Exact Answer: Up to 7 days
The shelf life of bananas depends on how the person stores them. The bananas would last long if they are stored at a cool temperature. Everyone can store the raw bananas at room temperature till they start to ripen. The outer layers of the bananas work as the protective shield for the inner part of the bananas.
The shelf life of the bananas would get affected if the person doesn’t use safe food storage techniques. The bananas can easily last around 7 days if they are stored in favorable conditions. The type of bananas plays a vital role in determining the shelf life.
The raw bananas can last around 7 to 10 days while the ripe bananas would not last for more than 7 days. The color of the bananas would be the best sign to know if the bananas are raw or not.
How Long Do Bananas Last?
| Bananas | Time |
| Minimum time | 5 days |
| Maximum time | 7 days |
The life span of the bananas can be extended by storing them correctly. For example, if someone stores the bananas at room temperature, then the shelf life would not be more than 3 to 4 days. If the bananas are stored in the fridge, then the shelf life would be around one week or more. The weather condition may affect the shelf life of bananas.
In the winter months, the bananas can last around 5 to 7 days at room temperature. In summers, the bananas would get spoiled in just 3 to 4 days. Once the bananas start getting bad, the texture and smell of bananas would start changing. The texture of the bananas would get softer as a sign of the early spoilage process.
The bananas would lose their firm texture when the spoilage process would begin. The fruity smell of the bananas would start getting unpleasant if the shelf life is about to complete. The shelf life of the bananas is very short as compared to citrus fruit such as lemons and oranges.
The bananas can turn mushy very quickly if they are stored at a hot temperature. Sun exposure is not at all recommended for maintaining the quality of bananas. It’s very difficult to determine the shelf life of the bananas as they come with no expiry or best before date.
People should try to purchase high-quality bananas as they would last extremely long.
Why Do Bananas Last This Long?
Once the bananas start turning slightly black, it’s vital to consume them at the earliest. If the bananas are extremely black, then no one should consume them as it would cause stomach issues. The bacterial growth can happen to the bananas if store outside the fridge.
This bacterial growth would affect the quality of bananas by making them go bad very fast. The bananas can’t survive moisture exposure after the freshness is gone. Regular moisture contact and heat exposure would make the bananas host much bacterial growth. The fresh bananas in the freezer would stay fresh for around 2 to 3 months.
The bananas are available in a variety of qualities and sizes. It’s not a wise choice to buy bananas in bunches as they will not last for a long time period.
The extremely sour smell of the bananas would come when the bananas are gone bad. Bananas are strong fruits that are known for their firmness. With time the bananas would start losing their strong texture or outer coating. Store the bananas separate from the ethylene-producing fruits.
Some of the ethylene-producing fruits are avocados and apples. This fruit would result in faster ripening of bananas due to ethylene production.
Conclusion
The shelf life of bananas depends on the storage and type of bananas. The bananas which are of poor quality would go bad in just 2 to 4 days. The high or premium quality bananas would last around 10 days without any spoilage symptoms. The health benefits of bananas could be claimed if they are eaten in their fresh stage.
Many people try to store the bananas in sliced form, but this would not last for more time as the outer layer of the bananas protects them from moisture and heat exposure.
