For your baking needs, ripe bananas are a must. Bananas can take up to a week to ripen or they can ripen within 24 hours—it all depends on how they’re stored. Ripe bananas are dotted with spots, soft to the touch, and sweeter than green bananas. But if you find yourself in a pinch and you need ripe bananas for a recipe, there are quick ways to ripen green bananas. Keep reading to find out how to ripen green bananas in a matter of minutes.
Use a Brown Paper Bag
Bananas ripen overtime after they’ve been exposed to a gas called ethylene which is found in fruits and vegetables. By trapping the gas inside the bag, the bananas ripen more quickly. If you need your banana for tomorrow and they’re still really green, throw in an apple, which will speed up the process.
Toss Them in the Oven
Use your oven to draw out the sugars by roasting them at lower temperatures for 20 minutes. This will soften them and caramelize the sugar inside them, making them easier to bake with. You can also try blitzing your bananas in a blender or food processor, to make them easier to mash.
