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Why some fruits ripen faster when stored together
20th May, 2026 01:54 PM
It is a common experience in many homes. A few green bananas are placed next to avocados or mangoes on the kitchen counter, and within a short time, everything seems to ripen at once. While this may appear like a coincidence, science shows there is a natural explanation behind it.
The reason some fruits ripen faster when stored together comes down to a plant hormone called ethylene gas. This invisible gas is naturally produced by certain fruits as they mature. Once released, it triggers chemical changes in nearby fruits, speeding up the ripening process.
According to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, ethylene plays a major role in fruit development and post-harvest ripening. It activates enzymes that soften fruit tissue, convert starches into sugars, and change the fruit’s colour and aroma.
“Ethylene is a natural plant hormone responsible for regulating fruit ripening and can accelerate the ripening of nearby produce when stored together,” the Food and Agriculture Organisation noted.
Why some fruits ripen faster than others
This explains why bananas are often used to ripen hard avocados or mangoes at home. Bananas are among the highest producers of ethylene gas. When kept in a closed paper bag with slower-ripening fruits, the gas becomes concentrated, encouraging those fruits to mature faster.
Not all fruits respond the same way. Fruits such as bananas, apples, pears, mangoes, avocados, and tomatoes are considered climacteric fruits. This means they continue ripening even after being harvested because they keep producing ethylene.
On the other hand, non-climacteric fruits like oranges, pineapples, grapes, strawberries, and lemons do not continue ripening significantly after harvest. Storing them near bananas may not have the same effect.
Food scientists explain that temperature also affects the process. Warm environments encourage ethylene production, which is why fruits left on the kitchen counter often ripen faster than those stored in a refrigerator.
Simple storage tips to keep fruits fresh
For households trying to reduce food waste, understanding this process can be useful. If you want to speed up ripening, place fruits like avocados in a paper bag with a ripe banana. If you want them to last longer, keep ethylene-producing fruits separate from sensitive produce.
Improper storage is one of the leading causes of fruit spoilage in many homes. Separating fast-ripening fruits from others can help preserve freshness and reduce unnecessary waste.
The next time a bunch of bananas seems to make everything else ripen overnight, it is not luck. It is simply nature’s chemistry at work, quietly happening right on the kitchen counter.
