Bananas are great for your overall health, are great for your gut health, and are great for your wallet! As they ripen, they change from green to yellow to brown as their starches convert into sugar (see more on that here), but what else should you be looking for when selecting a good bunch of bananas? This post is all about how to select and store bananas in order to be able to enjoy them to their fullest.
(This post is an excerpt from The Produce Nerd’s Grocery Guide, with input provided by Rita Nassur, who used to be a Professor and now works in Research & Development, and specializes in bananas, among other fruit. You can learn more about the Grocery Guide, which covers this information for 55 different produce items, with input from 26 crop-specific companies HERE.)
What to look for when picking the best quality bananas?
- No external bruising
- A good insertion in the peduncle
- A green peduncle
- The number of fruit per peduncle (you should avoid less than 4)
- Skin color. Bananas should be between ripeness stages 1-4 at the time of purchase (you can see a skin color reference chart for this here).
Common issues to avoid when selecting bananas?
- Black spots (overripe bananas)
- Slits near the peduncle
Are there any common issues that are specifically caused by bad grocery store handling?
- If the market has exposed the fruit to low temperatures, it will result in bananas with a grayish peel, blackened vascular tissues in the shell and changes in the taste of the pulp.
- The incidence of cold damage depends on the maturation stage of the bananas, temperature and storage time. The greener the fruit, the lower the temperature and the longer the exposure time to the low temperature, will result in greater damage.
What is the best way to store bananas at home?
- Room temperature (never in the refrigerator)
- Avoid temperatures above 75°F (24°C)
What is your favorite way to eat and prepare bananas?
- Banana smoothie
- Green bananas can be used in the production of flour, starch and chips for bakery products
- Ripe bananas can be made into syrup, dehydrated banana, chips, jellies, etc.
For more on bananas:
For more on how to select and store your favorite produce items: