Ripening Bananas
At room temperature, green, unripe bananas should mature in 4 to 6 days. Firm, green-yellow bananas should ripen in 2 to 4 days. A banana is ripe when its skin is full yellow — as a few brown spots speckle its peel, the fruit hits its peak ripeness and sweetness. Put the ripening process on fast-forward by storing your bananas at room temperature in a paper bag. Keep the bag out of direct sunlight.
Freezing Ripe Bananas
You can peel the bananas, wrap them firmly in plastic film, and freeze for smoothies or baking — they should keep for up to 2 months.
Storing Plantains
Allow plantains to reach the ripeness that you desire by storing at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Place in a paper bag to hasten ripening. When the plantains reach the preferred stage of ripeness, you can keep them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, the peel will turn brown, but the flesh will not change.
Freezing Plantains
You can peel and wrap plantains — whether green, yellow, or black — tightly in plastic film and freeze them for future use. They should keep for up to 2 months.
