Can I eat blackened bananas?
Store-bought bananas that have lain at home for several days usually begin to be covered with dark spots. Many people eat such a product without thinking about whether it is fit to eat. Let's find out if dark bananas are bad for the body.
Why bananas turn black
Bananas are a real "treasure trove" of complex carbohydrates. After all, they contain a large amount of starch. It is thanks to this substance bananas have such a pleasant, soft and unique taste. In a short time under the influence of oxygen complex carbohydrates contained in fruits tend to break down into different elements. For example, it could be sucrose. Throughout the process, the banana flesh and rind begin to darken and the taste of the fruit changes. In addition, it becomes very soft.
When the banana is overripe and sweetened, it begins to be digested in the human body very quickly. In addition, the fruit "gives" the body a large amount of all the vitamins and minerals that it contains. Because of this, it is believed that the overripe fruit is a good "help" for the immune system. Undoubtedly, such bananas are very powerful to strengthen the body's defenses.
A side note! This fruit comes to the supermarket shelves from rather warm countries, such as Ecuador or Colombia. According to experts, one of the largest suppliers is still India.
How to store bananas correctly so they don't turn black
In terms of storage, bananas are very capricious. They are not acceptable for sudden changes in temperature, strong cold and staying under direct sunlight. Improper storage conditions cause the fruit to darken and spoil quickly. For bananas to stay fresh for a long time, you need to consider their degree of maturity and follow simple rules.
The following conditions are necessary for the storage of the fruit:
- The temperature in the room - from 13 to 16 degrees.
- Darkness. A good such place would be a pantry or a cellar. If the bananas are placed in the light, the process of photosynthesis will begin. This phenomenon can cause the fruit to turn yellow and then turn black.
- Good ventilation. This slows down the softening process of the fruit.
- Absence of damage. If there are, it means the fruit is not suitable for storage.
Bananas have the following storage times:
- at room temperature - from 5 to 7 days;
- in dried form - the duration may be from 2 to 5 months;
- in the refrigerator - approximately 11 to 15 days;
- in the freezer approximately 1 to 2 months.
If there is a need for long-term storage, you should:
- First, wrap the stalks of the fruit with cellophane. This will cause the ethylene to concentrate there. This action slows down the natural process of spoiling and ripening of the fruit.
- Secondly, buy unripe bananas. In this case it is possible to preserve the taste and appearance. Such bananas should be stored at a temperature of 14 degrees and 85% humidity. Under these conditions, a glazed balcony (if it is winter) or the steps in the cellar will do.
In addition, there are 2 ways to keep the fruit ripe:
- Place it in a dark paper bag;
- Wrap each banana separately in baking paper.
Can you eat a blackened banana?
In a number of studies, it has been found that those bananas that are covered with brown spots are much healthier than absolutely clean ones. That is why it is necessary for a person to consume such specimens. After all, overripe fruit has a number of positive qualities.
- Can normalize blood pressure.
- Saturate with potassium. Overripe bananas contain it in large quantities. It regulates blood pressure.
- Helps relieve pain in girls during the menstrual cycle.
- Reduces the number of cancers. These fruits contain a special element that destroys cancer cells.
- Eliminates constipation.
But do not forget that before eating it, you should conduct a thorough inspection of the fruit. If there is a spoiled area, you need to assess its size, check for the integrity of the peel and make sure that there are no cracks.
If there are not many dark dots and stripes on the banana, and the skin is not damaged, you can safely eat it. It should be noted that cracks represent a great danger, because microorganisms can actively penetrate through them. It is worth noting that poisoning with these fruits in medical practice almost never occur. But if you consume too many spoiled bananas or completely rotten product, then everything is possible.
What can be prepared from blackened bananas
Usually it is customary to process this fruit. As a rule, a lot of different tasty desserts can be made from finely chopped bananas. For example, it can be jelly, smoothie or fruit puree. In addition, the banana can be used in the preparation of ice cream or pie. It is worth noting that baking retains a large amount of useful substances. In addition, the spoiled fruit can work well in a fried form. To do this, it should be sliced into circles, dipped in oatmeal flakes and fried until golden crust. Some people also prefer to add honey. But, as a rule, the flesh of the fruit is sweet, so you can not add additional sweeteners. Below are a few desserts from spoiled bananas:
- Banana bread is one of those types in which the overripe fruit is "given 2 lives." The bread turns out very tasty, tender and healthy. It can become for a person both a nutritious breakfast and an excellent dessert. The time of preparation of such sweetness will take only about 1 hour. A few slices of such bread will "provide" a person with a "vitamin charge" and a good mood.
- Many people associate banana pancakes with breakfast on a long-awaited day off. Undoubtedly, everyone knows how quickly and easily you can prepare such a wonderful dessert. Certainly this dish will become for the hostess a wand for a quick breakfast or lunch. In addition, bananas in such a dessert will give a special flavor and sweetness.
- Banana cake will be tasted, first of all, by a child. Mashed sweet bananas are undoubtedly the ideal base for the pie dough due to its very delicate consistency. It is for this reason that you should definitely bake a banana dessert with it. In addition, nuts and oat flakes can be added to this pie. The result will be a delicious and healthy dietary dish.
- Bananas fried in batter are especially loved by the inhabitants of Asia and China. For this reason, rice flour is used in the composition of this dish. It makes the dough very tender and light. It shouldn't be too difficult to make such a dessert at home.
- Banana pudding is the king of all desserts. The pudding is especially popular in England because of its delicate texture. It is the overripe bananas that are very good to include in this stunning dish.
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