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July 31, 2009

Go (green) bananas

Submitted by SiteEditor Read more fruit, healthy eating, mindful eating, and organic foods
Challenge Yourself for: 24 Hours

Many conventionally grown—and some organic—bananas are gassed artificially with the hormone ethylene to speed ripening, so your best bet for getting ungassed organic bananas may be to buy them when they’re green. (Asking your supplier about sourcing is also a good idea.) Ripening bananas at home and off the tree is easy—just place them in a paper bag with other fruits, like an apple or a tomato, and the process will happen naturally. Today, challenge yourself to buy a better banana. Ask questions, get answers, and go green if you have to.

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22 comments Have something to add? Share it here.

  1. User_48
    BriceM555 7 months ago

    I usually slice bananas and eat it mixed in with Kashi cereal, so I’m definitely going to start doing this.

  2. User_48
    montjuli 7 months ago

    Can you buy any green banana or does it have to say organic? I have bought green bananas in the past and I can never get them to ripen. They sit in a fruit bowl with other fruits.

  3. User_48
    wkfrank29 7 months ago

    I love the greener bananas anyway, great to know!

  4. User_48
    babydest 7 months ago

    I did not know this, and will start buying them green from the organic store….I guess you learn something new everyday…Thanks

  5. User_48
    moon_java 7 months ago

    I wish we had somewhere around us where we could buy organic.Our choices are so limited here.

  6. Bamboo-forest
    nant2way 7 months ago

    So the other day I bought some Organic Bananas from the health food store they actually remains green while they were ripe. In the regular grocery store they must spray a ton of chemicals to make the bananas look yellow. My mother sat an grocery store banana next to the organic ones and the next day there were spots on that side of the banana isn’t that interesting? I’m only buying organic from now on.

  7. Chip_hansen
    michrun 7 months ago

    While training for marathons I try to eat one banana a day. My wife and I will start buying more green bananas.

  8. Antigua_009
    pk1208 7 months ago

    I always buy the green bananas because they are fresher, i never knew that they had been forced to ripen. I hate that our foods get messed around with and we don’t even realize it.

  9. User_48
    Cynth21 7 months ago

    I purchase enough bananas to last for one week when I shop. I make sure I have various stages of “ripeness” to keep everyone happy. Little did I realize the green bananas were the best of all! I will be more conscious from now on when I shop for bananas.

  10. User_48
    tabbytabb 7 months ago

    I am new at this organic thing I am curious to know where can I purchase organic bananas?

  11. All_heart_bear
    makwa1963 7 months ago

    We buy green bananas as a matter of principal. Plus they ripen more slowly so we end up with less banana bread bananas at the end of the week.

  12. User_48
    tango98204 7 months ago

    I only eat “still green on the ends” bananas out of hand. As soon as they start to get spots…they get set aside and then frozen for baking or smoothies.

  13. User_48
    neha1129 7 months ago

    I always buy organic bananas, I think they taste better then the conventional bananas..anyways I always buy small unripe bananas. Just put them in the fruit basket on the counter top and in two days they will ripen..love it!

  14. 2054386290_196b00368e_b
    kristin1724 7 months ago

    I definitely prefer the organic bananas and always buy mine green. I hate an over-ripe banana. Also learned that instead of peeling back at the stem, if you pinch the other end, the banana peel pulls right apart! My new favorite trick.

  15. User_48
    nhenschel 7 months ago

    I always buy green bananas. I can’t stand an over ripe banana and by buying them green I have more time to enjoy them by ripening them at home.

  16. User_48
    jowhitaker 7 months ago

    I’ve always bought green bananas, because I like the taste of them better. Once they reach the ‘speckled’ stage, they’re just TOO ripe for me. Nice to know now that green is actually better!

  17. User_48
    tacocase 7 months ago

    I have started buying organic bananas. Maybe they taste a bit sweeter or am I imagining this? I’ll keep at it until I decide.

  18. User_48
    JEANNIE0665 7 months ago

    I ALWAYS but green bananas, I like to ripen them myself

  19. User_48
    Lambertvmb 7 months ago

    I BUY ONLY GREEN ORGANIC BANANAS AND RIPEN THEM AT HOME. This way they don’t get overripe and taste better. I didn’t know about the gas used but certainly don’t want to ingest the effects of it. This has worked well for my family.

  20. User_48
    cathyts 7 months ago

    I have bought green bananas regularly for years and have ripened them at home because bananas have always been a daily food for all in my family. By doing this none have gotten to the overripe stage.