Article by Gil "hannaone"
© Copyright 2007-2023. All rights reserved.
Image by hannaone
Weight information obtained from USDA food database

Bananas probably originated in Indomalaya and Northern Australia, while the first domestication was probably in New Guinea. 

They spread throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, and onward into more of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Eventually they spread through to West Africa and then into the new world with European sailors.

Look for bananas with a fairly uniform bright color. Avoid those with dark splotches, soft spots, or blackening skin.

Did you Know:
The banana plant is is not a tree but is a perennial herb.

Culinary:
Here are some delightful culinary uses for bananas, which can be enjoyed in many different ways.

🍌 In addition to eating bananas raw as a snack, you can also slice them and mix them with cereal, yogurt, or oatmeal for a nutritious breakfast.

🍌 For a refreshing drink, blend bananas with other fruits, yogurt, and a splash of milk for a banana smoothie.

🍌 In baking, bananas add moisture and flavor. The ripe bananas lend a natural sweetness to banana muffins, pancakes, and waffles.

🍌 Desserts:
  🍌 For a classic Southern dessert, layer sliced bananas with vanilla pudding and vanilla wafers.
  🍌 Make a creamy, dairy-free banana ice cream by freezing ripe bananas and blending them with cocoa powder or peanut butter.
  🍌 Sauté banana slices in butter, brown sugar, and rum. Serve over vanilla ice cream.

🍌 Slice underripe bananas thinly, drizzle them with lemon juice, and bake at a low temperature (around 200°F) for a few hours. You'll get crispy banana chips that are great for snacking.

🍌 Plantains (a close relative of bananas) are also used in cooking. Try making tostones (twice-fried plantain slices), mofongo (a Puerto Rican dish made with mashed vine ripe plantains, garlic, and pork cracklings), or fried plantain chips.

Garden Use:
As well as being delicious, bananas have surprising benefits for your garden as well.

A Natural Fertilizer:
Use composted banana peels as natural fertilizer when you're planting your garden. Banana peels contain potassium and phosphorus, which are essential nutrients for plant growth.
To give your plants an extra boost, blend the peel and mix with water, then sprinkle it around the base of the plants. You can also mix it with other fertilizers.
Banana peels are a valuable source of potassium for your garden, so don't discard them after enjoying the fruit.

Mulch:
Plants thrive when mulched. Cover the soil around your plants with chopped banana peels mixed with other natural mulch.
Banana peels help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and provide nutrients to the soil. Your plants will appreciate the natural goodness of banana peels.

Repellent for insects:
The peels of bananas contain the following nutrients:
🍌 Calcium - Calcium encourages root growth and oxygenates the soil.
🍌 Magnesium - Photosynthesis is assisted by magnesium.
🍌 Sulphur - Sulphur helps plants develop strong roots and repels pests.

Place banana peels near your plants and fruit trees to keep bugs away.