Tesco, one of the UK's leading supermarket chains, has shared a simple and straightforward storage hack to keep bananas fresh for longer and help reduce food waste at home. Bananas are among the most frequently bought items for millions of households across the UK, yet they tend to spoil remarkably quickly. The potassium-packed yellow fruit has a tendency to overripen at an alarming rate, developing unpleasant brown spots, with the peel eventually turning completely black if not stored correctly. In many cases, the fruit also rots from within under such circumstances.
It is for this reason that shoppers are constantly searching for simple tricks to prolong the shelf life of this staple fruit, because nobody wants to contribute to food waste while watching their hard-earned cash go to waste. Fortunately, Tesco has revealed a little-known storage tip that can dramatically extend the life of bananas, and it is so straightforward that you will wonder why you have never tried it before. According to the experts, the secret to keeping bananas fresher for longer is simply to pop them in the freezer.
The Clever Storage Trick
The Tesco website states: "Freezers are the most efficient when they are full, so make the most of the space to prevent food waste and have ingredients ready to go." Courtney Pallett, Tesco campaigns manager, shared the secret hack: "Your freezer is your friend when it comes to reducing food waste and avoiding throwing food away. Most of the foods that often end up in the bin such as bananas and avocados can be saved by freezing them to use later." So, what is the best way to freeze your bananas? The solution is straightforward according to Tesco: "Peel ripe bananas and freeze whole or in slices. These can be used straight from the freezer, perfect for cold, thick smoothies or snacking on."
Some people believe you do not necessarily have to peel the bananas before placing them in the freezer, as that stage can be completed once you remove them from the icebox. A food content creator has backed up Tesco's guidance, revealing her own expert suggestions on how to store the fruit properly. Lisa Bryan (@downshiftology) explains in the caption of her popular storage tip: "It's quick and easy to freeze bananas, and bonus - they may even encourage you to make more healthy recipes in the future!"
Three Methods for Freezing Bananas
In a video, Lisa says: "If you accidentally bought too many bananas - we've all been there - this is how you freeze them for future use." Demonstrating three methods for storing her surplus bananas, the food content creator reveals: "I usually freeze my bananas in halves as it's the perfect amount for a single-serving green or brown smoothie. Just place them on a parchment lined tray and pop them in the freezer for a couple of hours before storing away."
Lisa's alternative technique involves slicing the bananas into rounds, arranging them onto a parchment-lined tray like the initial method, and placing them in the freezer. Her third and final storage tip is to mash the bananas before placing them into moulds, such as a supercube ice tray. Bananas stored in this way are ideal for whipping up banana bread at a later stage. Once frozen for a few hours, the bananas from all three methods can be transferred into a resealable freezer bag and kept until needed.
