EBN- Most people don’t realize that they’re storing bananas in the worst possible place in their kitchen.
It may seem obvious that bananas are best stored in a fruit bowl, but in reality, this is one of the worst places to store them because they will quickly go bad and become soft.
However, you can extend the shelf life of bananas for weeks by keeping them away from certain foods, according to the British newspaper, Express.
Ethylene gas
It is known that most fruits produce a substance called ethylene gas, which is a natural growth hormone responsible for making the fruit ripen so that it becomes more flavorful and tasty.
However, when too much fruit is stacked on top of each other, it will release a lot of ethylene gas into the air, which will cause all nearby produce to expire at a faster rate and spoil within days.
Short life
Bananas have a really short lifespan and are not only very sensitive to ethylene gas, but they release a lot of it from their stems, so it’s best to keep them away from other fruit if possible.
Experts recommend storing bananas next to citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons because they are not affected by the gas, but other fruits without a protective peel should not be stored with bananas.
Apple and pear
They also explained that “ethylene, which is released by bananas, can affect many other fruits, such as apples and pears, so you should keep bananas separate from these fruits unless you intentionally want them to ripen faster.
It should also not be stored next to avocados unless you want them to ripen quickly, and they should also be kept away from honey, mango, peaches, and plums.
Banana finger crown dam
If one wants to keep bananas fresh, it is best to place them in a separate container away from the fruit bowl and then prevent the bananas from producing ethylene gas by wrapping their stems.
Experts explained that “if the crown of the banana fingers is sealed with plastic wrap or silver foil, the gas can be prevented from escaping and the ripening process can be significantly slowed down,” noting that “this method can give an additional 3 to 5 days on the natural ripening scale.
Refrigerate
Once the bananas turn yellow and are just starting to get mottled, they can be placed in the refrigerator which will slow down the ethylene gas and stop them from ripening completely.
While it may seem strange, it is often a misconception that bananas cannot be stored in the refrigerator because they are from a warm climate, but it is actually one of the best places to store them to extend their shelf life.
Experts explained that “bananas can be stored in the refrigerator to maintain their firmness and flavour. Although the peel turns brown, the fruit inside remains light in colour.”
Green banana
Banana peels may turn black due to cold weather, but the fruit inside will remain fresh.
So bananas can be kept for a longer period, taking into account not to store green bananas in the refrigerator because this step will prevent them from turning yellow and affecting their taste.
The experts concluded by advising that it is better to keep bananas away from some fruits, then wait until they turn yellow to wrap their stems and put them in the refrigerator, which can keep them fresh for two weeks longer than usual.
