🍌 Bananas Can Last Longer With One Simple Kitchen Item
The kitchen item behind this popular tip is aluminum foil. Wrapping the stem/crown of a banana bunch can slow the release and spread of ethylene, a natural plant hormone involved in ripening.
Try this simple method
- Keep the bananas together in their bunch.
- Tear off a small piece of aluminum foil.
- Wrap it snugly around the top/stem where the bananas join.
- Store the bananas in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Keep them away from other fruits that produce lots of ethylene, such as apples and avocados.
Will they really last 10 days longer?
Not necessarily. The “10 days longer” claim is too specific to guarantee. How long bananas last depends on their variety, how ripe they were when purchased, temperature, humidity, and other storage conditions.
Another option is to refrigerate ripe bananas. The peel may turn dark, but the flesh can remain good for longer. Refrigeration isn’t ideal for bananas that are still very green because cold temperatures can interfere with normal ripening.
One thing to avoid
Don’t put bananas in an airtight plastic bag while they’re ripening. Trapped moisture can encourage mold and spoilage.
Bottom line: Wrapping the banana stems with foil is a simple trick worth trying, but think of it as slowing ripening—not a guaranteed 10-day extension.
