Red bananas are a type of banana that is less common than regular yellow ones.
They are smaller and sweeter, with red skin and flesh.
They are delicious and have many health benefits.
But what does red banana taste like? Read on to find out.
What is Red Banana?
Red bananas, also known as African red bananas or Congo Red Banana, are a group of reddish-purple skin.
Some are sweet.
Others have a tart taste.
They are usually eaten fresh – they do not keep for long periods because of their high content of starch that quickly turns to sugar when ripe.
The common red banana is fairly popular in the West Indies and parts of Africa and Latin America.
When cooked, its flesh has an almost earthy taste with only a slight sweetness and can be used in desserts or salads.
They’ve been exported by producers from East Africa, Asia, South America, and the United Arab Emirates but are popular among Central Americans and South Americans.
Red bananas are thought to be an antioxidant powerhouse because they contain carotenoids, pigments that give plants their color.
These vibrant red fruits may also help protect eye health due to the very same properties.
Where to Buy Red Banana?
There are many places where you can buy red bananas, but it’s hard to know which one is the best.
Here are some options:
- Shopping at a grocery store or produce market and buying them in bulk from a bin.
- Buying them individually wrapped at an import store.
- Ordering through Amazon Prime Pantry usually for higher prices than other sources.
- Fortunately, Etsy can give us some options. You can buy a box of red bananas here. You can also buy a red banana tree, but note that this beautiful plant will only produce ornamental fruit; no edible bananas are produced.
Red Banana vs Yellow Banana
Red bananas are usually sweeter than yellow.
They have a firmer texture when cut into pieces, and their flesh is paler in color.
The skin of the red banana can be thinner, harder, or softer than that its yellow counterpart.
This difference between skins may not be noticeable to the unaided eye but will show up with careful handling.
It also has fewer fibers inside than the other type of banana, which makes it easier to chew on for some people who cannot easily bite into hard food items like apples because they’ve lost teeth or need dentures.
Red banana can also be used in some recipes and is a popular choice for making banana bread.
It can last longer than its yellow counterparts because of its more solid consistency.
One downside to red bananas is that they are not as common as their yellow counterpart, so if you want to purchase this type of banana, it might take a little bit more effort on your end.
Nutritional Benefits of Red Banana
Red bananas have a slightly different nutritional composition that other banana varieties.
Red bananas are a rich vitamin C source and contain some amounts of thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.
They are an excellent source of potassium – 23% more than green bananas per serving.
They have about the same amount of fiber as other banana varieties but less sugar.
This means they make a better choice for people with diabetes or who want to lose weight because it’s easier on their blood sugar levels.
Red bananas are considered a very good source of vitamin A, providing about 20% of the daily recommended intake.
Red bananas are also rich in antioxidant compounds such as beta-carotene and alpha carotenes, which help protect cells from oxygen-free radicals that can cause cell damage.
They also contain the amino acid lysine, which can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety when not eaten in the diet.
The potassium content is a major differentiator between red bananas and other banana varieties.
Potassium plays an important role in many bodily functions, including regulating blood pressure and building muscle tone.
It also helps regulate fluid balance within cells, so it’s often recommended to supplement people who suffer from high blood pressure or heart disease because this function is impaired with these conditions.
What Does Red Banana Taste Like? Does Red Banana Taste Good?
If you have ever had a green banana and were given a red one, you know that the taste is different.
The skin of the fruit turns from green to bright-yellowish orange when it has ripened enough for eating.
Often people wonder what do red bananas taste like? They will compare it with other fruits they’ve eaten to discern its unique flavor profile.
People who eat them often say that red bananas have a sweeter, milder flavor than their green counterparts, usually sour or tangy, tasting without any sugar added during cooking.
Ripe red bananas are the sweetest.
They have a slightly floral, perfumy quality and may also carry traces of fragrant vanilla that differentiate them from yellow bananas.
The texture is wonderful- it’s soft with an almost creamy density compared to our typically denser yellow banana, which has more chalky fibers in its peel than this sweeter variety does.
But like underripe green ones, ripe reds will leave your tongue feeling unpleasantly coarser and fibrous if you don’t wait for their full ripening period before harvesting these fruits, so they’re ready for eating.
How Can You Tell if Red Banana is Ripe?
Do you have a banana craving but aren’t sure if the one in your fruit bowl is ripe? The best way to tell whether a banana is ripe and ready to eat, peel, or freeze is by checking its skin color.
The skins on most bananas start green when they’re newly picked but soon turn yellow or red as they ripen.
The color of a red banana is determined by a specific pigment in its skin called ‘carotenoid’.
The more carotenoid in the banana, the redder it will be.
In most cases, if you’re looking for something to eat right now and want your bananas ripe enough that they’ll taste good raw, then go ahead and pick up some yellow or red-skinned ones at your local grocery store.
If you don’t need them immediately but have plenty of time before they get eaten, consider buying green bananas (which are also safe to eat) from an Asian grocer or farmer’s market.
These types tend to stay firmer than their counterparts and will take longer to ripen.
When you buy bananas, be sure they are firm but not hard and have some give when squeezed gently in the palm of your hand.
Overripe fruit may feel very soft or bruised on their skin, while underripe ones can feel slightly green inside with a little resistance.
Ensure that any red banana you purchase is free from bruises on its peel as it’s likely overripened, to begin with.
Ripe bananas taste best if eaten within three days or so — after which time they’ll start turning brownish-black all around their edges until eventually spoiling altogether (after about two weeks).
Conclusion
In conclusion, a red banana tastes like a regular banana but is sweeter and less acidic.
A slightly sweet fruit that tastes just as good as any other type of banana.
A typical red or yellow-skinned banana can be found in most grocery stores.
The two types are considered interchangeable when cooking because the taste difference is negligible.
What Does Red Banana Taste Like? Does Red Banana Taste Good?
Ingredients
- Red banana
- Ingredients from your favorite recipes
Instructions
- Depending on the recipes you choose, the taste can vastly differ.
- For authentic results, it is important to choose a recipe that will highlight the original flavor.
- Have fun experimenting with different recipes and taste tests!
About The Author
