How to Pick Bananas

Whether sliced over cereal or eaten straight from the peel, there's a reason people call bananas the world's most perfect food. High in potassium and other nutrients, bananas are a fast, no-mess way to add an extra serving of fruit to your day. To get the most from bananas, however, it's important to know how to pick the freshest, tastiest ones you can.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pick up the bananas and squeeze them gently. Their flesh should feel firm and should not yield to light pressure.

2. Look at the bananas' skin. There should not be any bruises, cuts or soft spots, which will cause the fruit to rot more quickly.

3. Gauge the bananas' color. The perfect bananas will be a soft, lemon-yellow hue with no brown spots.

4. Choose bananas in different stages of ripeness, so they don't all become ripe at once. Bananas that are yellow with a slight green tint will ripen after you buy them.

5. Separate the number of bananas you want to buy from the rest of the bunch.

Tips & Warnings

• When you get home, store the bananas in a basket away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Never put bananas in the refrigerator, as doing so will cause them to brown very quickly.

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[Susanh]

on 2/4/2009 When the bananas get brown, make banana bread!