How to Help Bananas Ripe Fast

Put the banana in a paper bag. Bananas produce ethylene gas, a hormone that promotes ripening. ^[1] Wrapping bananas in a paper bag helps to trap this gas around the fruit.

• Avoid using paper bags covered with clay or wax, as these materials can absorb ethylene gas. ^[2]
• Plastic bags can prevent oxygen from reaching the fruit, thereby inhibiting ethylene production. ^{[3] [4]}

Add other fruits to the bag. Paper bags, warm temperatures and the ethylene produced from bananas are all needed to help bananas ripen. On the other hand, you can add some other fruit to the bag if you have it. Some fruits can also produce ethylene and help ripen neighboring fruits. You can choose from apples, pears, apricots and similar seeds, avocados, kiwis and quince. ^[5] Using another banana may also be helpful, but the effect is diminished if the added banana is not fully ripe.

• You should use the ripest fruit possible or cut the fruit to stimulate the production of more ethylene gas.
• Other fruits and vegetables can sometimes produce ethylene gas when they are not healthy. ^[6] If you have no other option, simply cut several times on the fruit or tuber, then put it in a bag of bananas.

Place the bag on the top of the refrigerator. Heat greatly accelerates the ripening of bananas. The ideal temperature for ripening bananas, making them more delicious and beautiful is usually around 18-20ºC. ^{[7] [8]} This is room temperature in a heated home. You should store bananas in a warm place like the top of the refrigerator or on the stove to help them ripen faster. Bananas may not ripen evenly but can still be used in the family.

Increase humidity when the weather is dry. Low humidity can slow the ripening of bananas or affect flavor. ^[9] If the weather is dry, you should use a humidifier in your kitchen or keep a basin of water nearby.

• However, bananas should not be left in a humid area to avoid mold. Leaving water near bananas is usually not a problem, but you should avoid places that are too tight and humid.

Check the banana bag regularly. Bananas usually ripen within 48 hours, but it can take up to several days. You should check 1-2 times a day because fruit stored with bananas can be overripe.