How to Ripen Raw Bananas

Officially, the Chaquita company judges bananas by 7 stages of ripeness, determined by their color characteristics. Everyone has their own preference for ripeness level and some projects, such as banana bread, require a certain level of ripeness. Obviously, you can't always buy bananas at your desired ripeness level, but there are ways to quicken the ripening process.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper bag
• Bananas
• Apple or tomato

1. Buy your bananas. Keep your desired end ripeness, as well as your available time, in mind. It takes a day and a half to ripen a green banana to the optimum ripeness for baked goods such as banana bread.

2. Purchase an apple or a tomato. These fruits release ethylene gases, which speed the ripening process of bananas.

3. Place the apple or tomato in a paper bag with the bananas. A plastic bag won't work because it doesn't allow gases to circulate.

4. Leave the bag on a counter until the bananas are as ripe as you want them. This should take up to 24 to 36 hours, depending on the greenness of the bananas you start with and the desired ripeness.

5. Refrigerate your bananas to slow the ripening process. The skins turn brown, but the fruit is fine for a couple days. If you're using the bananas for banana bread, you can freeze them in a plastic bag until you're ready to use them. The freezing and thawing process also softens the banana more.

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