How to store bananas at home so they don't turn black

Tips for choosing bananas

The shelf life of vegetables and fruits depends both on operating conditions, further storage, but also on the initial state of the products. Bananas are stored in various ways, taking into account the structure, type and color of the exotic fruit.

When choosing bananas, it is important to consider several recommendations:

ripe, yellow, soft fruits have a rich taste and aroma, are not used for storage, and are introduced into the diet in the first 1-2 days after purchase;
the peel of a quality fruit should be matte and smooth;
if there are black spots on the product, then it is safe, but they must be consumed on the first day to avoid the onset of the rotting process;
You can buy green bananas, but they need to be kept at room temperature until fully ripe to avoid stress on the digestive system due to their high starch content;
size does not matter when buying an exotic fruit, extra-class bananas are up to 20 cm long, there are also baby bananas - not exceeding 10-12 cm;
a gray tint on the peel indicates that the product has been frozen;
The pulp of a ripe fruit should not be loose, but have a delicate cream color and a pleasant smell.

Interesting to know! The tastiest bananas are located in the middle of the bunch, and therefore, when buying several pieces, it is better to focus on the “center” fruit.

Wrap bananas to keep them longer!

The conclusion of this experiment: Wrapping banana tails will keep them much longer and you'll be less likely to throw them away. This is not only better for the family budget, but also for our planet! As they say, extravagance will not bring you any good.

PS No bananas were harmed in the preparation of this article. We ate them ALL!

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Storage conditions

Ripening of green bananas is carried out according to the following recommendations:

temperature indicators – from +11 to +13 °C, bananas at temperatures above 20 °C quickly become covered with black dots, the flesh becomes loose, and a putrid odor appears;
at low temperatures, the fruit loses its taste and smell;
humidity – within 80-89%, an increase in indicators leads to the process of rotting;
It is important to choose places with ventilation, without direct sunlight on the product.

If you need to speed up the ripening of the fruit, it is recommended to keep it at room temperature up to +15°C and humidity – 85%. Do not place the product near heating appliances or place it in the heat.

You can keep banana peels in perfect shape by frequently spraying the fruit, or mistakenly putting the product in the refrigerator - this option is only suitable for slowing down the spoilage of the product by using methods of freezing or drying the fruit.

I wonder if it is possible to freeze bananas in the skin or only peeled ones, and also whether it is possible to freeze bananas in the freezer without losing their taste and maintaining their beneficial properties.

Benefit for health

It's no secret that bananas are good for your health. They are rich in vitamins, potassium, calcium and iron (which are damn good for the body!), as well as fiber and carbohydrates. Bananas are an ideal healthy product that will preserve your inner well-being and prolong your life! They are also known to lower blood pressure and help with depression and stress. Not bad for a good old banana, huh?

Methods for storing bananas

Unripe bananas must have a solid shell, without visible damage or dents, in order to preserve them correctly.

Attention! Washing bananas at the stage of preparing the product for storage is strictly prohibited! But immediately before use it is necessary to remove the remnants of harmful substances that are used to process exotic products.

How to store green bananas until they are ripe:

the best way to stimulate banana ripening at home is to put exotic fruits, green apples or pears in a paper bag or cardboard box, seal it tightly and get the finished result in 20-30 hours;
In order for fruits to ripen faster in warmth and not spoil - it is important to choose a dark place for storage with optimal humidity and access to air; after 1-2 days the bananas will turn yellow;
green fruits ripen quickly on the kitchen shelf; just wrap the product in newspaper or parchment and put it in a warm place;
Similarly, you can wrap fresh fruit in a linen towel and store it in a box or airtight bag for several days.

Important! To know how to store green bananas at home correctly, it is important to take into account the specifics of fruit ripening. The product, without the participation of the mother plant, produces the hormone ethylene, under the influence of which tannins break down and starch is converted into sugar. With a lack of moisture or spoilage of the fruit, this process intensifies.

Banana harvesting process

The fruits of the banana tree, intended not for the domestic market, but for export to other countries, are usually picked green and unripe. There are several reasons for this:

ripe and overripe bananas are stored for a few days, and the goal of exporters is to extend the sales period to 40 days;

soft ripe fruit is easily damaged during stacking and loading, the peel quickly turns black, and the pulp turns into mush, losing both taste and nutritional qualities;

it is believed that fruits that ripen not on the plantation, but when picked, are more aromatic and sweet;

Bananas attract rodents with their aroma, which destroy a significant part of the crop in massive raids.

Why do bananas turn black and how to preserve them?

Ripe bananas begin to turn black if storage conditions are violated. At the initial stage, they become covered with small black dots, and then with dark spots. To avoid damage to the product, storing bananas at home should be done as follows:

hang a banana bunch - choose a ventilated place with a humidity level of up to 80%;
wrap the tails of each product with foil, which will slow down the process of product spoilage;
To store slices, it is recommended to place the fruits in a plastic container and put them in the freezer, and then use them for baking or smoothies.

You can artificially perform the stage of overripening tropical fruits by placing unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and placing them in the oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 150 °C. Once the allotted time is complete, leave the fruit for another 10 minutes until it becomes tender and soft. Let the bananas cool and squeeze out the cores like a tube of toothpaste. The resulting pulp is juicy and has a pleasant aroma.

