There are few things more disappointing than reaching into a fruit bowl for a banana only to find the peel is squidgy, brown and beginning to emit a dreadful sour odour. Bananas can be a particularly frustrating fruit as they deteriorate very rapidly in summer, which not only wastes money but also tends to draw flies into your kitchen.
However, Michèle Borer from storage specialists Bins and Boxes has revealed that keeping bananas fresh during warm weather can be surprisingly straightforward, as all you really need is to store them wrapped in cling film. Michèle said: “[Bananas] ripen through the release of ethylene, which is a natural ripening gas. It has a particularly strong effect at high temperatures.”
View 4 ImagesBananas are more likely to rot and attract flies in the summer(Image: Getty)
He added: “Wrap the stem of the banana in cling film or a beeswax cloth to slow down the ripening process.”
Ethylene gas has been developed to soften bananas and make them sweeter, making them more palatable for humans to eat, but it also accelerates ripening.
Bananas tend to produce considerably more ethylene at higher temperatures, which explains why they spoil at a quicker rate during summer, though other fruits can also emit significant quantities of this gas.
When excessive ethylene accumulates in the surrounding air, it can cause all nearby fruit to begin rotting rather than simply ripening, and since bananas are particularly sensitive to ethylene, they tend to deteriorate first.
Not only does this result in wasted food, but at this time of year, the smell of fermenting fruit will also draw in flies, potentially encouraging them to invade your home throughout the summer months.
View 4 ImagesWrapping bananas in cling film or tin foil can keep them fresh for longer(Image: Katherine McPhillips)
A straightforward way to slow this process down is to wrap the banana stem tightly, which helps to reduce ethylene in the surrounding air and keeps it fresher for longer.
Clingfilm works a treat for this, and tin foil or beeswax cloth are equally handy alternatives depending on what you have to hand at home.
It’s best to steer clear of baking paper, however, as it is highly breathable, allowing more air to escape and preventing ethylene from being contained effectively.
View 4 ImagesSimply wrap the banana stems, and they should stay fresh at least a week longer.(Image: Katherine McPhillips)
Many people choose to keep bananas separate from their fruit bowl because they release considerably more ethylene than other fruits, and storing them alone can help keep everything fresher for longer.
Keeping bananas in a bowl on a kitchen worktop, well away from a fruit bowl, and wrapping the stems can help them remain yellow rather than turning brown.
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If you store bananas using the clingfilm method, they should stay fresh for at least a week longer than usual, and in some cases up to two weeks, depending on how warm your kitchen tends to be.