Brown Bananas: When to Eat Them and When to Toss Them

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverripe vs. RottenBenefitsDiabetes ConsiderationsAvoiding Food Waste

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Overripe vs. Rotten

Benefits

Diabetes Considerations

Avoiding Food Waste

As a good source ofpotassiumandfiber, bananas can be a key part of a healthy diet. Though most people prefer the pristine yellow type, brown bananas have a lot to offer despite the way they look.

Though they may not look perfect, you can eat brown bananas. These overripe fruits provide a healthy source of the same vitamins and minerals found in yellow ones.

Brown bananas are riper and softer than yellow bananas. They are also sweeter. As a result, they are more likely to be used in baked goods and other recipes than consumed as a snack alone.

This article describes the uses of brown bananas and how to safely consume them. It also explains the special traits of brown bananas and when they may not be a good choice.

Brown Bananas: What’s Overripe vs. Rotten?

Bananascontinue to ripen after they are harvested due to the presence of the plant hormoneethylene, which the banana produces. As bananas ripen, the color of their peels change, and they become softer and much sweeter. The following factors can accelerate this process, causing a banana to become brown at a faster-than-normal rate:

A banana is considered ripe when it has small brown spots on its skin. These brown spots are a sign that thestarchin the fruit has been converted to sugar, which makes the bananas sweeter and more aromatic. Though the banana flesh can also have brown spots, these spots often occur due to bruises on extremely ripe bananas.

Bananas with brown spots on the skin or flesh are considered edible. However, the riper bananas become, the higher the risk thatbacteriacould be on them. Brown bananas should be used in cooking because heat can kill any bacteria that may exist.

A brown banana with the following signs is likely rotten and should be thrown away:

Refrigerating/Freezing Brown BananasStoring ripe bananas in the refrigerator will halt the ripening process. However, it will also promote the release of ethylene, which can cause the skin to turn brown though it will not affect the taste or nutrients.Brown bananas that become overripe outside the refrigerator can be frozen later. The recommended process involves peeling them. Depending on how you intend to use them in the future, the bananas can be sliced, pureed, mashed, or left whole.When properly done, freezing bananas can preserve more nutrients than other preservation methods. To maintain top nutritional quality during freezing, store the frozen bananas at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and use them within six months of freezing. Ice crystals (or moisture loss) forming on the surface of frozen bananas indicate freezer burn and can cause unpleasant flavors.

Refrigerating/Freezing Brown Bananas

Storing ripe bananas in the refrigerator will halt the ripening process. However, it will also promote the release of ethylene, which can cause the skin to turn brown though it will not affect the taste or nutrients.Brown bananas that become overripe outside the refrigerator can be frozen later. The recommended process involves peeling them. Depending on how you intend to use them in the future, the bananas can be sliced, pureed, mashed, or left whole.When properly done, freezing bananas can preserve more nutrients than other preservation methods. To maintain top nutritional quality during freezing, store the frozen bananas at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and use them within six months of freezing. Ice crystals (or moisture loss) forming on the surface of frozen bananas indicate freezer burn and can cause unpleasant flavors.

Storing ripe bananas in the refrigerator will halt the ripening process. However, it will also promote the release of ethylene, which can cause the skin to turn brown though it will not affect the taste or nutrients.

Brown bananas that become overripe outside the refrigerator can be frozen later. The recommended process involves peeling them. Depending on how you intend to use them in the future, the bananas can be sliced, pureed, mashed, or left whole.

When properly done, freezing bananas can preserve more nutrients than other preservation methods. To maintain top nutritional quality during freezing, store the frozen bananas at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and use them within six months of freezing. Ice crystals (or moisture loss) forming on the surface of frozen bananas indicate freezer burn and can cause unpleasant flavors.

Benefits of Brown Bananas Compared to Ripe Bananas

Despite their unsightly appearance, brown bananas can provide several benefits when compared to the more visually appealing ripe yellow bananas. Here are some of the advantages that brown bananas offer:

A much higher sugar content: This makes brown bananas an excellent choice for use as ingredients in baked goods.

Easier to digest: The sweetness of brown bananas originates when enzymes in bananas break downresistant starch(starch that is not digested) into simple sugar, making it more digestible.

Higherantioxidantlevels: The brown spots on bananas appear as the natural ripening process stimulates the breakdown of the banana’s molecules. As antioxidant activity increases, it reveals itself as brown spots. Antioxidants are valuable compounds that help protect your cellular health and overall wellness.

Are Brown Bananas OK for People With Diabetes?

Studies show that during the ripening process, the fibers in bananas begin to degrade and the complex starches transform into simple sugars. This increases the sugar content of brown bananas and can make them a cause of concern for people withdiabetes.

Riper fruits like brown bananas tend to have a higher glycemic index. Foods with a high glycemic index are quickly digested and absorbed, resulting in a rapid increase in blood sugar. People with diabetes should limit their diet to foods with a low GI index (under 56) to help maintain normal blood sugar levels. This is a constant challenge due to insulin resistance and other conditions.

