How to store bananas and keep them fresh longer
Quick answer
-
Room temperature
Keeps for until ripe
Keep bananas in the pantry until they're ripe, meaning tender, fully developed, and ready to eat.
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Fridge
Keeps for 3 days
Move ripe bananas to the fridge, where they keep 3 days.
Watch out The skin will blacken in the fridge.
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Freezer
Keeps for 2-3 months
Peel the bananas, then freeze them in a zip-lock bag or plastic container.
Ripe bananas last 3 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Keep bananas in the pantry until they're ripe, then move them to the fridge or the freezer. The skin will blacken in the fridge.
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Bananas ripen in the pantry, and USDA FoodKeeper gives ripe ones 3 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
This guide covers how to store bananas in each place, what the fridge does to the peel, and how to freeze bananas for smoothies. It also covers washing bananas and what to do with damaged ones.
How to store bananas
Store bananas in the pantry until they’re ripe, then move them to the fridge or the freezer. FoodKeeper counts a banana as ripe when it’s tender, fully developed, and ready to eat.
FoodKeeper lists the pantry as the place to keep bananas until they’re ripe, not as a number of days. A bowl or a banana hanger keeps the fruit from bruising where it rests.
How to make bananas last longer
Put ripe bananas in the fridge for 3 days or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Freezing gives you the most time.
The fridge time applies to ripe bananas, so let them ripen in the pantry first.
Can you put bananas in the fridge?
Yes, ripe bananas can go in the fridge, where they keep 3 days. The skin will blacken, according to FoodKeeper.
Keep the fridge clean and at 40°F (4°C) or below, which is the FDA’s advice for perishable fresh produce.
Can you freeze bananas?
Yes, you can freeze bananas, and FoodKeeper gives them 2 to 3 months in the freezer. Peel them first, then put them in a zip-lock bag or plastic container.
Label the bag with the date, so you know when the 2 to 3 months are up.
How to freeze bananas for smoothies
Cut peeled bananas into pieces before you freeze them. Pieces are easier to use straight from the freezer, and they keep for the same 2 to 3 months.
How long do bananas last?
Ripe bananas last 3 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer, and they ripen in the pantry first.
| Place | How long |
|---|---|
| Pantry | Until the bananas are ripe |
| Fridge | 3 days, ripe bananas only |
| Freezer | 2 to 3 months |
Should you wash bananas before you peel them?
Yes, rinse bananas under plain running water before you peel them, even though you won’t eat the peel. Dirt and bacteria on the surface can carry onto the fruit when you peel it. Gently rub the peel, then dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel to reduce bacteria further.
You don’t need soap or a produce wash, because produce is porous and can absorb them. Washing reduces bacteria but does not eliminate them.
What to do with bruised or rotten bananas
Cut away damaged or bruised areas before you eat a banana, and throw away any that look rotten. When you buy bananas, choose ones that aren’t bruised or damaged.
Frequently asked questions
How long do frozen bananas last?
Frozen bananas last 2 to 3 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Should bananas be refrigerated?
Only once they're ripe. FoodKeeper's 3 days in the fridge applies to ripe bananas, so let them ripen in the pantry first.
Do bananas turn black in the fridge?
Yes. FoodKeeper notes that the skin will blacken when ripe bananas go in the fridge.
When is a banana ripe?
FoodKeeper calls a banana ripe when it's tender, fully developed, and ready to eat.
Can you eat a bruised banana?
Cut away the damaged or bruised areas before you eat it. Throw away any banana that looks rotten.
