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Oh, bananas! Who doesn’t love them? The sweet fruit that is rich in potassium and other healthy nutrients. I bet you like eating them too. But what is the best way to store bananas so that they last longer?
Can you put banana in the fridge? Yes, you can put bananas in the refrigerator to stop them from ripening or spoiling too quickly, but they should be ripe already. If you put them in while they are still unripe, they won’t ripen at all – not even after you take them out of the fridge. And their skin will turn black.
Therefore, you should only refrigerate bananas that are already ripe but still yellow, and they can stay in the fridge for up to one week or two.
Why Should You Refrigerate Bananas?
Some people believe that refrigerating bananas can reduce the risk of a foodborne illness.
Bananas can be unsafe to eat if they are bruised, have brown spots or develop an off odor. Once these problems occur, it is essential to throw them away because there is no way for them to regenerate.
The cold can also help bananas last longer. If you are not going to be consuming the banana in a few days, it is best to refrigerate them and eat them within one week.
Bananas can actually ripen faster when they’re stored in a refrigerator rather than being left on your countertop or tabletop for too long.
Bananas can develop black spots on their skin when they are stored in your refrigerator. This can be a sign that the banana is ready to eat or will not last as long as its fresh counterparts.
What Happens If You Refrigerate Bananas?
Refrigerating a banana can, sometimes, cause it to ripen much faster. If they’re stored at room temperature, bananas will start to brown and develop an unpleasant flavor after about three days while still being edible for up to five or six more days.
If refrigerated, the ripening process can be sped up considerably. In fact, a banana can go from being utterly green to brown in just two days if it’s kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit!
While bananas can last for quite some time when stored this way – anywhere from 9 months to 1 year – they also start breaking down more quickly than un-refrigerated bananas.
They can become slimy and mushy, which can make them taste bad if you intend to eat them raw.
Instead of refrigerating your banana(s), you can place a green one in the fridge for up to four days when you’re ready to use it – just be sure that it’s still firm and can stand up on its own.
Frozen bananas can also be used to make a variety of tasty treats, such as ice cream or smoothies!
You can put banana in the fridge, but it will go bad more quickly than if you left it at room temperature.
How Long Can You Keep Bananas In The Fridge?
Bananas can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The banana will start turning brown after a few days, and it’s best to eat them before they get too ripe.
Bananas can turn even browner when refrigerated, but that doesn’t change their nutritional value or taste.
Why You Shouldn’t Put Bananas In The Fridge
Bananas can be kept in the fridge, but there are a few reasons why you shouldn’t put them there.
They can go bad and turn black quicker because it’s colder; they can also lose their flavor more quickly than if they were stored somewhere else, like on a kitchen counter or pantry shelf.
However, bananas can also be stored in the fridge if you want to use them for baking – they can help add moisture and prevent cookies from being dry.
The best place to store bananas is somewhere cool, but not cold.”
How To Store Bananas in Fridge
Bananas can be stored in the fridge. In fact, they can even last for up to a month this way! This is because of their low water content and high sugar levels, which act as preservatives that help prevent them from rotting too quickly.
But before storing bananas in your refrigerator, you should make sure there are no other fruits or vegetables that can contaminate them, such as apples or tomatoes.
Of course, you should also keep in mind that bananas stored at cold temperatures will be more difficult to peel than those left out on the countertop and can affect their texture if eaten raw.
If you plan on eating your banana mashed or baked into a recipe, then it won’t really matter if the banana is cold or not.
To store bananas in your fridge, place them on a plate lined with parchment paper and either leave it out for an hour (to let it release some of its moisture) before putting it into the refrigerator. You can also wrap each one individually in plastic film to seal out any other aromas. You can also peel and cut the banana before storing it in a plastic bag.
To store bananas on your counter, leave them out for an hour to release their moisture first or put each one individually into its own small paper bag.
If using bags, make sure you seal them shut with tape so they can’t spill over onto other fruits nearby! You can also wrap them in a damp paper towel to prevent browning, but you can take the towel off once it’s inside your refrigerator.
Storing Bananas In The Fridge Vs Counter
Watch the short video below to learn about the major differences between storing bananas in the fridge vs keeping them on the counter:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does putting bananas in the fridge ruin them?
No, putting bananas in the fridge does not ruin them, but it can affect their taste. The chilling injury in refrigerated bananas can also lead to the loss of vitamin C in bananas.
Do bananas last longer in the fridge?
Yes, according to Mimi Morley, a Senior Chef at the HelloFresh blog, “keeping bananas in the fridge can make them last up to one week longer than they would in a fruit bowl. Although the skin of the banana will turn to brown with time, the flesh will remain unchanged.”
Does putting foil on bananas work?
Yes, wrapping the crown of a bunch of bananas with foil helps to slightly slow down the ripening process. Like many fruits, bananas release ethylene gas, a type of gas that controls enzymatic browning and ripening of both the banana and other nearby fruits.
Do bananas ripen faster in a bunch or separated?
Bananas basically ripen much faster when separated than when in a bunch.
Should you keep bananas in a plastic bag?
Yes, keeping bananas in a plastic bag is very advisable as this will help maintain freshness and extend their ripeness.
Does freezing a banana ruin it?
Freezing bananas does not entirely ruin them, but it can reduce their nutritional quality as well as their taste and texture.
Can old frozen bananas make you sick?
No, frozen bananas won’t make you sick. Frozen bananas will always be safe to eat as long as they are stored at a constant temperature of 0 °F (-17.8 °C).
Conclusion | Can You Put Banana In The Fridge?
As you can see, you can put bananas in the fridge without issues. But remember to only put bananas that are already ripe but still yellow in the fridge.
If the bananas are still unripe, avoid putting them in the fridge as that will make them not to ripen at all, even if you later remove them from the refrigerator.
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