Banana Basics

The riper a banana becomes, the sweeter it will taste. That's because the starch in bananas turns to sugar as they ripen.
Green-tipped bananas are best for cooking while yellow are great for salads, cereals or immediate eating. Fully ripe bananas with brown speckled peels are perfect for baking in breads or mashing to fruit smoothies.
Cooler temperatures slow down the ripening precess of bananas while warmer temperatures speed it up.