The Best Ways To Store Bananas

How to Store Bananas!  These easy tips will prevent your bananas from turning brown!  Food storage tricks includes storing with other fruit, plastic wrap, banana trees, in fridge and how to freeze bananas!  Learn the best ways to store bananas and keep them green for longer!

How to Keep Bananas Fresh

If you guys know me, then you know I love bananas!   In fact, there’s a ongoing joke on my Instagram because I’m often carrying a banana!  Bananas are my go to breakfast, and my favorite snack. I can’t get enough of them!

I’m picky about bananas though – they can’t be too green and they can’t be too brown.  Actually, they can’t be brown.  As soon as I see a brown spot on the banana peel (or worse the banana itself!) then I know it’s time to freeze these bananas (hello Banana Smoothie!) and buy new ones.

Using my tips below, learn the best ways to store bananas to keep them PERFECT longer!

The Best Ways to Store Bananas

Bananas. You can use potassium-rich fruit in so many ways and even enjoy it on its own. Bananas are, however, quite fickle. Doesn’t it seem like they’re green one moment and a brown mushy mess the next? Try these methods to store bananas and keep them fresh for when you want them.

Leave Bananas in a Bunch:

Experiments have been run regarding whether bananas ripened quicker when in a bunch or together. The difference is very subtle but almost unanimously the results show that bananas left attached in a bunch will ripen a bit slower. Store bananas leaving them attached and out of the plastic bag.

Hang Banana Bunch:

If you eat a lot of bananas, a banana tree is a good investment. It hangs the fruit by the combined stems and allows air to evenly circulate around each fruit. This will eliminate “resting bruises” from the fruit laying on each other.

The one below not your style? Check out this modern bamboo tree.

Store Bananas in a Bowl:

You can leave bananas in a bowl and still avoid bruises. Simple]y place the bunch with their curved side facing the bottom of the bowl. This lets the fruit on top dangle away from the bottom fruits.

Wrap Banana Stems:

Bananas release ethylene gas through their stems. The more gas that is released, the riper the fruit. So by wrapping the ends of the stems in plastic wrap, you prevent or slow down this gas from escaping.

Keep Unripe Bananas at Room Temp:

Bananas are a tropical fruit and love warm weather. They do not do well in colder temperatures. If you chill your bananas before they are ripe it’s likely they will not be as sweet once you do consume them. Store bananas at room temperature until you eat them or they are fully ripe.

Where to Store Bananas Once Ripe:

Just because a banana is brown doesn’t mean it’s gone bad. Even black bananas, as scary as they look, can be used in banana ice cream. However, once your bananas have reached their ideal level of ripeness to your standard, you can place them in the fridge.

Store them without any bags in the produce drawer. There is some debate whether it’s best to separate the bananas once they are ripe and in the fridge. Some claim it will keep them fresher, longer. Others disagree. So you may have to experiment with your own!

BONUS: Store your ripe bananas next to other unripe fruit. The unripe fruit will slow the ripening process of the bananas, and the ripe bananas will help ripen the unripe fruit!

Store Bananas With Other Fruit:

Inversely from the bonus tip above, if you store bananas with ripe fruit, it will hasten the bananas ripening. Keep in mind that in the fridge the skin may still turn black, but the fruit inside will be fresh and firm.

How to Store Sliced or Partial Bananas:

Not everything gets eaten all at once, especially if you have kids.

If you have a leftover half of a banana, cover the open end with plastic wrap, cover the end with the stem in plastic wrap, and store in your produce drawer in the fridge.

It’s still best to eat it fairly soon after as it will still get mushy in a couple of days. Store banana slices in a baggie or bowl in the fridge. Add a little bit of lemon juice, pineapple juice, or vinegar to keep them fresher even longer.

How to Freeze Bananas:

Yes! Bananas can be frozen! It’s best to peel them first, put them in a freezer bag, and freeze them. They will stay good for 1-3 months. Freeze banana slices for handy access to use in smoothies!

Keep Bananas Out of the Sun:

As mentioned above, bananas love tropical heat, but if you want them to last longer, keep them out of direct sunlight. The sunlight will ripen the bananas much quicker with it’s added warmth.

What to do with Overripe bananas:

Did you wait too long? No worries! Overripe bananas can still be used, so don’t toss them! Use them to make banana bread, banana muffins, banana cookies, donuts, pancakes, pudding, etc.

Bananas On The Go:

It may seem silly, but there are specific containers made to carry whole bananas. They really are useful though for keeping a banana ripe and from getting squished in your lunch.  Try to prevent keeping bananas in a bookbag as they will ripen faster this way.  If you’re taking them on a road trip,  keep them out of the sun in the car.

I hope this article helps you!

Looking for more fruit storage tips?  Check out all my food storage tips!

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