How Long Do Bananas Last?

How long do bananas last? The shelf life of bananas is difficult to determine because there is no sell by date, use by date or best before date attached anywhere to bananas. For eat by date purposes we must use the date the bananas were purchased. Bananas are often referred to as "nature's perfect food" since they contain many essential vitamins and minerals, like potassium, and come neatly wrapped in their own protective container. For more on the health benefits of bananas, check banana health benefits.

Bananas can range from a bright green color to the perfect yellow to already developing a brown spotted skin in the grocery store and people have different preferences as to which stage is the perfectly ripe one.

So, how long do bananas last? When properly stored, the shelf life of bananas beyond the purchase date is approximately...

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Bananas Expiration Date

Counter Refrigerator Freezer
Fresh Bananas last for 2-7 Days 2-9 Days 2-3 Months

How to tell if Bananas are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Fresh bananas will first get brown spots and then get soft and turn completely brown and leak liquid when they have gone bad. If left out long enough they will eventually turn black and grow mold. Bananas are usually shipped green since they develop better color, texture, aroma and sweet taste after being harvested. Placing bananas near other fruit will cause the other fruits to also ripen faster.

Another problem you may experience with having fresh fruit on the counter is the sudden presence of fruit flies. Fruit Flies are tiny little flies that just hover around your fresh fruit basket. So, how do you get rid of fruit flies? To get rid of fruit flies, place a bowl of water with a teaspoon of vinegar in it next to the fruit basket at night. In the morning, all the fruit flies will have taken their final swim in the bowl.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Bananas to extend their shelf life?

Bananas ripen at room temperature, so to stunt the ripening process bananas can be placed in the refrigerator. To extend the shelf life of bananas at room temperature, place plastic wrap tightly around the stem of the bunch. Bananas can also be frozen, but the texture will change.

If you find your bananas have turned brown, try our banana bread recipe.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long are Bananas good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do bananas last? That depends. How long do coconuts last? In general, bananas last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Bananas lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Bananas.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Bananas shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!

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With oven-safe glass and water-tight lids, these food storage containers are ready for action! Not a Prime Member? Try a 30-day free trial today!

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