The claim is about a common banana-storage trick: keeping bananas with a kitchen item instead of leaving them in a fruit bowl. The “one kitchen item” is often said to be plastic wrap or reusable wrap around the banana stems.
Why it may help:
- Bananas release ethylene gas, a natural ripening hormone.
- The stem area releases a lot of this gas.
- Covering the stems can slow ethylene release and may delay ripening slightly.
How to try it:
- Separate bananas from the bunch (optional, but can help).
- Wrap the stems with a small piece of plastic wrap, beeswax wrap, or another cover.
- Keep them at room temperature away from direct sunlight and heat.
- Once they reach your preferred ripeness, refrigerate them to slow further softening (the peel may darken, but the inside can remain good longer).
The “10 days longer” claim is not guaranteed—how long bananas last depends on their variety, freshness when purchased, temperature, and handling. But stem wrapping can sometimes extend their usable life by a few days.
