Banana pulp reacts with oxygen in the air and turns brown when peeled, just like apples and many other fruits. Although the flavor does not change, the presentation suffers from this transformation, especially if you are preparing bananas for a fruit salad or dessert. Thankfully, there are many effective tricks to keep your bananas looking good. The simplest? Lemon juice.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Fruit Juice
Step 1. Buy some fruit juice or squeeze it yourself
There are several juices that prevent banana slices from turning black. You can use fresh or packaged ones, it is not important. Read this article if you have decided to make one at home. Either way, know that you won't need much of it, about 120ml is more than enough for a banana or two.
- The lemon juice it is certainly the best known and used for this purpose. It is as perfect for bananas as it is for apples. However, there are other fruits that you can consider:
- Lime juice.
- Orange juice.
- Canned pineapple juice.
- Fresh or canned grapefruit juice.
- Apple juice.
Step 2. Cover the banana pieces with the juice
To do this you can simply pour the liquid over the bananas or dip the slices. Alternatively, let the pieces of fruit soak in the juice for a few minutes so they can absorb the liquid. This technique is perfect for preserving the light color of bananas, but the flavor may be altered more than usual.
- Another quick method is to wet the bananas with the juice, transfer them with the juice into a sealed bag and then gently turn the latter a few times.
- To minimize any possible alterations in the taste of bananas, use a little juice or pour it into a spray bottle and sprinkle it on the slices.
Step 3. Eat bananas or store them
Once wet with fruit juice, they will take longer to darken. In the meantime, you can decide whether to eat them plain or prepare a tart, fruit skewers, a semifreddo or a fruit salad; you can rest assured that your bananas will retain their natural color until the end of the meal. They will not darken even if you leave them in a plastic container at room temperature for a few hours; they will be perfect for a packed lunch.
Even if treated with fruit juice, it is advisable to consume sliced bananas on the same day. The cold from the fridge makes the peels dark, but if this is not a problem, know that the pulp will remain fresh and clear. If you put the slices in the refrigerator, however, remember to put them in an airtight container leaving as little air inside as possible
Step 4. Spice up the darkened banana slices with grapefruit or pineapple juice
If the banana pieces have already blackened, know that all is not lost. You can lighten them by soaking them in canned pineapple or grapefruit juice for 10-15 minutes. They won't revert to their perfect original pale yellow color, but they will look fresher and more delicious.
Method 2 of 2: Alternative Cheats
Step 1. Use seltzer water
Fruit juice isn't the only liquid you can use to keep bananas from turning an unpleasant brown color. For example, sparkling water and seltzer water are known for their ability to prevent sliced fruit from turning black. Among other things, they have the advantage of not altering the natural flavor of the banana. Use seltzer water just like you would with fruit juices, dipping banana pieces in before serving or storing.
Remember to use only carbonated water or soda water. Tonic water is a similar looking drink, but it has a strong flavor that doesn't go well with that of banana
Step 2. Use tap water
It is not as effective as fruit juices and the other solutions proposed in this article, but it is a very cheap liquid that you always have available. However, you can use it just like juices: soak the fruit slices before using them as you wish.
Step 3. Use diluted citric acid
This element (the same that makes citrus juices like lemon so sour) is sold in its purified form as an additive for canning. With this formulation it is used in shops specifically to preserve the natural color of the fruit and prevent it from blackening. However, it is not always easy to get pure citric acid. The best thing is to go to the pharmacy or to the wholesalers who supply the pastry shops. Fortunately, it is not an expensive product and for a bottle you can spend even less than 10 euros.
To use this element, dilute 15ml in 120ml of water and mix thoroughly. Dip the banana slices in the solution as usual. Do not use pure citric acid, as it is too sour
Step 4. Try diluted vinegar
This product works similarly to citric acid in keeping fruit fresh. However, it has a very strong flavor and needs to be diluted. Just like you did with citric acid, pour a few milliliters of vinegar into 240ml of water to make the mixture and then add the banana slices.
Step 5. Dissolve Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is another element that is able to inhibit the oxidation of fruit. Vitamin C powder is available in pharmacies and drugstores as a cold supplement. Dissolve it in water (according to the instructions on the package) and soak the banana slices as usual.
If you're in a hurry, multivitamin tablets are fine too
Step 6. Limit your bananas to air exposure
Since banana slices blacken from contact with oxygen in the air, if you can physically prevent this exposure then you are able to avoid the reaction. There are several methods to do this, you can find a short list below:
- A very simple trick involves using wax paper. Slice the bananas into evenly sized pieces and arrange them on a tray. Cut out a square of wax paper the size of the tray and spread it over the bananas by pressing gently to make it adhere to the fruit. The slices compressed between the tray and the wax paper will not be in excessive contact with oxygen.
- If you have time, you can also cut small squares of wax paper or cling film and stick them one by one on the slices. Remember to remove them before eating fruit!
- If you have a vacuum packing machine, then you can pack bananas this way.
Advice
- If bananas are too brown to eat plain, use them in a preparation where color is not important (like banana bread or frozen chocolate covered bananas).
- If you want bananas to look fresh before slicing them, you need to implement different solutions. Read this tutorial to find valuable tips.
