Upon further research, I learned that bananas are highly sensitive to ethylene, an invisible gas produced by most fruits. While ethylene helps fruits ripen and develop flavor, too much of it in one area causes nearby produce to spoil instead.

Bananas release a significant amount of ethylene, and when stored near other ethylene-sensitive fruits like apples and avocados, this accelerates spoilage, according to the Express.

Kitchen remodeling

While it might seem logical to store bananas in a fruit bowl, this often leads to them softening and ripening too quickly. I’ve started keeping mine on a corner of the kitchen countertop, where they stay fresh for up to a week longer.

Fruit and cheese platters

If wrap up bananas stems they keep fresh up to 10 days longer(Image: Katherine McPhillips)

I’ve also found an even more effective method for extending their shelf life: I recently discovered that bananas release ethylene gas from their stems. So, wrapping their stems in aluminum foil or plastic wrap helps keep them fresh for weeks.

Aluminum foil or plastic wrap creates an airtight seal around the stems, trapping the ethylene gas and preventing it from circulating into the air.