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How To Make Your Bananas Last Longer (Yes, It's Possible!)

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Close-up of bananas in market
moodboard via Getty Images
Close-up of bananas in market

As part of HuffPost’s “Reclaim” project, HuffPost Taste will focus the entire month of July on simple ways you can reduce food waste in your own home.

There’s a reason banana bread is such a popular baked good; it’s a great way to use up those bananas that ripen all too quickly. (Freezing them to use in smoothies, ice cream and more is another good idea.) But what if you just want to slow down the ripening process and eat them as they are?

There is actually a way to do that. The reason bananas ripen so quickly is because they release ethylene gas from the stem section. Ethylene is a natural gas that helps ripen the fruit. So, all you have to do is cover up the source of this gas. If you have some plastic wrap on hand you can do it in a matter of seconds. Watch the video above for step-by-step instructions.

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Take Action Now
Join thousands of Americans calling on Walmart to help reduce food waste by mounting a comprehensive campaign to sell "ugly" fruit and vegetables.
Sign the petition at Change.org

Language in the petition embedded in this entry has been updated to reflect Walmart’s recent efforts to sell some “ugly” produce in the U.S.

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