How to Preserve Bananas in Fruit Salads

Bananas complement many other fruits.

Banana slices add natural sweetness and a soft texture when mixed with other fruits in a fruit salad. As the sliced bananas are exposed to the air and sugars from other fruits, they tend to brown and become softer. This change, due to oxidation, doesn't alter the taste of the bananas but makes them less appealing to the eye. Rather than picking out the bananas or throwing away the fruit salad, a little preparation can help preserve the banana.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl
• Orange juice
• Colander
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Pour orange juice into a bowl to fill it one-third of the way.

2. 

   Orange juice helps maintain the natural color of banana slices.

   Slice the bananas and add them to the bowl of orange juice as they are sliced. Add more orange juice, if needed, to ensure the bananas are covered. Allow the last slices to soak in the orange juice for a couple minutes.

3. Drain the bowl of banana slices and orange juice into a colander that's sitting in the sink. Allow the bananas to remain in the colander for a few minutes to drain off as much orange juice as possible.

4. Spread the banana slices onto a layer of paper towels. Pat dry the slices before adding them to the fruit salad.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute grapefruit, pineapple or lime juice for the orange juice. Using sour fruit juices will add a tart flavor to the banana slices.

• Ascorbic acid tablets or powder dissolved in water can be used to prevent bananas from becoming discolored. These products are available at the grocery store and use the same process as soaking the banana slices in orange juice.

References

• University of Florida; South Florida Tropicals: Banana: Using Bananas; Amy Simmone et al; November 2010
• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension; Fruit Group: Treating it Right; Kathy Daly-Kozial; November 2006
• What's Cooking America?: Question and Answer: Discoloration of Bananas