Why you should always store yellow bananas in the fridge

Bananas now face intense competition because there are plenty of local seasonal fruits. However, we are accustomed to them and treat them as a year-round snack. So, it's worth knowing how to store them. Should we put them in the fridge during such hot weather?

It’s a simple trick, and thanks to it, bananas will stay fresh and firm for up to a week longer. This idea came from a cookbook author. It might surprise many of us because, until now, this place wasn’t recommended for storing bananas.

Of course, it’s about the fridge. Bananas have long been on the list of fruits and vegetables that should not be placed there as they lose their taste and aroma. Linda Tyler, renowned in the culinary world for her cookbooks and popular website Gracious Vegan, has a different opinion. She believes storing yellow bananas in the fridge can delay their ripening process.

Linda Tyler noticed that bananas placed in the fridge right after losing their green tint retain firmness and taste for up to a week longer than those kept at room temperature.

However, it’s crucial to assess the ripeness of the bananas accurately. If the fruits are too green when placed in the fridge, they won’t yield good results. They won’t start to ripen at all. It all depends, of course, on what kind of bananas we prefer.

Choice and colour          

• Green bananas are firm and not very sweet. They have the most starch and the least sugar, making them suitable for dieters and diabetics. Slightly green ones are tastier—they are sweeter and much easier to digest.
• Yellow bananas are considered fully ripe. They have no spots on the skin and are sweet. They contain carbohydrates and fibre and quickly provide a feeling of fullness. Recommended for children, they are also beneficial after infections. Store them in a cool, dark place to slow the ripening process.
• Brown – the darker the banana, the sweeter it is. The flesh becomes very soft and can be used as a sugar substitute, e.g., in cakes, smoothies, or pancakes. Such fruits are straightforward to digest.

During summer, we buy a lot of different fruits. It’s important to remember that bananas don’t like company, and it’s better not to place them in a fruit bowl with others, especially apples and citrus fruits. This significantly accelerates their softening. Like many other fruits, Bananas produce ethylene, which helps them ripen. When surrounded by other ethylene-producing fruits, they will develop spots much quicker. Therefore, it's best to store bananas separately. You can even wrap their stems in plastic to slow ethylene production.