1. Got green bananas? Put them next to ripe fruit
Are your bananas a little green around the gills? Don’t let that put you off. If you want to speed up the ripening process, put them in a fruit bowl with other ripe fruit (such as other ripe bananas), or wrap in a brown paper bag. For double quick ripening, add a piece of ripe fruit to the paper bag. Phew!
2. Now they’re ripe! Time to separate them from the bunch
Separating bananas from the bunch will also keep them from ripening quickly, as will popping ripe bananas in the fridge. The skin may darken but the fruit inside will stay mellow yellow.
3. Store with under-ripe fruit
Storing ripe bananas with underripe fruit such as an avocado with not only slow down the banana, but speed up the avocado ripening. Who knew?
4. Freeze them
Got a rapidly ripening banana in your fruit bowl but don’t have time to use it that day? Our #FoodSavvy secret is to peel and freeze ripe bananas until you’re ready to use them.
5) Cook with them
The browner the banana, the more natural sugar it contains, making it a perfect ingredient for healthier treats. Search ‘banana’ in our recipes for lots of inspiring recipes.
Made any of these banana saving bakes? We'd love to see them. Post a picture of what you make and tag #BananaDrama.
How green are bananas?
Although bananas travel thousands of miles to arrive on our supermarket shelves, their eco-credentials are not too shabby. They are grown in natural sunlight, which is kinder on the planet than energy-intensive hot housing, and are normally shipped rather than flown. Also their sturdy skin means bananas need little or no packaging. Just make sure to seek out Fairtrade or organic bunches whenever you can.
