How to Ripen Bananas Without an Apple

You can ripen green bananas by trapping the ethylene gas they release.

Bananas, along with other fruits, release a gas known as ethylene that allows them to start to ripen. A common way to speed up the ripening process is to put the bananas in a paper bag with an apple or tomato. However, you can trap this gas to hasten ripening without adding any other fruit.

Things You'll Need

• Brown paper sack or plastic bag

Instructions

1. Open a brown paper sack or plastic bag. Place the banana bunch inside the bag.

2. Fold the top down and tape or staple the bag shut. Place the sack on the counter.

3. Leave the paper bag alone for one to two days or until the bananas inside ripen to your liking.

Tips & Warnings

• If no bags are available, leaving the bananas on the counter at room temperature or in direct sunlight will also ripen them. This method may take a day or two longer than with bags.

References

• Hollygrove Market and Farm: Storing Your Produce
• Argonne National Laboratory: Ripening Bananas