Bananas have long been no longer considered an exotic fruit, because they are easy to buy at any time of the year. This amazing product can not only complement lunch, but also replace it, saturating the body with useful microelements.

But how to properly peel a banana so you can just eat it or serve it beautifully?

Traditionally

Bananas are usually peeled in two ways:

• From a cutting

Take the fruit with the stalk facing up, tear it off in a downward direction, continuing to separate the peel halfway. Separate the remaining strips in the same way. As a result, about half will be cleaned, which can be eaten immediately. If the whole peel needs to be peeled, the peel is separated all the way and the edible part is removed from the outer shell.

• From the tip

Press on the tip until the crust bursts. You can pry it off with your fingernail or a sharp object. Clean in strips (usually three for medium sizes) from top to bottom until halfway through or all the way through.

Advice! If you don’t know which side to peel the fruit from, do it as convenient as possible. By the way, the first connoisseurs of the fruit – monkeys – peel the banana from the tip.

Before serving, it is very convenient to cut the product crosswise into several pieces without peeling. This way, everyone can take the piece they like and peel the fruit without effort.

Non-standard options

Using the following methods you can clean the product in an unusual and quite spectacular way. In any case, it’s not boring, it’s somewhat surprising for others:

• • Cut lengthwise from the stem to the tip into four parts, carefully following the curve. This produces unique slices that resemble chopped melon. Subsequently, the yellow crust is very easily removed.

• Take an unripe (important!) banana, place the curved part towards you, then break it in half, as if trying to straighten it. Clean the halves as usual.

• Cut off the ends on both sides, cut the crust lengthwise with a sharp knife on two opposite sides. Remove it starting from either end.

• Take the fruit with both hands at a distance of about 5 cm. Carefully turn the fruit in opposite directions, as if you were to twist it. The shell will burst and can be easily removed.

A mature and soft product is not suitable for the latter method - when twisted, the pulp under the peel will turn into porridge.

Banana pulp can not only be eaten, but also used as a cleansing face mask, and the peel is often used as an excellent fertilizer for vegetable crops. This is one of those few fruits that you can eat without worrying too much about keeping your hands clean, which is why banana is an indispensable product on a walk or picnic.

As a child, I was fed a lot of bananas. They thought that when I grew up I wouldn’t even want to look at them. No...
I still love bananas...
And once again, while devouring bananas, the following questions bothered me:
Which side do people usually open bananas from and does it depend on demographic indicators...

In the period from March 3 to March 11, 2008, I conducted a sociological study on the topic “Pumpy or ponytail?”

The questionnaire consisted of three questions:

1. Do you like bananas?
2. Which side do you start peeling the banana from: the bottom (the side with which the banana was attached to the palm) or the top (the side with which the banana was not attached to the palm)?
3. If you open from the top, have you tried opening from the bottom?

The study was conducted in violation of all rules for conducting sociological research. The sample is not representative. The results of the study cannot be extrapolated to the general population.

Research results

42 respondents were interviewed, of which:
29 female, 13 male.

Do people like bananas?

Yes, people love bananas - 73.8%.
And the fairer sex loves bananas more (79.3% versus 61.5%).

Which side do people open bananas from?

Mostly, people open bananas from the “pimply” ( "above", “from the one where there is no tail”, "from the spout", “not from their height”, “I clean the narrow side (farthest from the palm tree)” etc.) - 57.1%

At the same time, women are less inclined to open from the tail side - 34.5% versus 46.2% for men. However, men are more categorical in choosing the opening side - there was no option in their answers “whichever one works”, "it depends", while for women - 6.9%.

Influence of age on the opening side

Some correlation “Age - side of opening” was discovered - with age, people become more inclined to open bananas from the tail.

Attitude towards bananas - the opening side

There is also a correlation "Attitude towards bananas - side of opening": people who like bananas are more likely to open a banana from the tail than those who do not like it.

Conclusion

Thus, we can draw the following conclusion:

With the acquisition of everyday experience (age, experience of eating bananas), there is a greater tendency to open a banana from the tail.

Also, this conclusion is confirmed by the following fact: 52.9% of those who open bananas “from the pip” have not tried to open it “from the tail”, while 75% of them are under 25 years old.

However, there is an inverse correlation between education and the side of opening - with an increase in the degree of education (if we use the assumption “A person who has graduated from university is more educated than someone who has not graduated”), the percentage of opening a banana from the tail decreases (50.0%−37.5%−35 .7%), but the percentage of openers on both sides increases (0%−4.2%−5.7%). Presumably, this is due to the aesthetic component of opening a banana - a banana opened from a pimp is more aesthetically pleasing. This hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that representatives of the fairer sex are more likely than men to open up “from the tail,” namely, they are more inclined to aestheticize their lives.

