Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

Bananas are a beloved fruit, and it's easy to see why: They make everything from a smoothie or quick bread an irresistible treat. Even though they are often left on the kitchen countertop, ready to grab for an on-the-go snack, that might not be the proper way to store them. Should you actually be putting bananas in the refrigerator? Ahead, a food expert explains which storage method is best for this fruit.

Refrigerate Your Bananas Once They're Ripe

Simply put, you should only put your bananas in the refrigerator after they are as ripe as you like them to get. "Bananas can be stored on a kitchen counter until they are ripe, and then they can be stored in the refrigerator for at least two days more or until the skin becomes black," says Tamika Sims, PhD, the senior director of food technology communications at the International Food Information Council. Want to store bananas for even longer periods of time? Then you're in luck. Peel the banana when it is ripe and place it in a freezer bag or freezer-friendly, airtight container and it will last for up to one month.

How Refrigeration Changes a Banana's Flavor

"Notice that bananas are not stored in refrigerators in the grocery store," Sims says. "If you put your banana in the refrigerator too soon it could contribute to "chilling injury," which causes the bananas to have a bitter flavor, discoloration, and failure to ripen, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Avoid Bananas with Broken Peels

It could be time to toss out your banana if you see excessive bruising. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this could mean that it's about to spoil (or could already be spoiled). "Additionally, broken peels (or skin) on produce can allow the fruit to be contaminated with microbial pests," Sims notes. "Also, a black banana that is overly soft or has an off smell should be discarded."

How to Keep Bananas Fresh for as Long as Possible

Storing your banana in the fridge can keep it fresh, as well as properly storing it on the counter. But you can also do a few simple things to keep them fresher even longer by delaying the ripening process.

Separating bananas will ensure one bad fruit in the bunch doesn't cause the others to rot prematurely. You can also hang bananas on stands or hooks so the part of the fruit that would otherwise rest on a surface does not begin to bruise. Finally, you've likely seen tips and products that suggest covering a banana's stems. You can do this with plastic wrap to keep the bananas fresh.

If a banana has ripened and become mushy, don't stress! Many recipes call for overly ripened bananas. In fact, you might even find you need to ripen a banana more quickly by placing it in a paper bag or microwaving it.