Unless they're grown organically, commercial bananas are picked green, then sprayed with ethylene, a hydrocarbon naturally produced by bananas, to ensure even ripening. A thick, nearly ridgeless peel on a banana indicates freshness, good moisture content and maturity, he says. A pronounced ridge, often found on imports, indicates the banana was picked early, to allow for travel time before it ripens. A thin skin means some dehydration has occurred. Besides offering sweet taste and portability, the little yellow boomerang's high fiber and pectin content make it a good source of dietary bulk.
Bananas vary greatly in size and nutritional content.
When using a non-cooking variety of banana for cooking, select those on the green side. However, the recipe for banana chutney by Wayne Hilburn calls for ripe bananas. Our Baked Mauna Kea recipe is an Island adaptation of Baked Alaska. It's easy to prepare and looks spectacular. You won't get skewered with these shish kebab tips and recipes.