The cling film trick to keep bananas fresh longer
Bananas can be challenging to store as they quickly transition from green and unripe to soft and speckled with dark spots. However, there is a straightforward method to extend their freshness.
Bananas can be problematic in the kitchen. They often start off too green and then suddenly become brown and overripe. The culprit is ethylene, a gas emitted by banana stems. This gas accelerates ripening and enhances flavour but simultaneously reduces their shelf life. While most fruits emit ethylene, an excess of this gas speeds up the ripening and spoilage of other produce nearby, making proper storage essential.
A simple way to extend banana freshness
Understanding bananas' sensitivity to ethylene led one life hack enthusiast to suggest a simple solution. To extend their freshness, he recommends isolating bananas from other fruits and wrapping their stems with cling film. On his YouTube channel, Helpful DIY, the man demonstrated how using cling film can "keep bananas fresh for longer."
I'm showing how to keep bananas fresh for a longer time. This simple trick will allow you to enjoy the freshness of bananas for a few extra days! - he wrote in the video description.
How does it work?
When you want to remove a banana, use a knife to cut it off without disturbing the cling film. Like many fruits, bananas naturally emit ethylene, which controls browning and ripening. Most of the gas escapes from the stems or tops, so wrapping them with cling film can somewhat slow down the ripening process.
Users in the comments shared their thoughts on this trick. @kepler186f4 wrote: "It works. I've been using this technique for years." @am-km8zg noted: "It's important to wrap it tightly and not forget about it." @larissadean84 commented: "I wrap the banana stems with cling film, and when they ripen, I put them in the fridge. The skins turn brown, but the fruit itself doesn't. This way, they last about 17 days."
