How to ripen bananas quickly

Buying green bananas can seem like a sensible choice sometimes – that way, they’re at the perfect level of ripeness when it comes time to use them. But what if your bananas won’t ripen?

Whether you’re eating them straight from the skin or using them for a morning smoothie, this guide will help you discover how to ripen bananas fast.

How to ripen bananas quickly

The method you choose to ripen bananas will depend mostly on how much time you have. Below, you’ll find three different ways to do it. 

1. Ripening bananas in a few days

If you’ve got a spare 1-3 days before you want your ripened bananas, then all you need is a paper bag and some patience. Pop your fruit in a paper bag and close it. The ethylene gas that bananas produce when ripening will be trapped, helping them to ripen more quickly. Don’t forget to check on them each day since some will ripen faster than others.

2. Ripening bananas in the oven 

If you’ve only got a few hours to spare, your oven can do a great job of ripening bananas at speed. Line a tray with baking paper or a silicone mat, and place your bananas (still in their skins) on the tray. Bake them at 150°C for around half an hour, checking them after 15 minutes. When the skin turns black— and the fruit inside becomes soft— you’ll know they’re done. 

3. Ripening bananas in the microwave 

Craving banana bread, but your bananas aren’t ripe yet? You can also use a microwave to speed up the process. Prick the banana skins all over with a fork, put them on a microwaveable plate, and zap for 30 seconds at a time. Simply stop when you reach your desired level of softness.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread? 

A ripe banana is typically yellow. A banana ripe enough for banana bread is brown or black. If you’re making banana bread, you’ll want to use bananas that have skins as dark as possible: the darker the skin, the sweeter the fruit inside and the more intense the flavour. Just be sure to discard any ripe bananas that are leaking liquid, mouldy, smell off or attracting fruit flies. These will not be suitable and could be harmful if consumed.

Try pairing this Banana Nice Cream recipe with your banana bread.

Banana benefits 

One small (80g) banana counts as one of your five a day. Thanks to the sugar and fibre content, bananas not only give you an instant energy boost, but they’ll also provide you with slow-release energy to keep you going for longer. It’s just one reason why they’re a popular choice of snack, both before and after exercise.

Utilising bananas, particularly in a banana smoothie or breakfast bowl, is an easy way to introduce more nutrients into your diet.

Banana recipes 

• Sugar-Free Banana & Buckwheat Bircher Muesli recipe
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Oatmeal recipe