With news emerging that genetically modified bananas that don’t go brown thanks to a breakthrough in gene editing could hit shelves in the UK, the food safety training experts at High Speed Training have some top tips for ensuring that your bananas are stored safely and effectively at home.
Dr Richard Anderson, Director of Learning at High Speed Training, said: “Bananas are a household staple in most UK homes, but they can be tricky to store properly and often the timeframe between them being under-ripe to over-ripe is short-lived. So, how should you store them to keep them fresher for longer?
“The first step to keep bananas fresh for longer is to buy them when they’re still green, helping to give you the longest window when they’re at their best. You should remove them from their plastic packaging, which traps the moisture released by the fruit as they ripen, making them ripen even faster.
“You should also separate them from other fruit, as being in close proximity to other ripening fruits will speed up the process for both. Instead, keep them in an open bowl on the countertop, away from other fruits.
“You should avoid refrigerating bananas whilst they’re ripening, as this can prolong the process, but you can store them in the fridge when they’re ripe. They should be good to eat for a week or more. You can also freeze bananas, but this is best when making smoothies or baking, as frozen bananas won’t make the nicest snack.”
Food waste can have a big impact on the environment, as it can waste resources, generate greenhouse gases and lead to land degradation.
A 2025 study by Aldi found that the average UK household throws away 114 bananas each year. According to Love Food Hate Waste, each year, UK households throw away 4.4 million tonnes of edible food, worth £17 billion and creating 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on High Speed Training’s food hygiene training, visit www.highspeedtraining.co.uk
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