Aldi has issued essential advice for banana buyers on how to keep their fruit fresher for longer and avoid it turning brown. The supermarket chain has joined forces with food storage expert Kate Hall to help shoppers make the most of their groceries and cut down on waste.
Freezer hack prevents bananas from browning
Kate Hall, a renowned food storage specialist, suggests a simple 30-second method: peel, slice, and freeze bananas before they overripen. “Let’s face it, we can’t always make banana bread every time a bunch gets past its best. But if you can spare 30 seconds to peel, slice and freeze bananas, you can avoid them going to waste,” she explained.
Her technique involves spreading the banana slices on a lined tray before freezing to prevent them from clumping together. Once frozen, they can be transferred to a resealable freezer bag. These frozen slices are perfect for making banana ice cream or chocolate peanut butter bites, offering a versatile and waste-free solution.
Extend the trick to other fruits and vegetables
Hall emphasises that the same freezing approach can be applied to a variety of other produce. “You can use the same approach to save lots of other fruits and veggies too, for example, cucumbers can be sliced and frozen to be used instead of ice cubes, added to smoothies, or even blitzed into a refreshing sorbet,” she added.
This method not only preserves food but also helps households stretch their budgets further. “Using your freezer is such a simple way to press pause on your food so it doesn’t end up in the bin. Freezing food can help our budgets stretch further, and you can actually freeze a lot more than people realise. The trick is knowing the best way to freeze food and what to do with it after freezing,” Hall said.
Aldi’s commitment to reducing food waste
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to tackle food waste. “At Aldi, we’re committed to reducing food waste wherever we can across our supply chain, whether that be working with suppliers to cut down on waste, or marking down prices of items nearing their sell by date,” he said.
Emery added: “Now we’re on a mission to help shoppers minimise their food waste too, while getting even more value from their Aldi groceries at the same time. It seems simple, but the research shows that freezing items still isn’t something many do – so we want to showcase just how easy that can be.”
Impact on households and the environment
Food waste is a significant issue, with the average UK household throwing away hundreds of pounds worth of food each year. By adopting these freezer-friendly techniques, families can reduce their environmental footprint and save money simultaneously. Aldi’s initiative aims to educate consumers on the benefits of freezing, a practice that remains underutilised despite its simplicity.
The supermarket’s collaboration with Kate Hall is part of a broader sustainability strategy to reduce waste across its operations and empower customers to do the same at home. With these practical tips, shoppers can enjoy fresher produce for longer and contribute to a more sustainable future.