This may seem to contradict the previous conclusion (about everyday experience). In fact, this only says that the degree of education and everyday experience are different, often unrelated things.

Thus, we answered the questions posed to the study:

1. People love bananas.
2. With the accumulation of everyday baggage (experience), there is a slight shift in the opening side towards the tail. However, this does not mean that if a person is more “experienced”, he opens the banana from the tail.
3. With the desire to aestheticize life, the percentage of those who open from the tail decreases.

Undeniable, we know almost nothing about the benefits of peels and, out of habit, we throw them in the trash. In reality, a banana peel is a very useful object.

Everything is by analogy: if in Russia grandmother’s advice on how to effectively use onion peels is passed down from generation to generation, then in the southern countries many ways have been invented to make banana peels work hard in everyday life, in the garden and for the benefit of our health.

Here are the best tips on how to use banana peels.

Banana peel for weight loss

Banana skins, which are included in the diet of residents of India and the Caribbean, not only turn ordinary dishes into a delicacy, but also help to lose excess weight. We're serious. Banana peels are now officially considered a weapon against extra pounds.

Why is the peel called a super food for weight loss? For starters, it's chock-full of nutrients like vitamin A, lutein and other antioxidants, including B vitamins, which play an important role in metabolism. The peel contains tons of soluble and insoluble fiber—even more than the fruit itself. Both types of fiber prolong feelings of fullness and lower cholesterol levels.

Unripe banana peels are high in probiotics, which are important for maintaining a healthy balance of internal flora, which promotes weight loss. Green skins are also rich in resistant starch, which resists digestion and promotes fat burning. In addition, banana is a known source of potassium. This mineral increases calorie expenditure during a typical workout. Keep in mind that 40% of banana potassium is in the peel.

But it's not just about weight loss. Green peel is an excellent antidepressant. Research shows that by eating just two skins a day for 3 days, you can increase the levels of tryptophan, serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which are responsible for good mood, by 15%.

The yellow peel contains fewer micronutrients, but it has anti-cancer properties that green skins do not have.

Having convinced yourself of the benefits of banana peels for weight loss, it’s time to move on to the question of how to use them. Banana skins are edible regardless of their ripeness. But when it comes to cooking, green and yellow peels must be treated as completely different foods. Green skins contain more starch and, when sautéed, develop a texture similar to that of green peppers. Unripe skins absorb the flavors of all ingredients and are good in spicy savory dishes.

The yellow “wrapper”, unlike the green one, does not require heat treatment. It adds a traditional banana flavor to dishes, making it more suitable for desserts or sweet drinks. You can add it to your morning smoothie along with the fruit itself - and that’s it, no more unnecessary movements.

About the health benefits of banana peels

Banana peel is edible and contains many vitamins. In India and Polynesian countries it is used as food. This, of course, sounds strange to us: we are accustomed to considering only the pulp as the edible part of the banana.
The peel is useful because it contains potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and B12. Our body needs these vitamins, and in order not to lose the opportunity to get them, you can bake, boil or fry the whole banana.

Banana peels can be eaten raw. The peel can also be used in cocktails.

We use banana peel inside:

• To provide the body with B vitamins and vitamin A (the health of our skin).
• We use it as a raw material containing dietary fiber (removes toxic substances and stimulates intestinal motility).
• To replenish the body with potassium ions (it is involved in the process of ion exchange of body cells).
• As a source of probiotics (improves digestion).
• As a means of increasing the production of leukocytes in the body (protecting the body from pathogenic agents in the blood).
• As a stimulator of the formation of serotonin and dopamine (hormones of joy).

Banana peel has undoubted medicinal and nutritional properties and can help in the treatment of many diseases.

Treatment of depression- The peel of a ripe banana is an excellent remedy for depression, because it is simply “stuffed” with serotonin, which improves mood and adds happiness. Research from the University of Taiwan showed that when you eat two banana peels a day for 3 days, your serotonin levels increase by 15%.

Improves sleep- Banana peel is rich in tryptophan, which promotes a good night's sleep.

Reduces cholesterol- Banana peel contains much more soluble and insoluble dietary fiber than the banana itself. Therefore, it is able to reduce the amount of cholesterol, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases, strokes and cancer.

Improves cardiovascular health y - banana peel prevents atherosclerosis, preventing plaques from forming on the walls of blood vessels.

Promotes weight loss- because, as already mentioned, it contains a lot of dietary fiber, thereby giving a feeling of fullness: it prevents overeating.

