Ready to bake with bananas but stuck with underripe ones on your kitchen counter? Many baking recipes call for ripe bananas, and it can be frustrating to have bright yellow ones instead. But don’t worry—I’ve outlined a few tried-and-true methods to quickly ripen or brown your bananas for baking!
In this article, I’ll guide you through simple methods to speed-ripen bananas. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to get perfectly ripened bananas in just minutes!
So, let’s get started. Grab those yellow (or even green) bananas sitting on your counter, and turn them into ripe, sweet fruit in no time!
Table of Contents
Bananas Ripening Process
The ripening process of fruits like bananas, peaches, and apples is driven by ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone. Bananas are particularly high in ethylene production, which is why a bunch left on your dining table will develop brown spots over time.
These spots indicate that most of the starches have converted to sugars, making the bananas as sweet as possible. As bananas ripen further, their skin darkens to brown or black, their flesh becomes mushier, and their sweetness intensifies.
Incorporate ripened bananas into your baking for moist, flavorful treats. Their natural sweetness and tender texture make breads, muffins, cakes, and more soft, rich, and full of fresh banana flavor—perfect for enjoying right out of the oven, just like mine!
Tip: Avoid using bananas with mold spots, as they indicate spoilage and can affect the dish. Instead, use ripe bananas in baking or freeze them before mold appears to preserve their flavor for future use in smoothies or recipes.
How to Ripen Bananas Quickly Using Different Methods
Below are effective methods for quickly ripening bananas: using a brown bag, an oven, or an air fryer. Each technique will get your bananas ready in no time.
There are endless possibilities of baking with dark bananas like my Banana Bread without Baking Soda, 4-Ingredient Banana Bread, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins or Blueberry Banana Bread.
# 1 - Keep the Bananas on the Counter or Kitchen Table
Time: 24 hours - 6 days
After bringing home a bunch of fresh, yellow bananas, remove them from the bag and place them on a dining or kitchen table near a sunny window with ample direct sunlight. Keeping them in a warm spot at room temperature will help them ripen more quickly. Additionally, bananas ripen faster when stacked together in a bunch, so allow them to stay grouped for quicker ripening.
# 2 - Brown Paper Bag Method
Time: 24 hours - 6 days
Another easy, simple and effective method for ripening bananas within a few days is the brown bag technique. Place the unripe bananas inside a brown bag. For faster results, you can also add a fruit that produces high levels of ethylene, such as a ripe banana or apple. Fold the top of the bag and leave it on the counter.
The ethylene gas trapped inside the bag will accelerate the ripening process. Depending on the initial ripeness of the bananas, this method can take anywhere from 24 hours to 6 days. A plastic bag can also be used for this purpose.
# 3 - Oven Method
Time: 20 - 35 minutes
This is one of the most convenient and effective methods for quickly ripening bananas.
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, parchment paper, or butter paper, and arrange the unpeeled yellow or semi-ripe bananas on the tray.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, turning the bananas halfway through for even browning. Continue baking until the bananas are completely black, which may take up to 35 minutes depending on their size and ripeness.
Once the bananas are fully blackened, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before peeling and using the pulp for baking.
# 4 - Air Fryer
Time: 8 - 11 minutes
Here’s another quick method for darkening bananas using an air fryer.
Line the air fryer basket or tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Arrange the unpeeled bananas on the tray and set the air fryer to 300°F (150°C). It should take about 8-11 minutes for the bananas to turn completely black, though this may vary based on your air fryer and the bananas’ ripeness.
Once the bananas are fully blackened, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool to room temperature. After cooling, peel the bananas, scoop out the flesh, and use it in your recipe as directed.
# 5 - Microwave
Time: 5 - 10 minutes
The microwave method can quickly ripen bananas, but it’s not ideal as it doesn’t fully develop the natural sugars.
Peel the bananas and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Heat in 30-second intervals until the banana pulp is soft and easily mashed with a fork. Once softened, remove the bananas from the microwave and let them cool completely before using.
How to Store Ripen Bananas
Freezing Instructions
Freeze unpeeled ripe bananas for up to 6-8 months. Wrap them in a Ziploc bag or place them in an airtight container, labeling it with the date for reference.
When you’re ready to use them, remove the bananas from the freezer and let them thaw for a few hours. Peel the bananas, mash them with a fork or masher, and then measure and incorporate them into your recipe as needed.