A Countertop Planter Hack That Changes The Way You Store Bananas

These days, we see a lot of creativity in upcycling and giving old items a second life. People are using empty perfume bottles as adorable DIY vases or trying out clever ways to repurpose empty vinegar bottles, including for storage, organization, and gardening. In this same vein, the next time you buy a bunch of bananas, try storing them in a countertop planter or vase that would otherwise sit unused and hidden in a cabinet. By using something more decorative than a traditional fruit bowl or banana hanger, you'll instantly add visual appeal to your kitchen without any effort.

This idea of displaying bananas in a planter to entice her kids to eat them comes from Sarah Teresinski, whose TikTok account, @redeux_style, offers ideas for restyling and upcycling. She recommends using a planter that fits your home's aesthetic, whether that means choosing a material that matches your kitchen fixtures or a color that complements the palette used elsewhere in the room. Teresinski divides the bananas, snips off their stems, and places them in a narrow planter with a shape that allowed for bananas to be store upright.

While dividing the bananas is not necessary for this planter hack to work, doing so makes them easier to grab. (Let's be honest — sometimes wrangling a bunch of bananas can be a deterrent from eating them.) This step also serves a second purpose: Separating bananas actually slows down the ripening process. Bananas and many other fruit emit ethylene, a gas that ripens the fruit and those around it. Dividing the bananas and — for extra safeguarding — wrapping each stem with plastic keeps the ethylene from being released and quickly maturing the banana.

If you've reached past a banana with brown spots for a bright yellow one, you're not alone — and that's another reason why this planter hack works well. Bruising occurs when a tear or cut in the peel exposes the flesh inside to air. Storing bananas upright in a container, rather than stacked or bundled together, keeps them from bruising easily. Even with all these precautions, you may end up with an overripe banana or two. If you do, don't let it go to waste. Cut or smash it up to attract Monarch butterflies to your yard.