Detoxifies the body- because high fiber content creates an excellent environment for the growth of probiotics - beneficial bacteria in the intestines that strengthen the immune system. Plus it helps avoid constipation, which also detoxifies the body and improves the immune system.

Cancer Prevention- Banana peel contains anti-carcinogens that prevent this disease. It also contains cytoprotective and antimutogenic agents that reduce the risk of cancer. At the same time, banana peel contains carotenoids and polyphenols, like green tea, which promote a healthy immune system.
Specifically banana peels promotes the production of white blood cells, which increase the overall resistance of the body.
You can either consume puree or drink banana tea. Boil the peel for 10 minutes, then add honey. In any case, this is a healthy drink.

Supports red blood cells- Research shows that banana peels make your red blood cells stronger and more resilient. To protect the body from free radicals, the peel of unripe bananas is even more suitable.

Contains many nutrients a - the peel is very rich in potassium (for the health of the heart and blood vessels and the regulation of water metabolism), contains vitamin B (for vitality), magnesium (for detoxification and regulation of blood sugar).

Banana peel for inflammation and redness of the eyes. It is enough to apply fresh, unspoiled skin to the eyes for a while.

Treats vision and is an antibiotic- banana peel contains a lot of lutein, which is important for eye health, prevents cataracts and macular degeneration. Banana peels also contain a variety of antifungal components and antibiotic agents, thereby providing significant health benefits.

Skin health and anti-inflammatory effect- thanks to anti-inflammatory agents, banana peel helps reduce any inflammatory processes.
The peel is useful for those suffering from warts, psoriasis, scabies, helps with insect bites, rashes and helps maintain the skin in excellent healthy condition.

Banana peel for joint and muscle pain. For 0.5 liters of vodka, take the crushed peels of 4-6 bananas. Leave for 3 to 6 weeks in a dark place at room temperature. Rub the sore areas at night, every day for 3 weeks.

Prepare a decoction of banana peels
Researchers know the fact that banana peels contain many vitamins and nutrients - it’s time we take advantage of this for our health. Use banana peels to add nutritional value to your juice or smoothie. To do this, boil the peel in boiling water for 10 minutes, remove it and let the broth cool. Add it to your favorite juice, compote or smoothie to taste - it's that simple.

Peel puree

Puree the peels in a blender with the addition of apples and cinnamon. It has been proven that after consuming such puree, the level of serotonin and dopamine in the body increases.

Banana smoothie
You can create a wonderful banana smoothie using the whole banana, including the peel. Take a whole banana, add one and a half cups of milk, half a spoon of vanilla, ice to taste and beat in a mixer. Consolidation!

Dried peel
The banana peel is cut into 2.5 cm pieces and dried in the sun, and later, to use the dried banana pieces in dishes, they are steamed.

Making homemade vinegar
Use banana peels to make amazing homemade vinegar! Prepared on the peel, such vinegar will have an interesting sour, slightly bitter taste with sweet undertones, and will literally absorb all the benefits of the banana peel.
This vinegar can be included as a salad dressing and as an ingredient in marinades.

Banana peel in folk medicine

Removal and resorption of bones on the feet with a slight deviation of the 1st toe
It is most effective to apply by wrapping the peel around the first finger with a “latch” on the bone (see photo 1).

Or the banana peel should be applied with the inside to the seed. Secure with tape and wear simple socks.

It is advisable to do the procedures 3-4 times a day. The duration of the procedures is no more than half an hour; after the procedure, wipe the application site with a cotton swab or cloth soaked in warm water.

Whitening teeth
It turns out that you can successfully whiten your teeth at home using banana peels. Each time after brushing, we rub the soft side of a banana peel on the surface of the teeth in order to remove stains from the enamel and neutralize potential harm from the chemicals of the toothpaste. The resulting effect is achieved due to the high concentration of minerals in the peel that are beneficial for teeth.

Brush your teeth as usual using toothpaste, then rub the surface of your teeth with the soft white part banana peel for two minutes. The minerals in the peel, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus, are good for your teeth and will help brighten them. Brush your teeth again to remove any banana residue.

Treatment of psoriasis and acne
Psoriasis is painful flaking skin. Rub the fleshy part of a banana peel onto the affected areas to relieve psoriasis symptoms such as pain and dryness.

In case of acne, follow the same steps. You will notice improvement within a few uses.

Banana peel and first aid

Removing splinters
If you cannot remove the splinter using improvised means, place a piece of banana peel with the inside on the area with the splinter and secure with a band-aid for 24 hours. Enzymes will draw the splinter to the surface of the skin, where you can easily remove it, and heal the wound.

