We store so many other fruits in the fridgewhy not bananas?
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Let me tell you a tale as old as time.
No problem, you think.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
You’ll just let them get really ripe, then you’ll bake a loaf ofbanana bread.
Now I know you’re thinking: There must be a better way.
Can you refrigerate bananas?
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What about the freezer?
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How Long Will Bananas Last?
Once you bring home your bananas, they’ll last for about six days or so.
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What this means is that bananas are best stored at room temperature.
So your countertop really is the right place for them.
After all, have you ever seen bananas stored in the fridge at the supermarket?
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
I didn’t think so.
Should You Refrigerate Bananas?
When Should You Refrigerate Bananas?
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell
Stashing your bananas in the refrigerator can slightly prolong the fruit’s lifebut there’s a caveat.
When it comes to refrigerating bananas, timing is everything.
Refrigerating bananas will slow or stop the ripening process, preserving the fruit at its current state.
For starters, bananas, being tropical fruits, are very temperature-sensitive.
The cold temperature of the fridge will cause the skin of the bananas to darken after a few days.
Additionally, storing bananas at lower than desired temperaturesbelow 55.4 degreescould bring upon “chilling injury.
“This causes a bitter flavor and discoloration in the fruit.
The bananas will also soften abnormally and decay faster.
Should You Freeze Bananas?
Freezing your bananas completely stops the ripening process.
you’re able to freeze bananas whole or sliced into pieces.
If freezing whole, you might do so unpeeled or peeled and stored in a freezer bag.
If freezing slices, flash-freeze them first and then put them in a freezer-safe container.
See below for a few of our favorite recipes.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.Storing Fresh Produce.
California Department of Education.Proper Storage Temperatures for USDA Foods.
Published September 11, 2024.
2020;9(7):894.
Published 2020 Jul 8. doi:10.3390/foods9070894
Naeve L. StoreFresh Garden Produce Properly.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Small Farm Sustainability.
2016;71(2):115-122.
