A new viral TikTok has revealed how to store bananas to keep them fresher for longer – and it turns out the advice most people have been given is incorrect
Brits tossing out overripe bananas might just have found salvation in a clever food preservation trick. Camilla, the kitchen genius from Fabfood4all.co.uk, has shattered a widely held belief about banana storage with a tip that’s causing quite the buzz on TikTok.
In her viral TikTok video, Camilla confesses: «It appears I may have been living a lie my entire life. I was always told that you can’t keep bananas in the fridge because they go black.» Sparked by her daughter’s university friends who swear by refrigerating their bananas, Camilla embarked on an experiment of her own.
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She explained: «Last week my daughter told me that all her university mates keep their bananas in the fridge so I kept these bananas in the fridge for four whole days once they [went] ripe.
«Usually, they would be completely black and spotty by now, so I’m going to peel one and find out if it’s true, can you actually store a banana in the fridge without it turning black.»
To her amazement, she discovered a perfectly ripe banana inside, reports the Express. She couldn’t help but exclaim: «You learn something new every day.»
Adding to her initial post, she confirmed that keeping them cool «definitely extends their life» and shared her disbelief: «I can’t tell you how shocked I am.»
So, it seems the cool environment of your refrigerator could indeed be the secret to maintaining those bananas in prime condition for an extended period.
Banana skins will maintain their yellow hue for a few days in the fridge, but with extended storage, they’ll eventually darken to black. However, they remain perfectly edible.
The fruit encased within the blackened peel will retain its yellow colour, freshness and firmness. They’ll continue to be fit for consumption for approximately two weeks post-purchase. Only refrigerate ripe, yellow bananas as green ones won’t mature in the cold.
Storing bananas in the fridge is generally more beneficial than leaving them in a fruit bowl. This is because most fruits emit a growth hormone known as ethylene gas, which can accelerate spoilage when fruits are stored collectively.
Refrigerating bananas isolates them from other fruits, thereby prolonging their shelf life.
However, if you’re lacking fridge space, consider wrapping the stems in cling film. This method can inhibit the dispersion of ethylene gas, keeping bananas fresher for an extended period.
