Brilio.net - Ripening bananas is a process that requires patience and a long time. Freshly picked bananas are usually still green and hard, indicating that they are not ready to be consumed. The natural ripening process requires the right environmental conditions, such as the right temperature and humidity, so that the fruit can ripen evenly and perfectly. However, this process often takes quite a long time.
Because of the difficulty and time required to ripen bananas naturally, many people turn to carbide (calcium carbide) to speed up the process. Carbide produces acetylene gas, which mimics natural ethylene gas, speeding up the ripening of bananas in just a few days. While this method is effective, the use of carbide is controversial because the chemical can alter the natural flavor of the banana. Bananas ripened with carbide often have a less sweet taste and a different texture than bananas that ripen naturally.
In addition to changing the taste, the use of carbide also raises health concerns. Carbide contains dangerous compounds such as arsenic and phosphorus that can contaminate the fruit and potentially cause health problems if consumed in the long term. Therefore, although ripening bananas with carbide is faster and more practical, this method is not recommended because of the risks it poses.
Luckily, an Instagram user @nurulkomariah3112 once shared a trick to ripen bananas naturally without carbide. Through one of the videos uploaded, she admitted to only relying on a few tools. But who would have thought, this banana could be perfectly ripe and sweet in 2 days.
photo: Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
As reported by BrilioFood from Instagram @nurulkomariah3112 on Saturday (12/21), some of the tools needed are plastic bags, cardboard, and sacks. So, first of all, the bananas only need to be put into the plastic bags first. Make sure the bananas you choose are still in good condition and there are no black or rotten parts, okay?
photo: Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
Next, put the bananas back into a large cardboard box. Once done, put the cardboard containing the bananas into a sack. After that, close the sack and let it sit for 2 days. Well, this process will trap the ethylene gas that comes out inside and make the bananas ripen perfectly naturally.
photo: Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
Well, bananas that have been ripened will be evenly yellow and ripe, you know. Indeed, basically, wrapping bananas in three layers of wrapping, such as plastic bags, cardboard, or sacks, can speed up the ripening process for several reasons. This technique creates a conducive environment for more efficient fruit ripening.
Bananas, like many other fruits, naturally produce ethylene gas during the ripening process. This gas acts as a ripening hormone that speeds up the color and texture changes of the fruit. By wrapping the bananas, the ethylene gas produced is trapped around the fruit, increasing its concentration and speeding up the ripening process. The additional wrapping helps ensure that the ethylene gas is not easily released into the outside air, making the ripening effect stronger.
On the other hand, excessive exposure to air and light can slow down the ripening process or cause the fruit to undergo undesirable color changes. By wrapping bananas, the fruit is protected from oxidation caused by air as well as from damage that may be caused by direct sunlight. The multiple layers of wrapping provide extra protection and create a darker, cooler environment, which favors natural ripening.