Do not put bananas in the refrigerator if you want them to last

– Here I have four bananas and I am testing four different storage methods – posted @tipperk on their product testing account in November. Meanwhile, the top of the second banana was covered with plastic.

Wet toilet paper was wrapped around the top of the third banana. The second and third bananas were placed in a bowl with the first one.

The fourth banana was placed in the fridge. The top banana represented any banana you might find in a store.

Real Simple says that bananas can sit on the counter for two to six days. To reduce the risk of bananas rotting by touching each other, the store recommends hanging them, not keeping them together in a bowl, as reported by the New York Post.

Also, keep them away from sunlight because an increase in fruit temperature leads to faster ripening. Wrapping the banana stems in plastic keeps them fresh and yellow longer, advises Real Simple.

“Wrap a small amount of cling film around the end where they often join,” said Gary Ellis, director of CE Safety Limited, a UK health and safety organization, to Express in 2022. Ethylene is crucial in the ripening process – high levels cause bananas to soften and turn from green to yellow to brown.

Therefore, it is important to keep bananas away from other ethylene-releasing fruits, such as apples, pears, and peaches. Also, avoid putting bananas in confined spaces – like a plastic bag or fridge drawer – as they can trap ethylene and speed up ripening.