Can you store sapota and bananas together? Learn how these two fruits affect each other's ripening process and the best way to store them.
1 Answer
It's generally best to store sapota and bananas separately. Bananas release ethylene gas, which can accelerate the ripening and spoilage of sapota.
Detailed Explanation:
Bananas are known as climacteric fruits, meaning they continue to ripen after being harvested. This ripening process involves the production of ethylene gas. Ethylene acts as a ripening hormone, affecting not only the banana itself but also other fruits nearby. Sapota, while also a climacteric fruit, is more sensitive to ethylene. Exposure to high concentrations of ethylene, such as those emitted by ripening bananas, can cause sapota to ripen too quickly, leading to a shorter shelf life and potential spoilage before you have a chance to enjoy it. Storing them separately helps control the ripening process and extends the freshness of both fruits. If you want to speed up the ripening of a sapota, then placing it near a banana for a short period can be helpful.
Pro Tip:
If you must store them together, keep the bananas in a perforated plastic bag. This will help to contain some of the ethylene gas while still allowing for air circulation, slowing down the ripening effect on the sapota.