How to Make Bananas Ripen Faster: 10 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to ripen bananas fast? ›

By keeping the bunch intact, your bananas will quickly start to ripen all at the same time. Store bananas in a warm spot: Try placing your bananas next to a heater or on top of the refrigerator. They'll ripen even faster. Use a paper bag: Place bananas in a brown paper bag and loosely fold over the top.

The banana ripening process can be enhanced using artificial ripening agents such as ethylene gas, ethephon, acetylene (emitted from calcium carbide), ethylene glycol, and alkyl alcohols (containing 6-14 carbon atoms such as lauryl alcohol).

You can take advantage of ethylene's ripening properties at home by putting your banana into a closed paper bag; the paper will trap ethylene while letting in enough oxygen to help move the process along. For even faster ripening, add an apple, pear, apricot, or avocado — they also release ethylene.

Bananas that are stored in plastic bags will ripen faster. Instead, keep your bananas at room temperature in a cool, dark place to be sure they receive fresh, well-ventilated air. Bananas sitting in direct sunlight or near the stove will shrivel up and turn brown at a faster rate.

In order to speed up the ripening process, all you need to do is trap the ethene gas in with the banana by putting them in a paper bag – fruit gives off moisture, so you must use a bag that won't trap moisture. Ripening in a bag usually takes a day or so, but can be as speedy as overnight – just keep checking.

Place bananas in warm areas such as near a heater, above your refrigerator, in a sunny spot, or in an oven that's cooling down. In the latter, make sure to check on them frequently. You'll want to pull them out when brown spots begin to form.

To prevent your banana slices from browning, you can use the same trick you've seen for apples: acid! Just toss your banana slices in some lemon juice to inhibit enzymatic browning.

According to Chiquita's website, separating each banana from the bunch is the most effective way of slowing down the ripening process. The large amount of ethylene gas produced by an intact bunch of bananas will ripen them faster.

Place them in a paper bag

The process is simple: As they ripen, bananas release ethylene, a gas that plays a role in their yellow pigment. By putting them inside a bag, the concentration of ethylene increases, which accelerates ripening. Other fruits also produce ethylene.

If they're still green, don't put them in the fridge. The dry, cool atmosphere slows down the ripening process, so green bananas likely won't progress beyond that. Room temperature would be the choice here, away from direct sunlight. Just remember, cool + dry = perfect.

Where is the best place to put bananas? ›

The ideal place to store bananas is on a countertop, away from direct sunlight. They do well in cool, dry places and will continue to ripen when left at room temperature. What is the best way to keep bananas fresh longer? Once bananas are at their peak ripeness, you can store them in the fridge or freezer for later.

Some folks scowl at the thought of putting bananas in the fridge. But if you have a banana that you want to keep perfectly ripe for a few more days, move it to the refrigerator. The cool temperatures help slow down the ripening process so the banana won't turn to mush for a bit longer.

4 Methods to Quickly Ripen Bananas

The freezer method: This method takes several hours. Place unpeeled bananas in a sealable plastic freezer bag and put the whole plastic bag in the freezer until the peels turn black. Then move the bananas to the refrigerator to defrost.