What are Bananas?

Selection

Avoid bananas with brown spots that seem very soft. Select those bananas with a nice color, specific for the variety. Choose fruit that is firm and free of bruises. Best eating quality has been reached when the solid yellow skin color is speckled with brown. Bananas with green tips or with practically no yellow color have not developed their full flavor. Bananas are overripe when they have a strong odor.

Storage

To further ripen bananas leave at room temperature for a couple of days. Once ripe you can store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. The peel may turn brown in the refrigerator, but the fruit will not change.

Varieties

The very popular yellow banana of Cavendish is the banana we see in grocery stores. However, Plantains, Finger Bananas and Red Bananas are also popular varieties. Most all have a soft texture when ripe.

Nutruition Information

Serving size 1 - medium (126g/4.5oz)
Amounts Per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories	110
Calories from Fat	0
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 0mg	0%
Potassium 400mg	11%
Total Carbohydrate 29g	10%
Dietary Fiber 4g	6%
Sugars 21g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A	0%
Vitamin C	15%
Calcium	0%
Iron	2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

(Source: cdc.gov)

Feedback About This Post:

RE: Bananas

i love bananas im on this website searching for info for my science project. I love banana bread and banana pie!!!!!!

Post By suela (Guest Post)

Banana

Hi,
When finished with your banana, take the peels
and plant them under your flower garden especialy
good for roses.
Put them in the ground skin side up.
Then watch them bloom.
It's a bit late now for the season is over here in the
northeast, but not in the warmer climate.
Charlie................................11/09/05

Post By Charles Scaparo (Guest Post)

RE: Bananas

I love bananas but don't like them when they are overripe. To avoid wasting them by throwing them away, I like to make banana bread or use them in healthy banana shakes and drinks. Instead of throwing the unpeeled banana directly into the freezer, which I used to do, I now unpeel and mash the fruit, measure out 1/2 cup or 1 cup servings and freeze them in ziploc baggies. The smaller portions are easier to use and they thaw much quicker than the whole banana. And I can thaw the exact amount I need!

By Deb

Post by ThriftyFun

Bananas

By Jennifer A. Wickes

Geography
Bananas are only grown in hot, humid, tropical climates.

Science
Musaceae.

Varieties
There are hundreds of varieties of bananas grown around the world. The Cavendish is the most popular in the United States. Other varieties that may be found in specialty markets are: Burro, Blue Java, Dwarf, Manzano, Mysore, Orinoco and the Plantain.

How to Select
This is the only fruit that actually gets better if it is picked while it is unripe. When choosing a ripe banana, choose a plump yellow banana with brown flecks. Avoid any with blemishes.

Green bananas can be bought and allowed to ripen at home on the countertop, or they can be placed in a brown paper bag with holes pierced through it.

Storage
Store ripe bananas on the countertop for 3 days or in the refrigerator for several days. If you place the banana in the refrigerator, the skin will turn brown, but the actual fruit will be fine.

Nutritional Qualities
High in carbohydrates, low in fat, high in potassium and Vitamin C.

Trivia
Once peeled, a banana will turn brown fast! To avoid this from happening, brush the banana with lemon juice.

Over-ripe bananas may be frozen in a plastic bag until enough bananas have been saved to make banana bread! Thaw before using.

Wine Pairings
Zinfandel Blanc, Vouvray.

Equivalencies
1 lb. Fresh = 3 medium bananas = 2 cups sliced = 1 3/4 cup mashed = 1 cup dried

Additional Information
http://www.uffva.org

Recipes

Impossible Banana Cream Pie
Recipe By: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format

• 1 cup milk
  
• 1/3 cup butter
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 1 1/2 cups sugar -- granulated
  
• 1/2 cup Bisquick baking mix
  
• 2 bananas -- medium, sliced
  
• 1 cup whipping cream -- chilled
  
• 2 tablespoons sugar -- powdered
  

• 2 cups flour
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1/3 cup oil
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 4 bananas
  

• 4 banana -- firm ripe
  
• 1/3 cup fresh orange juice -- strained
  
• 1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
  
• vegetable oil -- for frying
  
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
• 1 dash liquid hot pepper sauce
  
• 2 ounces sliced pimiento -- as garnish
  

Post by ThriftyFun

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