A woman shared her top tips for making bananas stay fresh for weeks at a time.
The soft fruit, which bruises and perishes easily, is notoriously tricky to keep in good condition. This can lead to food waste if you’re not careful.
But thankfully, there are ways to keep bananas fresher for longer. And one woman revealed a method that worked to keep her fruit tasty for up to 26 days.
Amy Cross, who posts online under the username @amycrosslegacy, shared her advice on TikTok. She gained more than 100 likes on the viral platform – and people were seriously impressed with her tip.
In the video, she cuts a banana (leaving the peel on) into pieces and stores them in a glass jar in the fridge. Remarkably, after 26 days, the banana pieces still looked fresh with bright yellow skins.
She said: “These are the bananas I purchased on March 13, and I cut this into thirds and put it into a jar, so they’re 26 days old.” Her goal was to see if she could keep a cut banana fresh for 12 hours, but she far exceeded that with 26 days of freshness.
Amy added: “The whole goal of putting the bananas in the jar was to see if I can get a cut banana to last 12 hours, and it’s been 26 days.”
If you’re not keen on slicing your bananas, keep them in a cool, shaded area. They should be kept at approximately 12 degrees, as they’ll ripen faster if they’re too warm.
A dimly lit room without direct sunlight is perfect. Hence, a warm kitchen isn’t the best spot for your bananas. For those who want to store peeled bananas, the juice trick is recommended.
Once a banana has been cut and exposed to air, it will brown quickly. Just sprinkle some lemon juice or pineapple juice on the peeled fruit, which can then be used in fruit salads.
How to store fruit to make it last longer
Apples
- Counter: Up to 1 week at room temperature.
- Fridge: Store in the crisper drawer for several weeks to a couple of months.
Bananas
- Counter: Store at room temperature. To slow ripening, keep them away from other fruit.
- Fridge: Once ripe, you can put them in the fridge. The peel will darken, but the fruit inside will stay fresh longer.
Strawberries
- Fridge: Store in the crisper drawer, ideally in a single layer on a paper towel-lined container to absorb excess moisture. They should last 2-3 days.
- Freezer: Wash, hull, and freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag.
Grapes
- Fridge: Store in a ventilated plastic bag or in the crisper drawer. They can last up to 1-2 weeks.
- Freezer: Remove stems, wash, and dry. Freeze on a baking sheet and then transfer to a freezer bag for longer storage.
Oranges and Clementines
- Counter: Up to 1 week.
- Fridge: Store in the crisper drawer to last up to 2-3 weeks.
Blueberries
- Fridge: Store in a breathable container (holes for ventilation) in the fridge. They should last about 1-2 weeks.
- Freezer: Wash and dry, then place on a baking tray to freeze before transferring to a freezer bag.
Pears
- Counter: Ripen at room temperature.
- Fridge: Once ripe, store in the fridge for a few more days to a week.
Peaches and Nectarines
- Counter: Ripen at room temperature.
- Fridge: Once ripe, store in the fridge and eat within a few days.
Plums
- Counter: Ripen at room temperature.
- Fridge: Store in the fridge once ripe and consume within a few days.
Raspberries
- Fridge: Best stored in a single layer in a breathable container. They should be eaten within 1-2 days.
- Freezer: Wash and dry, then freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag.
Kiwi
- Counter: Ripen at room temperature.
- Fridge: Once ripe, store in the fridge and eat within a week.
Cherries
- Fridge: Store in a breathable plastic bag in the crisper drawer. They can last up to a week.
- Freezer: Pit and freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag.
By following these storage tips, you can enjoy fresher fruit for longer periods.