These bananas will keep in the refrigerator for several days and will not lose their taste.

Is it possible to eat blackened bananas?

It is best to heat-process blackened tropical fruits to avoid flatulence and problems with the digestive tract. When purchasing such a banana in a store, inspect the product for the presence of putrefactive zones; at the consumption stage, it is recommended to make puree or add the product to baked goods.

Storing bananas at low temperatures

Knowing how to store bananas at home at low temperatures will not only allow you to enjoy your favorite fruit for a long time, but also avoid distortion of the taste and smell of the product.

The first thing you need to know is how to store bananas in the refrigerator at home - at what temperature to store the tropical fruit. The answer is to store ripe fruits on the refrigerator door, increasing the period of consumption of the product by several days.

Second, is it possible to freeze unripe bananas or is it necessary to first carry out the process of ripening the tropical fruit. The answer is that at temperatures below 9 °C, the process of decomposition of an enzyme such as polyphenol oxidase begins, which leads to the oxidation of tannins and the formation of quinones (pungent odor, dark color).

This is why bananas cannot be stored in the refrigerator or frozen with the skins on. However, peeled fruits without peels and visible damage can be stored in the freezer as follows:

crush the pulp into puree, place in a plastic container and remove to a prepared place (it is recommended to add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per 200 ml of puree);
Peel the fruit and cut into slices, dry slightly, place on a baking sheet and place in the freezer to cool each piece, then sort the workpiece into tight sealed bags.

If we talk about how to properly store bananas at home using the freezing method, then the storage temperature should be between -18⁰C and -22⁰C. Shelf life – up to 3 months.

Thirdly, is it possible to store bananas in the refrigerator after dark spots or dots appear on the fruit. It is a proven fact that during cooling the peel will not stop deforming, but the flesh of the product will remain fresh for another 2-3 days.

If we talk about the temperature at which to store bananas at home after purchase, then the best conditions for them in an apartment are in a dark, cool place and with sufficient humidity (additionally, you can install special humidifiers or use containers with water).

Attention! To the question - is it possible to freeze bananas several times, experts answer - no. The result is a loss of not only taste and aroma, but also all useful components; in addition, the pulp will become mushy, without maintaining structure and color.

Is it possible to store fruit in the refrigerator in a plastic bag without freezing? This is not recommended, since the process of spoilage of the product will occur faster, especially since a “rotten” smell may appear. For this purpose, it is best to use parchment bags.

If we talk about whether it is possible to store bananas in the refrigerator in a special compartment for fruit, then this option is suitable for fruits that have just begun to turn black or become covered with dark spots. Lowering the temperature will extend the shelf life of products by several days.

But is it possible to freeze bananas for the winter in the form of jam or marmalade? This method of preserving even spoiled fruit will allow you to enjoy natural sweets throughout the year.

Popular recipe:

grind 10 medium-sized fruits into pulp;
grind the puree with a glass of sugar and 4 tbsp. lemon juice;
Boil the mixture and keep it on low heat for several minutes, covered;
transfer the cooled mass into plastic containers or sealed bags and place in the freezer.

Here's how to properly store bananas in the refrigerator to prevent them from spoiling and changing their flavor profile.

How to store bananas so that they do not spoil for as long as possible?

Let's look at proven life hacks that will help you with this.

What can and cannot be done?

First, let's find out what we can and can't do with bananas to make sure we're doing everything right...

What not to do:

do not put them in the refrigerator ! Bananas are not used to cold climates (they grow in hot countries), refrigeration stops the production of ethylene gas. That is, they will not ripen, or worse, the skin will turn black;
do not store bananas together with other fruits , because they will ripen faster (unless you have unripe fruits - then go ahead).

What you should do:

store in a cool place . If it's too warm, the bananas will ripen too quickly. If it's too cold (like in a refrigerator), they may not ripen at all;
store them separately and not with other fruits or vegetables.

Life hacks for storing bananas

You can properly store tropical fruits in the freezer as follows - put the banana pulp into portioned ice cube trays and cool. Afterwards, you can add this delicacy to children’s cereals, smoothies, and fruit salads.
An original way to store ripe bananas at home is to dry them. Carry out the drying process using a special dryer or in the oven, you can also use a convection oven. Store the workpiece in airtight containers, avoiding midges or moths.
To prepare bananas for the winter, they are frozen in their entire form, only removing the peel. To do this, you need to lay the fruits on the deco, maintaining a distance so that the fruits do not stick together. After freezing, use the slices for baking.
A practical way to freeze the pulp of a tropical fruit is to mix it into homemade ice cream and then enjoy a fruit dessert. The shelf life of bananas in this form increases to six months.
Where is the best place to store bananas purchased for future use? It is recommended to place the fruit in a dark cellar or pantry, and to protect against “bedsores”, hang the bunches separately from one another. You can also place the fruit in dry sawdust or straw - be sure to periodically check the appearance of the products.
You can store green bananas without violating temperature conditions and freezing in a dark paper bag, along with tomatoes and avocados. All products will ripen one by one, extending the shelf life of the products.
You can preserve peeled bananas by sprinkling them with citrus juice, apple juice or vinegar. To ensure that the banana pulp remains snow-white on the holiday table for a long time, it is recommended to pre-soak it in a vinegar solution - a ratio of 1 to 4 (application time - 3 minutes).