The Best Way to Store Bananas to Keep Them Fresh (2024)

FAQs

The Best Way to Store Bananas to Keep Them Fresh? ›

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.

No matter what, the best thing to do to keep bananas fresh longer is to wrap the stems in plastic. The stems produce the ethylene gas that ripens the fruit (and anything around it). The plastic will act as a barrier to contain the gas and extend the longevity of the fruit.

Bananas are picked green and ideally kept at a temperature of 57 degrees for shipping. Much colder than that will turn them rotten. Before they hit the produce department at the store, they're placed in an air-tight ripening vault filled with ethylene gas.

It's generally not recommended to store bananas in an ordinary plastic bag, as this traps moisture.

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. Don't worry if the peel turns brown or even black in the fridge; the fruit should still be good.

Store ripe fruit in the refrigerator. This not only extends their freshness but also keeps fruit flies at bay. Alternatively, you can also store bananas in a separate, sealable container to prevent the release of ethylene gas that ripens other fruits.

Cover the stem ends of each banana with plastic wrap or aluminium foil to reduce the release of ethylene gas. Bananas release high amounts of ethylene gas, which accelerates the proces of browning. Thus, to slow it down, separate the bananas from the bunch and then store them.

While you might only want to buy the fruit holder if bananas are a staple in your kitchen, it is a very easy way to keep them good longer. By hanging the bananas, air can move between the bananas more easily and help move the released ethylene gas away from the fruit to keep it from ripening.

Ditch the Plastic Bag

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.

Wrap banana stems in plastic wrap

Bananas start ripening as soon as they're picked from trees because ethylene gas releases from the stems. Wrapping those stems with plastic wrap or aluminum foil slows down the ripening process. Some grocery stores sell bunches of bananas with plastic wrap already on the stems.

Should I keep bananas in a plastic bag? ›

Putting ethylene-producing fruits in an enclosed space helps to concentrate the ethylene and speed up ripening. One well-known strategy is to put bananas or avocadoes inside a paper bag to ripen faster. It's generally not recommended to store bananas in an ordinary plastic bag, as this traps moisture.

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.

Hang your bananas on a banana hanger. Those cute hangers keep bananas from taking up valuable kitchen counter space, but, more importantly, they promote air circulation, enabling ethylene gas to move away from the bananas so they ripen more slowly.