Nothing is worse than going to the grocery store and discovering a full trough of unripe, slightly green bananas, especially if you need to use said ingredient as soon as possible. But, here’s a piece of must-know information, you don’t have to leave the ripening process up to time. That’s right – if you so choose, you can expedite it and have your bananas ready to go in days, hours, or even minutes. Even though it will take some extra work, your homemade banana bread will taste better than ever before. To get started, take a peek at our suggestions below.
Ripen Bananas in Days
If you have a few days to spare, consider following the most natural method for ripening bananas. Grab a paper bag and place the bananas inside. (Bonus points if you have other fruit to add to the bag – this will only speed up the ripening process!) Fold the bag and leave it alone for 24 hours. Check the bag daily, until the fruit is at your desired level of ripeness.
Ripen Bananas in Hours
Got a few hours on your hands? Why not ripen your bananas in the freezer? Cold temperatures are great for softening bananas. All you have to do is place the bananas in a plastic bag and toss it in your freezer for a few hours. Don’t worry if you see the peels begin to blacken! This is a normal part of the ripening process. You'll find that the interior fruit is still good to eat.
Ripen Bananas in Minutes
If you need that banana bread loaf as soon as possible, you’ll be able to rest easy, knowing that there’s a way to ripen bananas in as little as 15 minutes. Simply heat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, place unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet, and cook them for 15 to 20 minutes. This method will soften and sweeten the fruit quickly, so they’ll be ideal for sweet breads and other recipes.
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