I used to think browning bananas were just bad luck or a too-warm kitchen, but it was my routine that was sabotaging them. Nestling them in a pretty fruit bowl, right beside apples and avocados, created an invisible gas chamber of ethylene that rushed them from perfect to mush. Moving them to a quiet corner of the counter instantly slowed everything down, but the real breakthrough came from paying attention to their stems.

By tightly wrapping the stems in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, I learned to trap much of the ethylene right where it starts, keeping whole bunches firm and bright for up to ten days longer. Left attached, they age together more gracefully; separated, they spot and sag. For overripe ones, the fridge buys even more time, preserving the flesh long after the peel darkens. It isn’t complicated—just a few small changes that stop needless waste and make every bunch count.