That is what I do. Sometimes we buy too many and I dont like them too ripe. I put some in the fridge, and yes the skin does get dark but the banana itself does not. We havent had any issues.

I used to always put them in the fridge. Dangerous? That's silly! They can cause other fruit to ripen more quickly so keep them away from other fruits and vegetables(in the fridge). Now I just only buy a few at a time and pull them apart as soon as I get home with them. They last quite a long time. But anyway, yes, they are fine to put in the fridge and yes the skins turn black but the fruit is fine.

Hmmm.... never heard that before. We rarely have bananas getting too ripe because DH eats so many but we both bought an ample supply last week and we are on the verge of banana bread.

Never...always on the counter. Always.

Arkansas girl -

Why do you pull them apart as soon as you get home?

They stay fresh longer if you pull them apart. I then just leave them on the counter.

Thanks. I didn't know that. I'm not a banana eater but my husband is so we do have them in the house. I'll start pulling them apart. I usually buy a small bunch, of 4-5, and hang them from my tiered plate rack.

We never refrigerate bananas (or tomatoes) BUT, if our bananas start to over-ripen before we can eat them, then I peel them, slice them, and freeze them in one layer wrapped in waxed paper. So when we get that dessert craving, I remove them from the freezer, make a heavenly dark chocolate sauce (unsweetened chocolate squares, butter, sugar) and cover those banana slices. Reminds us of the frozen bananas on Balboa Island.

Never ever refrigerate tomatoes...just no.

appreciate the comments. It does look like there is no danger to refrigerating them. I am happy because now when they suddenly start to ripen I can arrest the process so to speak.

I'm with Annie and Begonia Girl - two things I never refrigerate are bananas and tomatoes. If I happen to have a banana going too ripe, I do as others have said - freeze it (for smoothies).

Never in the fridge: bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, avocados

Remember the Chiquita banana jingle?
Chiquita

"Never in the fridge: bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, avocados"

Why?

Well thank you all - it seems rhizo above has addressed it for me. These are fully ripened bananas ( at least to me - I do not like them when they are soft and super sweet). I do keep them on the counter in my fruit bowl and don't typically refrigerate them. I only recently started refrigerating when they are getting too ripe. The suggestion to me was that it was perhaps harmful or dangerous to do that and I couldnt find any info on that other than saying that bananas should not be refrigerated.

Loved the chiquita jingle which I do remember (though not all the words!!).

FWIW, I do the same with tomatoes. I know they ripen best at room temperature but then if they are getting too ripe (soft, whatever) I refrigerate them as well to arrest the ripening process.

I used to break apart bunches and look for varying shades of yellow and green to ripen differently.....I am happy to know we can buy the bigger bunches of bananas and not have spoilage.

snookums2, you asked why not to refrigerate certain things. I'm not saying it's harmful to do so, but I don't like certain things cold. To me a tomato is best just picked, so I prefer them at room temp. Some thing with a banana, I don't want it cold.

i like bananas and tomatoes and avocados room temp, but if i have too many and would be throwing them away if not refrigerated, i refrigerate! (esp homegrown tomatoes if prolific!)

I will also wrap individual tomatoes in a piece of paper towel or newspaper to help delay over ripening. I initially began doing so in hopes of deterring pesky fruitflies, which always seem to find my vine ripened tomatoes, but my husband and I both noticed a difference in the ripening speed of countertop tomatoes.

You can freeze bananas -- I like to slice them before freezing -- and blend the frozen bananas into an ice-cream-like consistency, with or without added fruit, for a quick, satisfying, low cal, low fat dessert.