If you like to eat bananas when they have a little bit of green still on their peels, then you aren’t alone. Some people think that they taste best at this particular stage. Taste notwithstanding, the real question is when those bananas are the best for you.
When are they filled with nutritious content? At what point will you get the most fiber and other things when you eat them?
If you’re wondering the same things, look no further. Our experts at My Fit Foods will answer those questions and more below. Let’s get started!
What Is a Banana?
Bananas are yellow tropical fruits that come with a peel that needs to be removed. They grow in massive bunches that are harvested and then separated into smaller bunches for sale.
While there are many varieties of bananas, including plantains, baby bananas, burro bananas, manzanas, and more, you’re more than likely familiar with the Cavendish, which is commonly sold in stores.
No matter the type, this fruit is chock full of fiber and potassium, as well as a lot of vitamin C. Bananas can be used in smoothies, made into bread, added to cakes, and, of course, eaten plain. They have a hint of sweetness to them that makes them the perfect addition to a healthy diet.
However, there are different nutritional benefits to bananas depending on when you choose to eat them. No matter which stage they’re at, bananas are great to eat before a workout.
Signs of a Ripe Banana: Testing Unpeeled Bananas
Bananas are good for you no matter the stage of ripeness, as they contain a lot of potassium and fiber. However, depending on the overall ripeness stage, they can also have plenty of extra nutrients.
Before diving into the various ripeness stages and their health benefits, it helps to know when a banana is ripe. What should you look for? Here’s a quick breakdown:
Squeeze It
Have you ever squeezed a banana? If you haven’t, then head to your nearest grocery store and give it a shot before you put a bunch of bananas in your bag.
Squeeze three bananas: one with a very green peel, one that’s perfectly yellow, and one with a few brown spots. You’ll notice quite a bit of difference between them. The green one should be firm, while the one with brown spots should be very soft. The yellow one will fall somewhere in between. The softer the banana, the riper it is.
Look at the Stem
Examine the stem of the banana carefully. (For the record, this is the section where it meets the bunch. You’ll be able to discern it when you look at the fruit.)
Is there a hint of green on the stem? If so, then it probably isn’t completely ripe yet. The riper the banana, the more yellow the stem.
Removal From the Bunch
How easy is it to remove a single banana from a bunch of them? Attempt to do this when the stems are still very green, and you’ll run into some resistance. They won’t come apart easily at all.
However, if you wait until those stems are no longer green and the main part of the peel is yellow, then you’ll find that they separate with a gentle tug. This is another sign that the banana is ripe.
Ease of Peeling
If you like bananas with a bit of green still on them (due to the taste, of course), then you know that they can be tricky to peel. You might find yourself reaching for a knife in order to remove the stem and then the rest of the peel.
On the other hand, if those bananas are perfectly ripe, they’ll open very easily. You won’t need any tools and will be able to open them with a gentle tug at the stem.
Examine the Peel
Finally, to see if a banana is ripe, you’ll need to examine the peel. Is it still green in spots? Usually, the green appears at the top, closest to the stem. This is a sign that it isn’t quite ripe yet.
A banana should be perfectly yellow, perhaps with a few brown spots when it’s at peak ripeness. A quick glance at the peel should be able to help you determine this.
Different Stages of Ripeness
In order to simplify things, bananas are usually broken down into five different ripeness stages. Each comes with certain health benefits. Of course, taste also plays a factor because some people simply don’t like green, unripe bananas, while others can’t stomach eating the ones with a lot of brown spots.
Personal preferences aside, here’s what you need to know about the various stages of ripeness:
Green: Underripe Bananas With the Lowest Sugar Content
Green bananas are those that haven’t ripened at all yet. As the name implies, the peel is extremely green without even a hint of yellow. When you purchase green bananas at the grocery store, you know that they’ll take a few days to ripen properly. At this point, the bananas are extremely high in starch and fiber.
Although you might think that they can’t be eaten when they’re very unripe, rest assured that they can. The benefits of the fruit at this stage include the improvement of blood sugar issues, the resetting of the gut microbiome, and assistance with weight loss.
Green and Yellow: More Resistant Starch and Less Sugar
At this stage of ripeness, bananas have some green on them, usually at the top, while the rest of the peel is a light yellow color. They are considered barely ripe, and you may have a hard time opening them from the top, having to use a knife or other tool.
However, once you get to the tasty fruit inside, you’ll find that these bananas can help control your blood sugar. They also have plenty of gut-balancing fiber and are rather low in carbohydrates.
Fully Yellow: The Ripening Process Is Complete
Yellow bananas are those that look perfectly so. There isn’t a hint of green on the peels, and they haven’t started browning up yet. Some people think that bananas are practically perfect at this stage, and they’re partially correct because this is their peak of ripeness.
At this point, bananas have just the right amount of nutrients, including vitamin B6 and plenty of potassium. Want to eat a healthy diet? Include plenty of fully yellow bananas.
A Slightly Brown Banana: A Slightly Too-Ripe Banana
Next, some bananas have a couple of brown spots on them. These bananas are technically a bit overripe, making them super soft and easy to eat.
At this stage, you can eat the banana straight from the peel or take advantage of the softness by putting them in a smoothie or other recipe. If you’re looking for antioxidants, this is the point to get in the largest amount of them that the fruit offers.
Lots of Brown Spots: Overripe Banana
If a banana has a lot of brown spots or the peel is almost entirely brown, then it’s overripe. These bananas are useful in recipes like banana bread due to the fact that they are super soft and easy to mix into the batter.
At this point, they are super sweet but don’t have any additional nutrients beyond starch and potassium.
When Should You Eat Bananas?
So, at which stage should you eat bananas? When do they contain the most nutritional benefits?
As it turns out, you can eat them at any stage and take advantage of everything that they have to offer. It all comes down to which benefits you think are best. Pair them with peanut butter, mash them up and turn them into “ice cream,” or enjoy another creative banana recipe.
Curious about bananas? Want to learn more? Contact My Fit Foods today.
Sources:
How to Tell When Bananas are Ripe (And Good to Eat) | Magical Life of Fruit
Banana Basics | The Spruce Eats
Doing It Ripe: The Benefits of Eating Bananas at Every Stage of Ripeness | The Greatist