Traditionally, we only think about baking banana bread or making smoothies when our bananas are too ripe to eat by hand, but why wait? If you’re hankering for a good smoothie or want to do some baking with a bunch of bananas but they’re not soft or ripe enough, a trip through the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit is all it takes to get them soft and sweet.
Just layer your bananas on a cookie sheet and let them bake at 300 degrees for about an hour.
They’ll turn shiny and black, and they’ll definitely be hot to the touch, but according Clean Green Simple, the long trip through the oven simulates the ripening process, and the end result are super-soft, extra-sweet bananas. Just toss them in the fridge until they’re cool enough to handle. Peel them open, and mix them up for banana muffins, pancakes, banana bread, or toss them into the blender.
Source: Quick Tip – How to Quickly Ripen Bananas | Clean Green Simple
Great tip! Is it 300 degrees Fahrenheit? I guess it must be
Yes it is Fahrenheit
It’s fine to wrap the unripe plantains in a black plastic bag and keep in a dark place by itself…without apple slices or anything else. It ripens up within a very short period, I’ve been doing this for years with success.
(I might try adding the apples too, see if it ripens faster)
To ripen green plantains, put 1 or 2 slices of Apple with the plantain in a dark/black plastic bag, cover loosely n leave it in a dark place for a day or so(depending on how dark the area is); trust me it works like magic each time!
Slices of apple?
I’m skeptical but I’ll definitely try it.
Have you tried without the apple slices to see if it makes a difference?
I didn’t even know this was possible! It will certainly come in handy very soon. Is there a similar tip for ripening green plantains?
Thanks for sharing this, by the way.
hahaha you could try this trick on plantains and let us know how it turns out. I didn’t think of plantains. I shall try it too if I get my hands on relatively unripe ones.
Wow!!! This is a most welcome tip. I’ve had to abandon banana pancakes plans many a time cause the Banana wasn’t ripe enough. No more dulling.
Thanks Lady!
Thanks to E_Victor!!! I know what you mean, the number of times I couldn’t make banana bread….