We go through a lot of bananas in my house. Between my kids grabbing them for packed lunches or after-school snacks and the extra bunch I like to keep around for smoothies and banana bread, I always have them on my counter. For all the bananas I’ve bought over the years, though, I have never washed one. Of course, I wash berries, apples, mushrooms and just about everything else that comes home from the produce section, but bananas have always seemed exempt. You peel off the part that touched the outside world and eat what’s underneath. What could possibly need washing?
As it turns out, the peel itself may be bringing something into your kitchen that you very much don’t want there: fruit flies. If you have any experience with fruit flies, you know there are few kitchen annoyances quite as maddening. The little pests seem to multiply by the hour, and once they’re there, getting rid of them can become quite an ordeal. One of the best ways to avoid the tiny invasion is to wash your bananas before you put them on the counter.
Do you really need to wash bananas?
As strange as it might feel to wash a fruit before peeling away the entire outer layer, in this case, it’s a good idea. A quick rinse may help get rid of fruit fly eggs that come home on the peel.
The fruit flies we tend to find in our kitchens are drawn to yeasts and other microorganisms found in fermenting organic matter, which is why they’re so interested in fruit as it ripens. They can find their own way into your kitchen, but they can also hitch a ride on the produce you bring home. The particularly unpleasant part is that you might not know they’re there. Fruit fly eggs are far too small to see, and washing bananas under running water can help remove them before the bunch spends the next several days ripening on your counter.
It isn’t a guarantee against fruit flies. They’ll happily breed in other ripe produce, drains, trash cans and plenty of other places around the kitchen. But washing your bananas can at least deal with any microscopic stowaways before they have a chance to make themselves at home.
How to Wash Bananas
Washing bananas only takes a few seconds. Simply rinse the bunch under cool running water, using your hands to gently rub the peels and around the stems, where fruit fly eggs can be especially easy to miss. Thoroughly dry them afterward to remove any lingering moisture that could cause the bananas to spoil faster.
After they’re clean, carry on with your bananas exactly as you normally would. I’ll still keep mine on the counter until the kids eat them or they get brown enough to justify banana bread. They’ll just make a quick trip through the sink first.
Do you typically rinse your bananas? Let us know in the comments below!
Related:
- Does One Moldy Berry Mean You Have to Throw Away the Whole Pint?
- The Best Way to Hull a Strawberry Is with a Fork—Here’s How
- Is It Safe to Eat a Split Tomato?
