Updated 31 July 2026 · Written by Sofia Romano
To ripen bananas quickly, seal them in a paper bag with an apple or a ripe banana, which traps the ethylene gas that speeds ripening, usually within a day. If you need soft bananas for baking right now, bake unpeeled bananas at 300 F for 15 to 20 minutes until the skins blacken and the flesh turns soft.
Paper bag with an apple traps ethylene and ripens bananas in about a day. For baking now, bake unpeeled bananas at 300 F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Faster Natural Ripening
Bananas ripen thanks to ethylene gas, so trapping it speeds things up. Put the bananas in a paper bag, add an apple or a already-ripe banana, and fold it closed. A warm spot helps too. They usually soften and sweeten within a day or so.
The Baking Shortcut
When you need soft bananas for banana bread immediately, place unpeeled bananas on a tray and bake at 300 F for 15 to 20 minutes until the skins turn black and the insides are soft. This makes them soft and easy to mash, though it develops less sweetness than natural ripening. Overripe bananas also freeze well; see if you can freeze bananas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ripen bananas overnight?
Seal them in a paper bag with an apple or ripe banana. The trapped ethylene gas usually ripens them within a day, sometimes overnight in a warm spot.
Can you ripen bananas in the oven?
You can soften them by baking unpeeled bananas at 300 F for 15 to 20 minutes, ideal for baking. They will be soft and mashable but a little less sweet than naturally ripened.
