Brazilian bananas: the flavor
and the color of the tropics
How to Choose Bananas
Choose bananas that look good and have their
characteristic aroma. If they have been prepackaged,
read the instructions
carefully and the sell-by date.
When buying bananas, prefer
fruit with really yellow skin and small brown spots, that
looks firm and with
no soft or damaged portions. If you are not planning
on eating
the bananas fairly soon, choose ones that are
a regular green color and keep them until they ripen.
For their own protection, consumers
should buy products that are duly labeled with brand labels
and
indications at retail stores that allow the identification
of the
product and its origin, as well as of its exporters and importers.
Labels are a privileged means of communicating the properties
of the product to the consumer.
How to Handle as Bananas
Bananas must be handled carefully, because they are sensitive
to being banged. This causes oxidation
and stains on their skin, making the product look unattractive.
Transport the fruit carefully
and do not put other purchases or objects on top of it.
Buy only as much as you need and eat
it over just a few days to avoid
losses and spoilage.
How to store and keep bananas in good condition
Bananas should be kept in a dry, cool place; they should
never be refrigerated, because they lose their
flavor and spoil more easily.
Bananas are sensitive to cold and can spoil at
temperatures lower than 13°C. Ideally, they should be kept between
15 °C and 21 °C, in well-aired
places. High temperatures may accelerate
their ripening process to a level that
is not desired quite so quickly.