Did You Know – Banana Tips
- A single banana is called a finger and a bunch of bananas are called a hand.
- To soften bananas for banana bread and muffins, pierce an unpeeled banana once or twice and microwave, uncovered, at 100 percent power for 1 minute, turning it over after 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave, cool and peel then repeat with another one if more is needed.
- If you have overly ripe bananas, place them in bags in the freezer. The skins will get dark but the bananas will be perfect to use. You can also peel and slice the bananas, place the sliced pieces on a baking sheet until frozen and then place them in a freezer bag to use in smoothies.
- If you leave bananas together in the bunch they will ripen faster. Separate them and they will ripen slower.
- Bananas are good for heartburn and are soothing to the stomach.
- Unripe bananas should not be placed in the refrigerator as this interrupts the ripening process.
- The size of a banana does not affect its quality or taste so choose the size you prefer.
- To speed up ripening, put the bananas in a brown paper bag with an apple or tomato overnight.
- When purchasing bananas consider smaller bunches at various stages of ripeness.
- Cut up banana peels and bury one inch deep around flowers and plants to repel aphids and ants. Banana peels also add valuable nutrients to the soil. They are great for rose bushes too.
Photo: WP AI Generated
Source: I had saved this information a while back and don’t remember where it came from, if anyone knows, tell me and I will add it.
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
Share this:
Categories: Bananas, Did You Know
Great tips!
Thank you!
Great advice as always Diane
Than you Sheree!
Thanks again for more useful tips, Diane. We have used banana peels on roses ever since I read it in a compost book years ago.
You’re welcome Derrick. I am happy to hear the banana peels work in the rose garden, I wondered if it did.
We just lay the whole peel splayed out. I think I remember that it contains much iron, They rot down very quickly
Thank you Derrick
Love the tips!
Thank you Beth!
Very interesting to learn about the finger and hand terminology!
I did read once about the tip to ripen bananas quicker. It has to do with the gases emitted by the other fruit to quicken the ripening process.
Also, peel from the bottom, not the stem. If you ever watch monkeys eat a banana, that’s how they do it because it’s easier.
All the facts about the bananas are very interesting (quite a few I didn’t know at all), but there’s one I liked the most: 1 Banana = a finger and a bunch of bananas = a hand … that must be my fun fact for the week 🍌🍌!
I liked the last one, bury the peel for bugs!
You learn something every day!
Right!
How have I lived this long and not known #1 in your list?! Thanks for this handy info.
Haha I actually had to Google it to verify the fact, I had never heard that either. You’re welcome!
Good to know. Thanks. 🙂
You’re welcome Jeanne!
My freezer has several bananas now ready for me to bake them up 🙂
Smart lady!
What the hell? I did not know a bunch of bananas was called a hand. Or that you could freeze them for later use! I’m sort of going bananas over all this news! I couldn’t help myself. Happy Thanksgiving my friend, hope you are feeling better! Hugs, C
I learn something new every time I research for the blog. I didn’t know about the finger and hands either Cheryl. Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving too!
That was a lot of fats and figures about bananas – they were all interesting. That is what I do Diane – I buy a few of each color as I don’t like them green nor overly ripe. Just right is when they are sweet, but not overly sweet. I didn’t know about the words “fingers” and “hands”. : )
I agree about the ripeness Linda! That was a new fun fact for me as well about the finger and hands.
Thanks for the good info, Diane!
You’re very welcome!
Leaving bananas in a bunch to ripen faster (or the opposite) makes sense, but I had never thought of that. Good tip!
Thank you Linda, I didn’t know about putting the peels in the garden.
Great post. thank you for sharing tips
Thank you and you’re welcome!
I appreciate the banana tips!
I loved the one about putting the peels around plants in the dirt. One of my followers said he always does this and it works.