Got a bunch of green bananas?
Learn how to ripen them for baking, cooking or snacking.
A ripe banana can be a thing of beauty.
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Luckily, there are several ways to ripen bananas quickly.
What Causes Bananas to Ripen?
Bananas are a climacteric fruit, meaning they ripen after they are picked from the plant.
Bananas produce high amounts of ethylene gas, a plant hormone that regulates growth and development.
That’s why an unripe banana is mild in flavor while a ripe banana is sweeter.
How Do You Ripen Bananas for Baking?
There are several methods for ripening bananas.
While all of them work well to ripen the fruit, some methods are better for baking.
you might easily adjust the time as needed.
How Do You Ripen Bananas for Eating?
These methods take longer to produce ripe fruit, either overnight or a few days.
The more ethylene gas in the air, the faster the fruit will ripen.
How to Ripen Bananas in a Warm Spot
Placing bananas in a warm environment encourages ripening.
Place unpeeled bananas in the fridge.
The cool environment will slow down the ripening process.
This method is ideal if you plan to use the bananas within a few days.
Frozen bananas can last up to three months in the freezer.
When you’re ready to use, simply defrost the banana in the refrigerator.
This method is ideal if you want to keep ripe bananas on hand for baking.
you could also use frozen bananas in smoothies.
For smoothies, there’s no need to defrost the frozen fruit before using.