Healing scratches, burns and bites
Banana peel contains a number of natural oils and enzymes that relieve pain from sunburn, scratches and abrasions, and also contribute to their faster healing.
In addition, she reduces inflammation and irritation from mosquito bites and other insects.

Apply the fleshy part of the banana peel to the scratch or bite area and secure with a bandage or simply wipe.
Repeat the procedure at least once a day until the wound heals.

Wart removal
Banana peel is a folk remedy wart removal. Place it on the inside of the wart, secure with adhesive tape and bandage and leave overnight.

Change the pieces of peel regularly.
Repeat the procedure until the wart disappears.
Some warts may take less than a week to get rid of; others may take up to a month.

Banana peel and its beneficial effects on the skin

The minerals and antioxidants in banana peel are good for maintaining healthy skin

Benefits for the skin
. Massage a piece of ripe banana peel onto your face, trying to rub the contents of the soft side into it. This massage can be performed once every few days.
Natural fruit acids and nutrients contained in the peel will gently exfoliate the skin like a peel, nourish, moisturize and give softness and radiance.
Some even note a decrease in wrinkles with such a regular ritual.

Get rid of acne with banana peel
Rub the white side of the pimple. Leave on your face and do not wash off.

To soften the skin of the hands

Banana peel nourishes and moisturizes the skin well, so it is useful to use it to soften the skin of your hands.

Banana peel for household use

Polishing our shoes
Are your leather shoes starting to look worn out and shoe polish is no longer as effective? The banana peel is at it again! Contrary to logic, for this we need not the outer waxy side, but the soft inner side of the banana peel - it is this that is rich in fruit acids necessary for polishing.

Due to the natural oils and waxes in banana peels, they can be used to clean and shine leather shoes. Rub the inside of the peel onto the shoes, then buff with a paper towel or dry cloth.

Cleaning silver
The same fruit acids found in banana peels are ideal for polishing silverware and jewelry. We wipe the prepared silver with the inside of a piece of peel to restore its natural shine.

Or grind it in a blender, add water until you get the consistency of toothpaste. Then, using a soft cloth and a small amount of prepared paste, begin to polish the silver and you will see that the dark coating will begin to disappear.
After this, rinse off any banana residue and buff the surface with a soft cloth to restore shine.

Restoring a scratched CD or DVD disc
Place the disc that has minor scratches on a flat surface with the label facing down. Rub the shiny surface of the disc first with the edible part of the banana, then with the banana peel for 2 minutes.
The pulp and wax from the peel will help clean and polish the disc. Wipe off any remaining banana with a clean, soft cloth dampened with glass cleaner and allow the disc to dry.

Getting rid of midges
Banana peels can easily help get rid of such scourges as midges. Place the peel in a plastic bag, turning it halfway out. Wait a couple of hours until all the midges are collected on the peel, close the bag and throw away.

Banana peel for use in the kitchen

Banana peel tea
You need to cut the banana peel into pieces and cook with 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Let the water cool, then pour in the tea. Add a little honey for taste.

Banana peel kvass
You can make delicious kvass from banana peels. The skins of fresh bananas are chopped into slices (about 150 grams) and placed in a gauze bag at the bottom of the jar (you need to press it down with something). Add sugar (a glass), add water and add a little bifidoc (up to 3 tsp). Cover the jar with gauze and leave for two weeks.

Tenderizing chicken breast
The next time you cook chicken breast, add a ripe banana peel to the Dutch oven. With its help, the meat will remain juicy and soft.

We line the bottom of the frying pan in which we plan to cook the meat with banana peels so that the meat remains juicy, tender and does not burn. This trick is often used in Asian cuisine.

Of course, before heating a banana peel, you should wash it thoroughly and remove any waxy coating, if any - we don’t need any extra chemicals.

Banana peel for plants

Banana peels are rich in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and nitrogen. These macronutrients promote healthy growth of plants, including tomatoes, peppers and roses.

As a fertilizer
Cut the banana peel into small pieces to speed up the decomposition process, place it around the plant and cover it with soil. It will decompose, releasing nutrients into the soil.

Probably the most popular and easiest way to use banana peels is to put them in your compost pile. The peel will add potassium and phosphorus contained in it to the compost, which will promote the development of the root system and improve the overall condition of the plant if you fertilize the soil with such compost.
However, it must be taken into account that good compost must consist of many components, so the content of banana peels in it should be dosed.

For fertilizing indoor plants You can air dry the banana peel or use the oven to speed up the process.
When it darkens and becomes brittle, crumble it and put it in a bag for later use. If necessary, add crushed peels to the pot and mix with soil.

