Bananas will ‘stay yellow without going brown for 3 weeks’ with genius hack many love (Image: Getty)
Similar to avocados staying fresh, it can be hard to perfectly time the ripeness of bananas based on when you’d like to enjoy them. You might pick up a bunch at the supermarket that are evenly yellow, or even a little green, only to find they’ve gone brown before you even have the chance to eat one.
Bananas are climacteric fruits, meaning they continue to ripen after being picked. During ripening, bananas naturally produce ethylene gas, a plant hormone that helps convert starches into sugars, softens the texture, and deepens the colour of the bananas. Temperature, humidity, and even ethylene-producing fruits and vegetables stored nearby can all affect how quickly bananas ripen. To stop them from ripening further, many people recommend purchasing a banana storage bag, and there’s one in particular that shoppers have been raving about.
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Retailing for £6.99 at Lakeland, the storage bag is intended to keep bananas “fresher for lonnger” (Image: Lakeland)
Home shopping retailer Lakeland sells a yellow banana storage bag that has received great reviews from customers.
Retailing for £6.99 at Lakeland right now, the storage bag is intended to keep bananas “fresher for longer”.
When kept in the fridge, it provides bananas with the exact amount of insulation and airflow needed to prevent the flesh from over-ripening and blackening, meaning the fruit will stay fresh for around a fortnight – twice its normal lifespan.
So how does it work? As bananas are a fussy lot – over-ripening in minimal warmth but spoiling at very low temperatures – this 100% polyester insulated bag keeps them just cool enough in the fridge to keep the flesh firm and prevent over-ripening, but warm enough to stop the flesh chilling and spoiling.
Many customers have given glowing reviews of this product. Mrs Bryant said, “I had high hopes for this bag as my flat is warm and bananas go brown in a day. I found that in the fridge, it wasn’t the best, but out of the fridge in the bag, they kept fresh for days.”
Mrs Hill replied: “I had one of these from Lakeland years ago and it’s brilliant. The bananas stay so fresh for so long. I’ve kept them for three weeks in the bag in the fridge, and the bananas stay firm and yellow without browning and white inside. Magic.”
Ms Scott-Monkhouse wrote: “If you want to prevent your bananas from ripening too fast, this is what you need. Pop your bananas in the bag and then in the fridge to have longer-lasting fruit.”
Mrs Cartwright commented, “I absolutely love this banana bag. I love bananas, but only when they’re just yellow and still really firm. I hate how quickly they always go soft and brown. That is, until I bought the banana bag. I was sceptical when I ordered it, but so pleased I did. It’s brilliant! The skins don’t even begin to change colour for a few days, even if they turn really brown, the bananas stay firm. No more wastage! Win, win. They taste delicious straight from the fridge too.”
However, some customers did point out a few downsides to the bag. One customer wrote: “Only given three stars as I wish it could be washed, not just wiped, and I wish the lining would stay in place. I have put stitches to hold it; surely the manufacturer could do that. But it does the job of keeping the bananas fresh.”
Evelyn Collins said, “A good product, but the bag is too big for most modern-day fridges. It does the trick, though, in keeping the bananas better.” Mrs Siszczuk agreed: “The bag is large and takes up a lot of fridge space.”
There are also a few other banana storage bags on the market. You can pick up a yellow banana storage bag from Amazon, which currently retails for £3.69, down from £4.49. The same type of banana storage bag retails for £4.33 on eBay.
