GAINESVILLE, Fla., June 28 (Our Florida Times) — In Florida, green bananas are not necessarily a sign of spoiled fruit. A University of Florida specialist said bananas picked too early or exposed to cold during storage can stay green and never reach their full flavor and texture.
Jonathan Crane, a retired tropical fruit crops specialist at the university’s Tropical Research and Education Center, said in comments reported by Fox News Digital that bananas harvested before they are mature “won’t ripen properly to full flavor and/or texture.” He said bananas exposed to temperatures that are too cold during storage or transport can develop chilling injury, and said the fruit is best stored between 56 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lauren Manaker, a South Carolina-based registered dietitian, said in the same report that ripe and green bananas both provide potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C and other nutrients. She said greener bananas have more resistant starch, which may have a gentler effect on blood sugar.
A 2019 review hosted by the National Institutes of Health said the most studied benefits of green banana consumption were tied to gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases, followed by glycemic and insulin metabolism and weight control. Healthline, in a nutrition review, said unripe green bananas are safe to eat and may be associated with resistant starch, pectin, digestion, fullness and blood sugar control.
