Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Why Do Bananas Turn Black In The Refrigerator

The World's Perfect Fruit


Bananas are often called the world's most perfect fruit. Bananas contain many valuable nutrients and vitamins that can fuel a body. People love bananas so much that they try to keep them from rotting by putting them in the fridge. However, this turns bananas black within a day. Yet the bananas aren't necessarily rotten.








Loaded With Goodies


There are over 19 different vitamins and minerals in a single banana and over 20 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of protein. There's also 28 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B6 and 15 percent of vitamin C.








Good Goes Black


The reason that bananas turn black has a lot to do with the banana peel. Green banana peels contain a plant hormone called ethylene. This is a gaseous chemical that is responsible for helping ripen the banana to yellow. At the same time, a few different natural acids are also being produced that add balance to the ripening process and make the banana sweet.


When you put a banana in the fridge, the acid production slows down because of the cold temperature and, as a result, the ripening process slows down. Yet ethylene production continues to escape, eventually breaking down the cell walls of the peel until it becomes black. Many bananas that are bought by distributors are purchased fully green and then put in specialized rooms so that the ethylene gasses can quickly ripen them.


Making Bananas Last


If you want to keep bananas fresh for longer, peel them when they are ripe and put them in the fridge. Otherwise, storing bananas at room temperature will continue the ripening process because the environment is close to a banana's natural one.

Tags: ripening process, slows down, them fridge
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