Feed the peel to the worms
Worms love banana peels. Earthworms play the main role in the decomposition of organic substances that have fallen into the soil, in enriching it with humus and all other plant nutrients raised from the deep layers of the earth by the root system.
The presence of worms in the soil is an indicator of its fertility and health. Rooting in the ground, worms absorb not only humus, but also bacteria, algae, fungi with their spores, and protozoa, disinfecting pathogenic microflora.

Worms also have another specific feature that is very useful for our gardens and vegetable gardens. It is connected with their unique ability to form, improve and structure the soil, This prevents wind and water erosion.

Aphid repellent
Banana peels placed in the soil around the base of the plants will help keep aphids away from them.
To do this, you need to cut the peel into small pieces, let them dry and bury them a short distance from your plant.

Or chop the peel into small pieces, place in a cup and place under a rose bush to repel aphids.
Old or dried peels can also be used.
Tiny garden pests don't like the gases that banana peels produce as they decompose, so they'll head off to find a more suitable home.

Make sure you only use a few pieces of peel for this, as more can attract wasps, rodents and other large pests in search of the sweet snack.

Use the peel to water plants
Place it in a large jar and fill it with water.
Let the peel steep in plain water for just a day and you will get a product that will provide your flowers with the necessary microelements and energy.

The resulting fertilizer can be diluted in a ratio of 1:5, and the peel itself can be infused several times.

Plant cleaning
Clean the leaves of houseplants with the white soft part of a banana peel. Wipe each sheet to remove dirt and dust and restore its natural shine.

This trick can be successfully practiced for the waxy leaves of plants such as croton, ficus, monstera, calathea and hoya.

That's how much benefit there is from an ordinary banana! Of course, this does not mean at all that you now need to give up everything else and eat only these fruits.

We should also not forget that our body is “tailored” to its habitat. So combine the benefits of overseas bananas with the benefits of your usual apples and pears. In the end, no one can cancel the delicious ones!
Based on materials

In this article I decided to talk about such a strange question, how to properly peel bananas. No, of course, I don’t want to say that there is any one correct way to peel these tropical fruits. But I still have some general thoughts on this topic. There is no correct way to peel bananas, but there is an easier way..

The very first thing worth saying is: you should never start peeling a banana by biting off the top with your teeth. The reason for this is very simple: this fruit is one of the few that we, as a rule, do not wash before eating (but for some reason we completely forget about it). Exactly because of this reason Do not touch the banana skin with your mouth or its pulp with your fingers..

In general, all people in the world are divided into two types: some people peel the top of a banana(from the inflorescence side), others - from below(at the leg). I suppose that there are still more of the first in Russia. Agree, if you imagine a peeled banana in your imagination, then this will be the first option. The optimal mechanism for peeling a banana using this method involves using two hands. It is shown in the picture. By the way, this is how monkeys consider it correct to open bananas.

Meanwhile, the second option of peeling a banana from the side of the stem or stem, although less familiar, is to some extent even more convenient. Firstly, because it requires one hand, not two. All you have to do is grab the stem well and pull - and half the banana is already peeled. In addition, there is no black piece on the bottom side of the tip of the banana, which usually has to be either removed with your hands or teeth and thrown away somewhere (in the image above this very piece is circled in red). I don’t know about you, but personally, he drives me crazy. You’re too lazy to drag yourself to the trash can because of it, and you don’t want to leave this sweet mucus anywhere until you eat a banana. I will add that cleaning from the stem side is not very popular in our country, but is quite common in Western countries. From my point of view, Cleaning option from the leg side is more convenient.

In general, of course, correct way to open a banana- it’s a purely individual matter. Everyone finds for themselves the most convenient of the two existing options. Agree, it’s quite difficult to come up with something new when it comes to peeling bananas. But you can add variety to the ways of using them. For example, I very rarely eat a banana straight from the skin. As a rule, I eat this tropical fruit with an apple, and sometimes with other fruits for breakfast. I really like to peel them first and then cut them into pieces on a plate. After that I eat the fruit with a fork. Some may find this method too complicated, but this is how I feel like I have eaten fully. The feeling of hunger when eating food from the plate disappears almost immediately, but when I eat “on the run”, I only have the feeling of a light snack.

I think this is precisely why our lightweight attitude towards fruit is connected. Few people consider fruits to be a serious food - just an indulgence, a dessert. And all because we eat them on the run, after the main meal or between them. Meanwhile, many serious experts have a completely different attitude towards fruits and advise at least having breakfast exclusively with fruits. To a person unaccustomed to such a diet, it seems that it is impossible to get enough of fruit. However, it’s worth trying to make sure that this is absolutely not true. Fruits are the same complete food (rather, even better), like our usual soups, side dishes, stewed vegetables, eggs, etc.