Banana Bag

Banana Bag

As prices tumble, the humble banana is making a comeback to lunchboxes across the nation. And now there's a revolutionary way to extend the life this precious yellow commodity, the Banana Bag.

Launched in Australia, the refrigerated banana bag (RRP $9.95 from www.bananabag.com.au) provides bananas with the exact amount of insulation and air needed to stop the flesh over-ripening, while keeping the skin warm enough to prevent it from blackening. This process can extend the life of the banana for up to two weeks.

According to Kate Bartolo, exclusive Australian distributor of The Banana Bag, this little yellow bag can be quite the money saver. "The warmer weather will speed up the ripening process, which traditionally leads to black and mouldy fruit being thrown away. Now with the Banana Bag it's possible to extend the life of the banana, eliminating wastage. Within no time at all the bag will have paid for itself," says Kate.

A best-selling product in the UK, the Banana bag is a brilliant Christmas stocking filler this year at just RRP $9.95. Available from www.bananabag.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Banana really extend the life of bananas, and by how long?
Yes it does! The original Banana Bag can extend the life of your bananas by up to 2-4 weeks. The exact length of time will depend of the climate you live in, and the temperature and efficiency of your refrigerator, so check the bananas regularly.

How many bananas can I put into the Banana bag?
Never over fill your Banana Bag. Only put in sufficient bananas to fill the bag, and not to cram them in. If there isn't enough air to circulate around the bananas, mould will form on the sides of the bag.

Should I wait until the bananas are really ripe before putting them into the bag?
The bananas that are put into the bag need to be as near to perfect for eating as possible. If they are too green, they may stop developing and tend to remain firm and not very sweet*. On the other hand, if they have already started to deteriorate, it is sometimes too late to stop the process. Putting over ripe bananas into the bag can also cause mould to form on the inside of the lining of the bag.
*If you prefer to eat your bananas greener, then it is fine to put the bananas into the Banana Bag at this stage the fruit will remain the same.

Do the banana skins turn black after being in the banana bag?
The skins of the bananas stored in your banana bag will discolour, turning a dull brown colour, but the fruit remains unchanged for a considerable time.

How can I wash the bag?
Wipe your banana bag carefully with a damp cloth after use or wash in warm soapy water (using mild detergent). Do not put the banana bag into the washing machine.

How do I clean black/mould spots off?
Fill a bowl with a mild bleach solution, then very gently turn your Banana Bag inside out and leave it to soak in the solution for approximately an hour (rub the mould marks gently if necessary). Rinse thoroughly and hang inside or in the shade to dry.

Are the bananas immediately ready to eat when taken out of the bag?
Take out the required amount of fruit from the bag, and if there are still bananas in the bag, immediately re-close the bag, and put back in the refrigerator. The bananas will be cold so if you don't like them too cold, take them out of the bag 5 minutes or so before you would like to eat them. Bananas straight from the bag are excellent for babies who are teething. The cold bananas help soothe their sore gums.

Should I keep the banana bag in the fridge when it is empty?
It is not advisable to keep an empty banana bag in the fridge. The bag may get damp and cause mould on the inner lining. Whilst you are not using the banana bag, make sure it is clean and dry, and store in a cool dry place eg. a drawer.

Does it matter if the bubble wrap inside the lining of the bag pops? Will the bag still work?
If all the bubbles in the bag have popped, then the bag will no longer work, but there is a great tolerance level and you could safely lose a lot of bubbles before the bag stops working. However, make sure that any children (or adults) handling the bag don't play 'pop the bubble' with them.

Important note: rough handling of the banana bag can cause the lining to slip. If this happens, lie your bag down and with the flat of your hand gently smooth the lining back into position.