It’s a familiar situation: you’re craving a banana, but the only ones available are green and unripe. While they are perfectly edible, they often have a bitter taste and a firm texture. Want to ripen your bananas faster? Here are some simple methods to turn green ones into ripe, yellow treats!
Bananas
Bananas are incredibly healthy and a beloved fruit in the Netherlands. They’re rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium, and they’re also an important source of fiber. Plus, they’re sweet, providing quick energy and are easy to take on the go. The riper a banana gets, the sweeter it tastes.
There’s just one small issue. Timing plays a big role when it comes to eating a perfect banana. They’re either too green or already have dark spots and are overripe. Bought some green bananas? Here’s what you can do to speed up the ripening process.
Ripe them in one hour
Want your bananas ripe and sweet the same day? The oven can help. Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F) and place the bananas on a baking sheet or rack. Let them bake for one hour, keeping an eye on them to prevent burning. After an hour, the fruit will be soft, ripe, and sweet. Remove them from the oven and let them cool in the fridge. They’ll be perfect to use in banana bread or any other dish!
Ripe them in two days
If you don’t need ripe bananas right away but want them to ripen faster than usual, the paper bag trick works well. Ethylene, a natural gas released by fruit, accelerates the ripening process of bananas. Place the bananas in a paper bag and add other fruits like an apple, pear, or avocado. The ethylene gas released by these fruits helps the bananas ripen faster, and within two days, they’ll be perfectly ripe!