Ripen bananas quickly in 15 minutes with chef’s clever trick - makes them sweet and soft
Green bananas can take a while to become tasty and yellow, but you can quickly get a "super ripe" banana in just 15 minutes with one professional chef's simple solution.
There is nothing better than a sweet-tasting banana to start the day as they are delicious on toast, porridge, or even on their own, but it can be frustrating waiting for them to ripen.
Green bananas typically take a few days to ripen fully once bought at the supermarket, but it does not take long for them to become mushy and black so getting the timing right to have a fresh yellow banana can be tricky.
However, there is an easy way to get a ripe banana in just 15 minutes according to, Meggan Hill, a classically-trained chef and founder of Culinary Hill who has shared that she ripens her bananas in the oven.
Placing a banana in the oven mimics the natural ripening process as the temperature breaks down the starches and turns them into sugars, so you get a softer, sweeter and more flavourful banana.
Meggan said: “When you need super ripe bananas NOW, the oven method is your BBF (banana’s best friend). You don’t even need to peel them.”
How to quickly ripen a banana in 15 minutes using the oven
Preheat the oven to 150C and place the unpeeled banana on a baking sheet. For easier cleanup, line the baking tray with baking paper.
Then, bake the banana until the skin is completely black all over, which should take around 15 to 20 minutes.
Let the banana cool and then peel and you will have a soft and sweet banana perfect to eat.
You can also eat it warm but it will be mushy, which can be good for spreading on toast or baking.
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How to ripen a banana without using an oven
If you would prefer for your banana to naturally ripen and have more time to spare, then the best way to do so is to put it in an enclosed place or close to other fruits.
Meggan said: “Ideally, a banana, apple, or other fruit left alone will ripen naturally. During the ripening process, it releases ethylene, a natural plant hormone in the form of a gas.
“Some types of fruit and vegetables release more ethylene than others. Similarly, some fruits and vegetables are more sensitive to ethylene than others.”
All you have to do is keep unripe bananas in a brown bag along with other high-ethylene-producing fruit such as apples.
Loosely fold the bag and place it on your counter or in a warm spot such as a sunny window and the bananas will quickly turn yellow within a day or two.
Meggan said: “Depending on how green they are, and where on the banana ripeness spectrum you prefer them, they should ripen in a couple of days (24 hours to two days. By the way, this is a great way to ripen stubborn avocados, too).”