However, for people with diabetes, the science of determining a ripe banana’s glycemic index can also pose a challenge. Researchers who examined bananas at different stages of maturity and ripeness concluded that the dietary fiber, sugar, and starch content of bananas can’t be generalized across ripeness stages.As a result, it is safer for people with diabetes to opt for less ripe bananas in smaller portions to avoid the risk of blood sugar spikes.

How to Use Brown Bananas to Avoid Food Waste

There are numerous ways to use brown bananas to help avoid unnecessary food waste. Brown bananas are easily mashed, so they can blend well in a range of food products, from sweet to savory. Here are some options to try:

Use as an ingredient in baked goods.

The natural sugars of brown bananas make overripe bananas an excellent choice for use in baking with less added sugar. Some of the most popular ways to use brown bananas involve adding them as an ingredient in the following items:

Add to no-bake and stovetop recipes.

Many uses for brown bananas don’t require baking. Bananas can be used to sweeten, bind, and thicken mixtures in the following items:

Use as a natural fertilizer.

Overripe bananas that are inedible can be utilized to create nutrient-rich fertilizer. Chop up the banana peels and mix them with eggshells to create compost or place the peels in a jar of water to make fertilizer.

Foods High in Potassium to Look for When Grocery Shopping

Summary

Though you may not seek out a brown banana for a snack, these overripe fruits are safe to consume. Their higher sugar content and soft texture make them ideal for use in baking bread, muffins, and other sweet goods. Brown bananas can also be used to make savory snacks such as banana chips and salsa.

Though brown bananas are as healthy as yellow ones, their higher sugar content may not be right for people with diabetes. However, brown bananas may be easier to digest than yellow ones, making them a better choice for some.

Because brown bananas are overripe, they can quickly become rotten. Brown bananas that show signs of mold, black flesh, or a foul smell should be tossed in the trash to avoid illness.

14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Bananas, overripe, raw.Dole.Why do bananas go brown?Simply Recipes.The 3 signs your bananas are too ripe to safely eat.Spoon University.How to tell if your banana is too ripe.Dole.Storing bananas correctly do’s and don’ts.Good Food.How to freeze bananas.Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, et al.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366One Green Planet.Ripe vs. unripe bananas: which are better for you?Medicover Hospitals.Can diabetics eat bananas.Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, Pehrsson PR, McKillop K, Fukagawa NK.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366Modern Farmer.Supermarket food waste: What’s most likely to get tossed?FoodPrint.How to use old or leftover bananas.Utopia.What to do with ripe bananas? Here’re 10 healthy recipes.Daniel’s Table.Maximizing the potential of ripe bananas: from fresh to fertilizer.

14 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Bananas, overripe, raw.Dole.Why do bananas go brown?Simply Recipes.The 3 signs your bananas are too ripe to safely eat.Spoon University.How to tell if your banana is too ripe.Dole.Storing bananas correctly do’s and don’ts.Good Food.How to freeze bananas.Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, et al.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366One Green Planet.Ripe vs. unripe bananas: which are better for you?Medicover Hospitals.Can diabetics eat bananas.Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, Pehrsson PR, McKillop K, Fukagawa NK.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366Modern Farmer.Supermarket food waste: What’s most likely to get tossed?FoodPrint.How to use old or leftover bananas.Utopia.What to do with ripe bananas? Here’re 10 healthy recipes.Daniel’s Table.Maximizing the potential of ripe bananas: from fresh to fertilizer.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.Bananas, overripe, raw.Dole.Why do bananas go brown?Simply Recipes.The 3 signs your bananas are too ripe to safely eat.Spoon University.How to tell if your banana is too ripe.Dole.Storing bananas correctly do’s and don’ts.Good Food.How to freeze bananas.Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, et al.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366One Green Planet.Ripe vs. unripe bananas: which are better for you?Medicover Hospitals.Can diabetics eat bananas.Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, Pehrsson PR, McKillop K, Fukagawa NK.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366Modern Farmer.Supermarket food waste: What’s most likely to get tossed?FoodPrint.How to use old or leftover bananas.Utopia.What to do with ripe bananas? Here’re 10 healthy recipes.Daniel’s Table.Maximizing the potential of ripe bananas: from fresh to fertilizer.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.Bananas, overripe, raw.

Dole.Why do bananas go brown?

Simply Recipes.The 3 signs your bananas are too ripe to safely eat.

Spoon University.How to tell if your banana is too ripe.

Dole.Storing bananas correctly do’s and don’ts.

Good Food.How to freeze bananas.

Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, et al.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366

One Green Planet.Ripe vs. unripe bananas: which are better for you?

Medicover Hospitals.Can diabetics eat bananas.

Phillips KM, McGinty RC, Couture G, Pehrsson PR, McKillop K, Fukagawa NK.Dietary fiber, starch, and sugars in bananas at different stages of ripeness in the retail market.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0253366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253366

Modern Farmer.Supermarket food waste: What’s most likely to get tossed?

FoodPrint.How to use old or leftover bananas.

Utopia.What to do with ripe bananas? Here’re 10 healthy recipes.

Daniel’s Table.Maximizing the potential of ripe bananas: from fresh to fertilizer.

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