How to choose the right banana
Bananas are available all year round – look for fruit that has a strong stem and unblemished skin, and feels firm.
Types of bananas
Cavendish bananas
Most common variety available in Australia. A medium-sized fruit with creamy and smooth texture and thin peel.
Red tip bananas
Any fruit dipped in food-grade red wax to indicate that it is organically grown without harsh chemicals or pesticides.
Lady finger
Small-sized fruit, hence the name. Perfectly ripe when skin is yellow with flecks of black. A naturally sweeter fruit.
Plantain
Starchy tropical fruit, larger than a Cavendish with a thicker skin and firm flesh. Good for both sweet and savoury recipes.
When are bananas ripe?
Underripe/green: Highest starch content, a great source of prebiotics for gut health.
Barely ripe: High in fibre, lower in sugar. Good for cooking, such as in fritters.
Ripe: High in antioxidant levels and good fibre content. Great for eating.
Very ripe: Lowest vitamin and mineral content. Good for eating, in smoothies and to make “nice-cream”.
Overripe: Highest sugar and lowest fibre content – great for baking. If you’ve got some of these on hand, why not make a banana cake recipe or a banana bread recipe?
How to store bananas
Store bananas at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Store away from avocados, apples and other fruits that release ethylene gas – it accelerates ripening. Bananas will ripen more quickly kept on the bunch, so separate to slow down ripening. Wrap the stem with aluminium foil to reduce the release of ethylene gas. Freeze peeled, ripe bananas in a ziplock bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.
How to use the whole banana (peel included!)
Leftover banana skins are delicious in curries. To prepare for cooking, place banana skins in a medium heatproof bowl; sprinkle over ½ teaspoon bicarb and rub into skins. Cover with boiling water and stand for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse. Add to curry recipes after frying off all the aromatics and curry paste, then simmer until tender.
Banana recipes to try
Julie Goodwin’s gluten free banana cake
Our best banana bread recipe
Air fryer banana bread
Air fryer banana muffins
Upside-down banoffee cake
Our simple and delicious banana cake recipe
Banana date loaf
Bircher banana bread
Banana and date muffins
One-bowl banana bread
Cinnamon banana fritters
Three ingredient banana and peanut butter pancakes
Banana and cinnamon muffins
Gluten-free Christmas pudding
Banana tarte tatin
Wheaty banana muffins
Banana pancakes with butterscotch sauce
Hummingbird cakes
Banoffee pie
Coconut banana layer cake
Little cinnamon banana tarte tatins
Banana maple pancakes
Banana, coconut & rosemary nice-cream
Banana berry breakfast sorbet
Mini pavlovas
Gluten-free banana bread
Chocolate banana bread
Coconut banoffee tart
Banana fritters with golden syrup
Banana and cinnamon upside-down cake
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