Bananas can stay fresh for up to week if stored with 1 household item

Bananas can go off quickly due to ethylene gas release, but there’s a simple item you can use to help keep them fresh. You probably already have it in your cupboard at home

Many people enjoy a banana, but keeping the fruit fresh can be a real struggle. Something you might not realise is that this beloved fruit deteriorates rather rapidly due to ethylene gas release, which is a natural ripening hormone.

Bananas are picked whilst green and then artificially ripened with additional ethylene before hitting the shops, which accelerates their natural breakdown once they reach your kitchen. Moreover, any knocks or bruises from handling can trigger extra ethylene production, causing them to turn brown and soggy at lightning speed, particularly in confined spaces.

But there’s no need to fret, as a straightforward hack can help extend their lifespan significantly. It’s not the only method you can use to make bananas last longer either.

The issue recently sparked discussion on Reddit, where one user explained: “I’m currently trying to add more fruits to my diet, so I buy bananas, but the problem is they usually all go bad before I have a chance to eat them all.

They continued: “My fiancée and I live in a rural area and the store is kind of far, so we try to only go shopping once per week, so I’ll usually grab a bunch of five or six bananas to eat with my breakfast in the morning.

“I eat one per day but usually, after the third or fourth day, they turn super brown and mushy, and I’m still left with two to three bananas. Is there a way to make them last longer so they can last me all week or at least most of the week?”

One person responded, saying: “Freeze some of them! Then you can also make ‘ice cream’ out of just bananas or easily make smoothies, etc. You could try slicing up one or two and freezing slices.”

Another chimed in with: “Happened with me also. My solution was to grab two ready to eat, two more almost ripe and two more not ripe.”

A third observed: “I saw a trick online where you put a bit of plastic wrap at the point where they connect. It helps make bananas last longer.

“Any bananas that turn super brown, just make smoothies, banana bread and pancakes with them. No need to waste and toss them out.”

Meanwhile, a fourth added: “I use foil and it seems to work better.” One more also contributed: “According to a quick Google search, wrapping it in plastic wrap or aluminium foil reduces the release of ethylene gas. The more ethylene gas it releases, the faster it browns.”

As it happens, the savvy social media user was spot on. Utilising foil can make a significant difference, though you need to master the technique to nail this trick.

How to maintain banana freshness

What you might not realise is that aluminium foil can be used to cover banana stems. This helps delay the ripening process by containing the ethylene gas.

This technique helps extend their lifespan, with some suggesting it can preserve them for as long as seven days. For optimal results, divide the bananas into single stems before wrapping each one securely.

Alternatively, you could try wrapping the whole crown of the bunch. This stops the gas from getting to the fruit and causing it to brown.

Some people reckon this method can keep the fruit fresh for up to 12 days; however, results may differ based on how ripe the bananas were to start with and how they’re stored. It’s definitely worth a shot though.

If your bananas are already ripe, you can pop them in the fridge. Even if the skin is browning, it can help keep the inside firm for longer.