Bananas: How to Preserve Them for a Long Time

First they blacken, then they rot, and finally they end up in the garbage. banane They are among the most consumed and most wasted fruits by Italians, and fruit tops the list of food waste by type. A vicious cycle, from which there is only one way out: by preventing bananas from turning black, and then rotting, and by storing them with a few simple precautions. To preserve bananas, even for long periods, there are some tricks to follow.

• A first method consists in getting some juice Lemon; – lime – ananas orange (The choice is yours based on your taste) and drizzle the sliced ​​bananas with the juice of your choice, or alternatively, soak them in the liquid for a few minutes. Then use the sliced ​​bananas to make a delicious fruit salad.
• If, however, you don't want the bananas to turn brown while still protected by their peel, simply get some cling film and wrap it around the base: this will slow down the ripening and aging process.
• Bananas should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight. Refrigeration is not necessary. Instead, once a banana is ripe, to avoid browning the other bananas in the bunch, only pick the one you're going to eat, thus avoiding damaging the stems.
• Don't place bananas, especially a bunch of bananas, next to fruits that emit ethylene gas, such as apples. This can cause them to quickly turn brown. On the other hand, if you want to speed up the ripening of bananas, simply place them in a paper towel with an apple.

Not in the refrigerator

There are at least two good reasons to avoid storing bananas in the refrigerator. First, the low temperatures accelerate the fruit's oxidation, and paradoxically, while we think this way we're preserving it better, we're actually just encouraging it to turn brown. Second, bananas don't ripen properly in the refrigerator and lose their flavor. Even when you eat them, if you notice, their flavor is more complete and authentic when they're at room temperature.

When can they go in the freezer?

Bananas, a feel-good food, can be stored in the freezer, provided there's a specific purpose, such as using them in desserts, special recipes, or smoothies. However, it's not recommended to store bananas in the freezer and then eat them whole, like a regular fruit platter. Bananas should be placed in the freezer sliced ​​(ready to use once thawed) or blended.

How to buy bananas

Even with bananas, waste can be avoided at the source: with shopping. There are three ways to purchase bananas:

• yellow, but with tips and a green part (not very ripe);
• yellow with an intense hue (rather ripe);
• yellow with brown spots, a kind of dots (they are very ripe).

If you plan to eat your bananas immediately or within the day, it's best to choose the riper ones, the ones with speckles. They have a more intense and pleasant flavor. Otherwise, opt for quite ripe or even unripe bananas: you'll have a few days to consume them. Don't squash them while shopping, and as soon as you get home, remove them from the plastic bag and store them as we've suggested in this article.

Recipes with bananas

There are many recipes This allows you to use overripe, blackened bananas. They're sweet and delicious, making your dishes tastier. You'll also avoid unnecessary waste.

• Banana CookiesMade with shortcrust pastry and a hint of chocolate. Excellent for breakfast.
• Banana ice cream. Ideal for dessert.
• Banana BreadWith dried fruit and bitter cocoa
• Caramelized bananas. The ideal recipe to avoid wasting overripe ones.
• Banana donutTo be dipped, sliced, in milk soup.
• Banana jamSimple and delicious.

Read also:

• Peaches: properties, benefits and varieties
• Papaya: Properties, Benefits, and Culinary Uses
• Lemon: properties, benefits, and contraindications

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date. Click here!