This is a favorite for all primates! This big yellow berry can be eaten fresh off the bunch, cooked into breads, added to cereals, and covered by ice cream. Pop-culture has even glorified it in music videos. Gwen Stefani stated it best, “This day is bananas!”
How to choose the best one: Avoid bruised, soft skin, and browning.
- Buy bananas based on how often you will use them. The darker green the banana, the longer it takes to ripen.
- Overripe bananas have the strongest flavor and are best for use in desserts.
- Each variety of banana has its own flavor profile. Keep that in mind when choosing your recipes.
Standard Shelf Life: Bananas will last 5 – 7 days on the counter top. Ideally, keep them hanging and away from all other fruit.
Tip to Increase Shelf Life: Freeze bruised and soft bananas to use for bread or muffins.
Cooking Tip: Bananas add sweetness and enhance the texture of sweet potato and pumpkin purées without adding fat.
Cooking Tip: Try putting a banana in the fridge. It makes it turn brown quickly but doesn’t soften as it does at room temperature.
Storage Tip: Bruising speeds the ripening process. Bananas are packed tightly in cases during shipping to prevent bruising. Take care when handling your bananas. Storage Tip: Ideally, keep bananas hanging away from all other fruit.
Cool Fact: The banana is actually a berry– And that’s bananas. Green Banana flour can be used to make savory snacks and by-products like juice pulp.
Recipe Links:
- https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/banana-bread-recipe-1969572
- https://cookiesandcups.com/banana-bread-crumb-cake/
- https://www.wellplated.com/banana-bars/
- https://www.mrfood.com/Misc-Desserts/Banana-Bread-Roll
Want to learn more? Check out this link: https://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/banana.html