Bananas can stay fresh and firm for two weeks longer than usual when their stems are tightly wrapped in clingfilm or tin foil, according to food expert Amanda Kay Oaks from The Meal Kit Review.
Bananas are known for turning spotty and brown quickly, but this simple kitchen item prevents the fruit from spoiling prematurely. UK households throw away £17 billion worth of food every year and waste one million whole bananas each day, so proper storage could help save money on food shopping.
Why bananas spoil in fruit bowls
Most people make the mistake of keeping bananas in fruit bowls, which causes them to spoil before their time. Bananas produce high amounts of ethylene, a plant hormone released into the air to help the fruit ripen and become soft and sweet enough to eat.
However, bananas are also very sensitive to ethylene. Storing them next to other fruits can cause too much of the hormone to build up in the air, which makes bananas ripen very quickly and causes other nearby fruit to spoil as well.
How to store bananas properly
To cut down on food waste, bananas should be taken out of the fruit bowl and stored on a counter or table in the kitchen. Keep them in a small bowl away from hot areas such as windows, cookers, or air fryers, as heat increases ethylene gas and can accelerate ripening.
Keeping all the bananas connected as a bunch helps regulate the ethylene gas and prevents them from ripening too quickly. A banana hanger can also help, as it saves space and improves air circulation around the fruit.
The best trick for longer shelf life
One of the best ways to extend the shelf life of bananas is to wrap their stems tightly in clingfilm or tin foil. These materials prevent ethylene from escaping into the air and slow down ripening.
Oaks said: “Bananas can be stored for one to two weeks in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and other ripening fruits. Bananas with some brown spots can still be used and will typically be sweeter due to their higher sugar content.”
With this simple wrapping method, bananas should stay fresh and firm for two weeks longer than they usually would, allowing you to buy them without worrying about them going to waste.
