Did you know creamy, rich bananas are one of the world’s favorite foods? Besides being rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, bananas are a healthy choice for any lifestyle and meal plan. They are a great source of potassium, vitamin C, B6, biotin, manganese, and have no fat. Bananas – May Featured Ingredient appear low on the glycemic index, therefore are perfect for those with diabetes. These little darlings are a superb way for me to help control my diabetes because this oblong fruit has so many uses. I consider them a magic ingredient.
Bananas are available in hundreds of edible varieties that fall under two categories: sweet and plantain. As sweet we think of ripe bananas with yellow skins but can feature red, pink, purple, and black in color when ripe. Flavors and textures vary with some varieties being sweet in nature while others have more starchy characteristics like plantains. Plantains are commonly cooked like vegetables, have more beta carotene than sweet bananas and most often much larger.
Bananas – May Featured Ingredient
Picked while still green from trees holding as many as 100 or more oblong fruits, Bananas – May Featured Ingredient will arrive at your local market barely yellow. Therefore, buy your bananas based on when you want to consume them. The more green the longer they will take to ripen to yellow with brown spots. Bananas should be firm and not too hard, free of bruises and soft spots with stems intact. Size does not affect quality, so choose what best fits your needs.
Store this somewhat delicate fruit at room temperature to ripen, keeping away from extreme hot and cold temperatures. Do not place unripened bananas in the refrigerator as this will slow ripening. Most often they will not ripen once refrigerated and brought to room temperature. Place in newspaper or paper bag if faster ripening is needed. Ripened ones can be refrigerated until consumed, removing to warm to room temperature. You also get the most antioxidants when eating well-ripened fruit. Bananas can be frozen and kept up to two months when pureed or peeled and wrapped in plastic wrap. Adding a small amount of lemon juice will prevent discoloration.
Bananas – May Featured Ingredient
Since we’re on the subject of the many uses for eating bananas, try one of my smoothies like Soy Nut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie or Banana Chia Smoothie. Add this healthy fruit to cereals like oatmeal, peanut butter sandwiches, banana breads and desserts like ice cream or the famous Bananas Foster. When using bananas be creative and come up new family favorites. Most of all, bananas are an inexpensive and kind to your wallet. Who doesn’t like the sound of that? Share your favorite ways to cook and eat bananas.
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