Choosing which method for how to ripen your bananas really depends on how much time you have and what you need your bananas for. While it is best to let bananas ripen naturally in a warm spot on your kitchen counter, sometimes you might need a ripe bananas in a pinch for baking. We’ll take you through 4 different ways to ripen your bananas in 5 minutes, up to a day or two.
5 minutes – Microwave:
1. Spread your bananas out on a microwave-safe plate. Prick each banana 3 to 4 times with a fork.
2. Microwave on high heat in 30-second intervals until the bananas are soft to the touch. Let the bananas cool as the insides will be nuclear hot.
10-30 minutes – Air Fryer:
1. Place bananas in the air fryer basket with a little space between each one. Set at 275°F for anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes depending on how green your bananas are to start. Air fry until the peels are dark brown and the bananas feel soft when pressed.
2. Check the bananas periodically during cooking, and add a few tablespoons of water to the bottom of the basket if the peels start to feel crispy at any point. Let the bananas cool before peeling.
15-40 minutes – Oven:
1. Place unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 15 to 40 minutes. They’re ready when they are dark brown and very soft to the touch.
1-2 days – Brown paper bag:
1. Place your green bananas in a paper bag. Sealing the paper bag traps the ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone, that is responsible for ripening your fruit. They should be ripe within 1 to 2 days, though if they are very green, it may take a bit longer.
2. You can also add an apple or avocado to your bag – this will speed up the ripening process as both of these fruits emit loads of ethylene gas.
So the next time you find yourself in need of a ripe banana but only have green ones, try one of these methods. Using heat is the fastest method for softening bananas enough so that they’re perfect for use in baking. If you don’t need the bananas urgently, try the paper bag method to maintain their texture and to eat right out of the peel. Go bananas!
