Keep them cool and protected from the light: Bananas should be stored at around 12°C, as they will ripen quicker if they are too warm. Pop them into the fridge: If you want to store your bananas correctly, you can certainly store them in the fridge.
The ideal place to store bananas is on the countertop, where they can ripen naturally. You can refrigerate bananas once they've achieved your ideal level of ripeness; however, refrigerating bananas too soon or for too long can have detrimental effects on your bunch.
Yes, you can absolutely store bananas in the fridge. Just keep in mind that the cool, dry climate slows the ripening process, which is why bananas aren't refrigerated in the supermarket. In other words, if you put green, unripe bananas in the fridge, they're likely to stay that way.
Bananas are tropical fruits, and, in general, tropical fruits don't handle cold storage well. That's why the best way to store bananas is at room temperature, not in the fridge, especially when they're green and not yet ripened.
Keep them cool and protected from the light: Bananas should be stored at around 12°C, as they will ripen quicker if they are too warm. Pop them into the fridge: If you want to store your bananas correctly, you can certainly store them in the fridge.
Fruits That Should Not Be Stored in the Refrigerator
Apricots, Asian pears, avocado, bananas, guava, kiwis, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papayas, passion fruit, pawpaw, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, plantain, plums, starfruit, soursop, and quince will continue to ripen if left out on the counter.
Ethylene-producing fruits, such as apples, bananas, peaches and honeydew melons, should not be stored next to avocados, lemons, grapes, onions and other fruits or vegetables that are sensitive to this compound.
Unripe bananas last about 2 to 7 days on the counter until they ripen. Once ripe, bananas keep for 2 to 3 days at room temperature or 7 to 10 days in the fridge.
Bananas, like many fruits, release ethylene gas naturally, which controls enzymatic browning and ripening of not just itself, but other fruits nearby. Much of that offgassing takes place at the stem—or the crown—of the banana. By wrapping the crown of a bunch, you slow down the ripening process a bit.
Dividing your bananas and wrapping them individually is the best way to prevent the ethylene from traveling down the fruit. Plus, when you're ready to eat your bananas, there's no need to unwrap the stems.
Ditch the Plastic Bag
Bananas that are stored in plastic bags will ripen faster. Instead, keep your bananas at room temperature in a cool, dark place to be sure they receive fresh, well-ventilated air. Bananas sitting in direct sunlight or near the stove will shrivel up and turn brown at a faster rate.
However, if you sprinkle them with a little lemon juice, it lowers the pH levels and will keep browning at bay. Following the lemon trick, put them in the fridge, either wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight food storage container or bag. Stored this way, sliced bananas can stay fresh for three to four days.
Hang your bananas
Turns out there's a scientific reason you should be hanging your bananas from a hook. Bananas start ripening as soon as they're picked from trees—ethylene gas releases from the stems as soon as they're picked, but when you hang bananas from a hook, the gas works more slowly.
Ethylene gas is naturally released through the stems of the bananas. Separating, and especially covering the end of the stems, should contain the release of this gas, thereby slowing the rate of ripening.
In the United States, fresh, commercially produced eggs need to be refrigerated to minimize your risk of food poisoning. However, in many countries in Europe and around the world, it's fine to keep eggs at room temperature for a few weeks.
Garlic, Onions, and Shallots
With the exception of spring onions and scallions, alliums shouldn't be stored in the fridge. These bulbs benefit from being kept in a cool, dry, dark place. And make sure to avoid wrapping them in plastic bags.
Whole onions and shallots are best stored in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated room. Ideal places include the pantry, cellar, basement or garage. Peeled onions can be stored in the fridge for 10–14 days, while sliced or cut onions can be refrigerated for 7–10 days.
Storing bananas to maintain freshness can be as simple as storing them in a plastic bag to extend their ripeness.
Do bananas last longer in the fridge or on the counter? If a banana is already ripe, it can last longer kept in the refrigerator as it will prevent further ripening. But if a banana isn't already ripe, don't store it in there as it won't ripen – you should keep green bananas out of the refrigerator.