While you’re naturally hesitant to eat a green banana, eating a ripened, brown one can cause you to take caution as well. Bananas have a certain time period where they turn from their yellow color to a darker brown or bruised appearance. Because there are several factors that cause bananas to turn brown, you can prevent fruit discoloration and extend the life of your bananas.
Respiration
The reason why bananas turn brown is due to a process called respiration which occurs when oxygen and sugars in the inside of the banana and the banana’s skin come in contact, the sugars are converted into energy and carbon dioxide releases in the air. As they ripen, bananas convert starchy substances inside the fruit to sugars -- a process that turns the banana from green to yellow. The replacement of sugars is what gives a banana a good taste. Over time, however, the banana starts to deteriorate, and the brown skin is a sign that the banana is decaying. Examples of other fruits that decay similarly include apples, peaches and pears.
Edible Factors
Just because a banana has a small amount of brown on it does not mean it is inedible. A banana is still edible if it is not completely brown and does not feel squishy or mushy when you gently press on the banana.
Prevention
One way you can keep bananas from turning brown is to squeeze lemon juice onto the banana. Lemon juice naturally contains vitamin C that helps to slow the interaction that the oxygen and the banana’s skin can cause to turn brown.
Uses
While you may not wish to eat a very brown banana whole, you can still use it for cooking purposes. For example, brown bananas are often used in cooking banana bread, banana cakes and banana pancakes. Because many of these recipes rely on mashed bananas as an ingredient to incorporate, a browned banana should not be problematic to use in cooking. If a banana’s peel is completely brown, however, you may wish to dispose of it. While it won't make you ill, it's taste will be compromised as the sugars that make bananas taste good have been replaced.
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