing a convenient ingredient for future use.
