Benefits of Bananas
Bananas are a very healthy food, rich in antioxidants. Dopamine and catechin, along with potassium and magnesium in bananas, help promote cardiovascular health and prevent certain diseases.
Science has shown that bananas can improve digestive health because they contain pectin and resistant starch. Pectin can also prevent colon cancer. Additionally, bananas are low in calories, making them a good choice if you want a light meal without gaining weight.
How Long Do Ripe Bananas Last?
If you buy ripe bananas and plan to consume them in 1-2 days, there is no need to put them in the fridge. Bananas can be safely stored at room temperature for a short period of time, but they should be kept away from direct sunlight. If you want to preserve bananas for a longer period of time, the fridge is the perfect place. You can store bananas in the fridge for up to 1 week if they are in good condition.
How to Store Bananas in the Fridge
Ripe bananas come in two forms, peeled and unpeeled. Below are detailed instructions on how to store bananas in the fridge.
Unpeeled Bananas
Room temperature is a good condition for storing ripe bananas. You don’t need to put them in the fridge because you can eat them within 2 days. Make sure to store them at a temperature around 12 degrees and avoid sunlight.
If you want to preserve bananas for a week, you should put them in the fridge. When you see bananas are yellow and have some brown spots, it means they are ripe. If you don’t want to consume them immediately, it’s time to refrigerate them. You have to wrap the bananas before storing. Here are two methods to do it.
Method 1: Wrap the Stems
First, separate the bananas from the bunch. Next, use a layer of cling wrap to wrap the stems, helping the bananas stay fresh longer.
Method 2: Wrap the Bunch
You will often see this method in supermarkets. It means bananas are covered with a layer of cling wrap that completely seals the entire bunch. But you should remember this. When putting bananas in the fridge, leave some space, do not place them near other fruits.
Note: When you put bananas in the fridge, the peel of the bananas will easily turn black and black spots will start to appear after a while. However, this is not always a sign of spoilage, most likely the inner flesh is still fresh.
Peeled Bananas
Storing peeled bananas is as easy as storing unpeeled bananas. One additional step is to cut or mash the bananas. The size depends on your preference. The important thing is that peeled bananas can easily turn brown when exposed to air.
To keep them yellow, sprinkle some lemon juice or coconut water on the bananas. Put the bananas in a sealed plastic bag, a container, or wrap them in aluminum or plastic wrap. You can keep peeled bananas fresh for 3-4 days in the fridge.
By Minh Minh – Vietnamnet