Since they have such a thick Sir Robert Peel , it ’s secure to cut it , right ? Not so fast …
Produce wash is a topic our Test Kitchen gets unnumbered doubt about . You probably screw that you should wash all produce items with hide that you plan to wipe out ( plain piddle is A - OK ! ) , and it ’s saucy to lave items that you ’ll slice through the outside to hand the flesh . That ’s because when your tongue slices through the surface and into the flesh of something like amelon , it could introduce bacteria hanging out on the rind deep down .
If there might be one produce aisle beak thatcouldbe good to skip washing , bananas would be it . Their tegument is so buddy-buddy and a tongue is n’t needed to open them , so this feels like safe territory to plunk right in , right ? unseasonable .
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Should You Wash Bananas?
The “ should you wash bananas ? ” debate has been turning heads on social medium this summer , however , it ’s sure as shooting not a unexampled dilemma . In fact , Dear Abbyeven take on the topic in 1994 . After she initially wrote that she did n’t rinse her bananas and did n’t think it was necessary , a snow flurry of fan feedback came in urging her to change her strategy and give her bananas a shower .
After speaking with Lynn Blanchard , Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen music director and Daniel Kiefer , Ph.D. , an entomologist and the proficient director at American Pest in Washington , D.C. , we can explain the science behind our last reply to this quandary . Yes , you should wash bananas ASAP after they enter your home . Here are two reasons why :
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To Prevent Fruit Flies
Fruit tent-fly are especially active in environments that have any ripe or overripe yield sitting out , or that comprise anything that might smack fruity or sweet , such as spilled fruit succus or residue in unrinsed and empty washing soda can , Dr. Kiefer says .
The viral social medium military post that have been swirling around this summer have been boasting that bananas would stay yield fly - free for years longer than previous pile of banana stored in the same household after a fast rinse , and Dr. Kiefer clew us in about why .
“ yield flies are attract to banana tree because of their potent olfactory property , along with the yeasts and bacteria that can maturate on ripe fruit . Fruit flies commonly lay testis on banana tree , ” he explains . “ To keep fruit flies out of your kitchen , you should try out to reject the factor that attract them . verify to launder banana immediately to get rid of the fruit fly eggs after lend it home , ” as the yield flies may have already lay testis while the yield was transport to or stored in your supermarket .
Other wise ways to prevent ( or eliminate ) fruit rainfly :
Food Safety
The other very important reason to wash banana is to reduce your risk for any illnesses . If any germs or grime is hanging out on the peel , there ’s potentiality to transfer it to the banana tree — say , if you are nurse the fruit by the skin , then use your finger to tear off a bite .
agree to theAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics , “ even if you ’re not cutting the fruit , dirt and bacteria may be transfer as you undress , or simply handle the food . ”
Blanchard echoes this fact , noting that “ it ’s a safe exercise to lave all fruits and vegetables before corrode to reduce the bacteria and scandal that may be present . ”
How to Wash Bananas
Now that you know why you should wash away banana , we ’ll walk you through how . Yes , we know that this seems like a dogfight and an extra stair , but it should n’t take recollective than 1 minute amount as part of your operation of putting by your groceries .
TheUSDAsuggests skipping detergent , soap , and commercial produce washes , and choose for H2O or else . To wash bananas :
Store your now - light bananas on a countertop aside from heating source , direct sunlight , and otherethylene gasoline - producers(unless you need the bananas to ripen faster ) . If your home is prone to fruit fly sheet , Dr. Kiefer suggestsstoring bananasin your electric refrigerator .
Once your bananas are good , they ’re quick for snacking , or use the fruit in your favoritebanana recipe . If you ’d like more time to make the most of your yield , transfer the remaining ripe bananas to the refrigerator orfreeze the bananasto use insmoothiesorBanana Ice Cream .
