Discount supermarket giant Aldi has shared a simple storage tip to keep bananas fresh for longer and prevent them from turning brown and mushy. The retailer, which was named the cheapest supermarket in the UK in April, previously released guidance to help shoppers keep their food fresher for longer.
Aldi joined forces with food storage specialist Kate Hall to advise customers on the best ways to preserve everyday staples, including milk, potatoes and bananas. This follows research by the retail chain which revealed that the average Brit throws away £387 worth of food every year, with seven out of 10 admitting they purchase food fully expecting to bin it.
The Freezer Hack for Bananas
For those buying bananas, Kate reveals there is a clever trick to keep them lasting longer without browning or going soft — simply slice them up and pop them in the freezer. Kate said: "Let's face it, we can't always make banana bread every time a bunch gets past its best. But if you can spare 30 seconds to peel, slice and freeze bananas, you can avoid them going to waste. Just spread them out on a lined tray before freezing so that they don't clump together, and then store them in a resealable freezer bag. These are perfect for making banana ice cream or chocolate peanut butter bites!"
Other Fruits and Vegetables
Kate added that the same approach can be used to save lots of other fruits and vegetables too. "For example, cucumbers can be sliced and frozen to be used instead of ice cubes, added to smoothies, or even blitzed into a refreshing sorbet," she said. "Using your freezer is such a simple way to press pause on your food so it doesn't end up in the bin. Freezing food can help our budgets stretch further, and you can actually freeze a lot more than people realise. The trick is knowing the best way to freeze food and what to do with it after freezing."
Aldi's Commitment to Reducing Food Waste
Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: "At Aldi, we're committed to reducing food waste wherever we can across our supply chain, whether that be working with suppliers to cut down on waste, or marking down prices of items nearing their sell by date." He added: "Now we're on a mission to help shoppers minimise their food waste too, while getting even more value from their Aldi groceries at the same time. It seems simple, but the research shows that freezing items still isn't something many do - so we want to showcase just how easy that can be."
