I bet you’re curious: Is it safe to eat bananas that have split open?
We’ve all suffered the indignity of reaching for our favorite fruit only to find that the skin has split open.
Your immediate reaction is one of confusion: Should I eat it or throw it away?
I shall now explain the ins and outs of eating a banana that has split open.
It should be safe to eat bananas that have split open, although this does depend on various factors. Firstly, do a sight and smell test. The banana flesh will probably already have started to turn brown, which is fine. However, you don’t want to see oozing, liquid, rot, or mold. Furthermore, the banana will have a musty smell once it is no longer safe to eat. Plus, if you know that the bananas weren’t split open when you purchased them, they will last for 1-2 days at room temperature and 3–4 days when refrigerated.
1. Should You Do Your Banana Due Diligence?
You can usually tell if a banana is safe to eat by doing a quick sight and smell test.
In fact, the same can be said for any food substance.
As the skin has split open and the flesh has been exposed to air, it’s likely that the banana will already have started to turn brown.
But a brown banana is no cause for concern.
What you don’t want to see is any form of liquid, oozing, rot, or mold.
This is a tell-tale sign that a banana is fit for the trash and nothing more.
Additionally, bananas start to emit a musty smell once they begin to rot.
So, even if the banana looks safe, it’s always best to double-check with a quick sniff.
@choosingcheese Is it safe to eat bananas that have split open? #bananas #bananafacts #bananamystery ♬ original sound – dianefoster57
2. Were They Split When You Bought Them?
I’m forever getting shouted at for not checking the freshness of produce before I buy it.
So, don’t be like me and ensure that you properly check your bananas before you purchase them.
If you always check any fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish before you add them to your trolley, then well done.
But at least you’ll know that the bananas were perfectly intact when you left the store.
Therefore, it appears that the bananas have split open since you got home.
Realistically, banana flesh is perfectly safe to eat within a day or two at room temperature.
However, after this period, there is a higher risk of germs, bacteria, and whatever else may infect a banana.
Furthermore, bananas can be refrigerated for up to 3–4 days.
So, in addition to your sight and smell tests, there’s also the time test.
If you purchased the bananas four days ago and have stored them at room temperature, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Toss them.
3. Should I Chop Up the Bananas and Freeze Them?
Okay, let’s say that you’ve done the sight and smell tests.
Everything seems absolutely fine.
There were definitely no split bananas when you purchased them.
You’ve even done the time test, and you’re well within the “safe to eat” threshold.
However, you’re still a little nervous.
In that case, you could simply store the bananas in the freezer.
Firstly, cut away the portion of the banana that has been exposed to air because of the split.
You can then either slice up the rest of the bananas or mash them with a fork.
Then add a tablespoon of lemon juice or, if you prefer, pineapple juice.
This addition is necessary because the citric acid in either juice will halt the enzyme-growing process of banana flesh exposed to the air.
It is this process that typically turns bananas brown.
You can then store your bananas in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Perfect for a variety of banana-based desserts, especially banana bread.
10 Banana Desserts That Will Have Your Tastebuds Doing Splits
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, it is usually safe to eat bananas that have split open.
With that being said, this will depend on a few factors.
Firstly, ensure that you complete a sight and smell test.
You definitely don’t want to see liquid, oozing, rot, or mold.
Plus, you certainly don’t want to get a whiff of a musty smell.
Also, remember that bananas that have been split open are fine for a day or two at room temperature and up to 3–4 days in the fridge.
If all else fails, simply chop up the bananas and refrigerate them for a dessert treat at some point in the future.
You might also be worried about eating bananas with green spots, and my advice should reassure you.