Comments on: Fruit Mysteries

By: Hillary

Hillary — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:44 +0000

I can confirm the wiki answer to the banana question. I worked in a produce department for years — all through high school and part of college. Bananas that get too cold are UGLY as they ripen. They’re fine, though they might not have as good a flavor as usual.

Another helpful banana fact — small bananas usually are the tastiest.

By: Kristin C

Kristin C — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:20:07 +0000

Not sure about the bananas….but the apple thing Totally happens to me. I even sometimes experiance ravenous hunger when eating an apple on an empty stomach. And a resounding YES! to the grapefruit knife. So fast and easy!!

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:21:00 +0000

i was so disappointed not to learn the answer to the Gray Banana Quandry here in the comments that i did some googling of my own. per wikipedia, who obviously is the authority on everything:

“The flavor and texture of bananas are also affected by the temperature at which they ripen. Bananas are refrigerated to between 13.5 and 15 °C (56 and 59 °F) during transportation. At lower temperatures, the ripening of bananas permanently stalls, and the bananas will eventually turn gray as cell walls break down. The skins of ripe bananas will quickly turn black in the 4°C environment of a domestic refrigerator, although the fruit inside remains unaffected.”

and then from Produce Oasis: Gray-yellow or dull yellow bananas are an indicator of improper temperature handling and will probably not develop full flavor.

soooo sounds like gray bananas aren’t as tasty, but definitely not deadly. helpful? ish?

By: jenn @ thin by 30

jenn @ thin by 30 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:54:18 +0000

I have the same problem with bananas. It grosses me out a bit.

Not sure about the apples or grapefruit. I haven’t had grapefruit in forever (although it sounds really good) but I remember they were really time consuming.

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:53:26 +0000

I don’t know the answers to any of these, actually. Am fruit dunce, apparently.

By: SoMi's Nilsa

SoMi's Nilsa — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:13:47 +0000

Bananas – I’ve found that if you put bananas next to some other fruits or vegetables, it changes the way they ripen.

Apples – Will ripen other fruits faster, so keep them separate. But, that’s not what you asked, so I’m of no real help.

Grapefruit – I just peel them like an orange and eat them in wedges. Much easier.

By: Korinna

Korinna — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:27:10 +0000

I second the spoon recommendation. And, in a pinch, could be a used as a rather unassuming weapon.

My personal beef with the grapefruit is that they SPRAY everywhere. My desk at work is ridiculously sticky by the end of wrestling with one of them.

By: k

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:11:09 +0000

Um, try again: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=752&f=3024

By: k

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:10:11 +0000

I don’t know about the apples and bananas (though I suspect the apple thing could just be a reaction to the sugars/acids in the apple). But as far as grapefruit goes, bypass the knife and get a grapefruit SPOON. (This one looks good: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=752&f=3024) Cut and scoop with one utensil.