Why you shouldn’t put your bananas in the fruit bowl

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You’ve probably done it too—just put the bananas in the fruit bowl and leave them there. But according to a nutrition expert, this is the worst place to store them!

Most of us do this without thinking, neatly placing the bananas in the fruit bowl.

But according to the Finnish website Next Level Padel, this is precisely the wrong decision.

Food technologist Tea Rönn points out that this causes bananas to turn brown and become unsightly much more quickly.

The correct way to handle bananas so that they stay fresh and appetizing for longer is surprisingly simple—and requires only a few steps.

The fruit bowl—the banana’s greatest enemy

Even if the fruit bowl looks tidy and inviting, it is a risk for bananas.

Tea Rönn, who works at the Finnish food research institute VTT, explains that many fruits—especially apples and citrus fruits—release ethylene, a gas that accelerates ripening.

And who is particularly sensitive to this gas? That’s right—bananas.

They absorb ethylene like a sponge, causing them to go from perfect to brown and soft in no time.

A special place for bananas

Instead of placing bananas in the bowl with other fruit, Ms. Rönn recommends giving them their place—literally.

Place the bananas in a quiet corner of your kitchen—ideally hung on a hook or in an open bag so that they can “breathe” freely.

And please: do not store bananas in the refrigerator! They do not tolerate cold temperatures, and their taste can suffer significantly as a result.

Do not use plastic bags

Although it may seem practical at first to pack bananas in plastic or a closed box, this is not a good idea.

Bananas need air circulation—closed plastic bags create moisture, which further accelerates ripening.

A simple trick that many people don’t know about: wrap the stem of the banana in cling film. Since most of the ethylene escapes through the stem, this can significantly slow down the ripening process.

Brown bananas? No reason to throw them away!

If your bananas are already overripe, there’s no need to worry.

They can be put to excellent use—for example, in smoothies, banana pancakes, or a classic banana cake.

They are by no means a case for the trash can.

So, the next time you go shopping, remember not to just carelessly put the bananas in the fruit bowl.

If you give them their little place in your kitchen, they will thank you for it—and stay fresh and appetizing for much longer.