If you are staring at a bowl of hard green tomatoes and the weather is getting colder, you are not alone. Many gardeners end the season with unripened fruit and no idea what to do with it. The good news is that you can still enjoy sweet, red tomatoes if you know how to ripen green tomatoes properly.

In this guide you will learn a simple banana trick to ripen tomatoes indoors, why it works, and other ways to speed up tomato ripening both off the vine and on the vine.

Chapters

Quickly Ripen Green Tomatoes With A Simple Banana Trick [Video Tutorial]

Tomato Ripening Calculator

Why Tomatoes Stay Green And Need Help To Ripen

Tomatoes ripen in response to a natural plant hormone called ethylene. When a tomato reaches maturity, it starts to produce more ethylene. That triggers a chain reaction inside the fruit.

• Chlorophyll breaks down and the tomato turns from green to red (or yellow, orange, etc.).
• Acids and starches change into sugars, so the tomato tastes sweeter.
• The texture softens and becomes juicy.

When the season turns cold, this process slows down or even stops. Temperatures that are too low or too high can keep tomatoes stuck in the green stage. If frost is coming or you are growing in a cooler climate, you may need to step in and help. This is where the banana trick comes in.

Why A Banana Helps Ripen Green Tomatoes

Bananas are famous for ripening other fruits for a simple reason. They release a lot of ethylene gas. When you place a ripe banana together with green tomatoes in a closed space, the ethylene concentration increases around the fruit.

That extra ethylene does three important things.

• It tells mature green tomatoes that it is time to ripen.
• It speeds up the color change from green to red.
• It helps tomatoes ripen more evenly.

You are basically creating a mini ripening chamber in your own kitchen using nothing more than a banana and a container.

How To Ripen Green Tomatoes Indoors With A Banana

This is one of the easiest ways to quickly ripen green tomatoes. You only need a few simple items you probably already have at home.

Step 1. Gather Your Supplies

You will need:

• Green tomatoes that are full size or close to full size
• One or two ripe bananas
• A bowl, cardboard box, or paper bag
• A clean, dry kitchen towel or some newspaper

Aim for mature green tomatoes. Very small, tiny, or rock hard tomatoes that have not reached full size may never ripen well, no matter what you do.

Step 2. Sort And Check Your Tomatoes

Before you place everything together, quickly sort your tomatoes.

• Separate cracked, damaged, or bruised tomatoes from the rest.
• Remove any fruit with mold or soft spots.

One spoiled tomato can cause others to rot faster in a closed container, so it is better to use those for frying or chutney instead of trying to ripen them.

Step 3. Set Up Your Banana Ripening Chamber

Option 1: Bowl and towel method

• Line the bottom of a bowl or box with a towel or newspaper.
• Place a layer of green tomatoes in a single layer if possible.
• Add one ripe banana in the middle.
• Cover the tomatoes loosely with the towel or another layer of newspaper.

Option 2: Paper bag method

• Place several green tomatoes in a paper bag.
• Add a ripe banana or ripe apple.
• Fold the top of the bag to keep the air mostly inside, but do not seal it completely airtight.

Avoid plastic bags that trap too much moisture. Extra humidity can encourage mold and rot.

Step 4. Choose The Right Location

Place your bowl, box, or bag in a warm, dry, dark or dim spot. Ideal temperature is often between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius.

Good locations include:

• A kitchen counter away from direct sunlight
• A pantry shelf
• On top of the fridge where it is slightly warmer

Do not place the tomatoes in the fridge. Cold temperatures slow ripening and can ruin the texture.

Step 5. Check Tomatoes Regularly

Check your tomatoes once a day.

• Remove any that are turning red and leave them on the counter to finish off.
• Remove any tomatoes that show signs of mold or soft rot.
• If the banana starts to turn very brown and mushy, replace it with a fresh ripe banana.

Depending on how mature the tomatoes are and how warm your house is, ripening can take anywhere from two days to two weeks.

Other Ways To Ripen Tomatoes Off The Vine

The banana trick is great, but it is not the only option for anyone who wants to know how to ripen green tomatoes indoors. Here are a few more methods you can combine or try separately.

Use A Cardboard Box

• Place tomatoes in a single layer inside a shallow box.
• Add a ripe banana or apple in one corner.
• Cover with newspaper.
• Store the box in a warm area and check daily.

A box gives good air circulation and is ideal when you have a large harvest.

Ripen Tomatoes On A Windowsill

If your tomatoes are already starting to blush slightly, you can simply place them on a sunny or bright windowsill.

• Space them out so they are not touching.
• Turn them occasionally so they color evenly.

This method is slower and can sometimes cause uneven ripening, but it works well for tomatoes that are already close to ripe.

Hang Whole Plants Upside Down

If frost is coming quickly and you do not want to lose your crop, you can pull up the entire tomato plant by the roots and hang it in a protected place.

• Shake off excess soil.
• Hang the plant upside down in a garage, shed, or covered area.
• The remaining tomatoes often continue to ripen using the last energy stored in the plant.

This method works best if the weather is not extremely cold and the plant is still somewhat healthy.

How To Ripen Tomatoes Faster On The Vine

Whenever possible, it is best to let tomatoes ripen on the plant. They often taste better and develop richer flavor. Here are practical steps to speed things up outdoors or in a greenhouse.

1. Top The Plant

Late in the season, cut off the growing tips of the plant.

• Remove the top 15 to 30 centimeters of the main stem.
• This stops the plant from putting energy into new leaves and flowers.
• More energy goes into ripening the tomatoes that are already there.

2. Remove New Flowers And Tiny Fruits

Any new flowers or very tiny fruit that appear late in the season probably will not ripen before frost. Pinch them off. This again directs more resources to the fruit that is almost ready.

3. Trim Some Leaves

You can remove some of the large leaves that shade clusters of tomatoes.

• Do not strip the plant bare.
• Focus on leaves that block sunlight from fruit.

Better sun exposure can warm the tomatoes and speed ripening.

4. Manage Water

At the end of the season, you can slightly reduce watering.

• Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy.
• Avoid heavy watering that can dilute flavor and cause cracking.

A small amount of stress tells the plant to finish the fruit that is already set.

5. Protect From Cold

If nights are getting cold, protect your plants.

• Use garden fleece, row covers, or an old bedsheet on cold nights.
• Grow in a greenhouse, tunnel, or against a warm wall if possible.

Even a small rise in nighttime temperature can help tomatoes ripen more quickly.

Common Mistakes When Trying To Ripen Green Tomatoes

Learning how to ripen green tomatoes is simple, but a few common mistakes can cost you a lot of fruit.

1. Using very immature tomatoes

Tiny, rock hard, small green tomatoes that have not reached full size often never ripen properly. They may wrinkle, stay pale, or taste bland. Focus on full sized green fruit.

2. Refrigerating green tomatoes

Cold slows the ripening process and can cause a mealy texture. Do not store green tomatoes in the fridge if you want them to ripen.

3. Sealing them in airtight plastic

Plastic bags can trap moisture and encourage mold. Use paper bags, boxes, or loosely covered bowls instead.

4. Ignoring mold or rot

One bad tomato can spread mold spores to the rest. Check your ripening setup daily and remove any fruit that is starting to rot.

5. Expecting identical flavor as summer vine ripe tomatoes

Indoor ripened tomatoes can taste very good, especially if they were already mature when picked. However, they may not have quite the same intense flavor as those ripened in warm summer sun. Use the best ones for fresh eating and the rest for sauces, salsa, and cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ripening Green Tomatoes

How long does it take to ripen green tomatoes with a banana

Usually between two days and two weeks. Mature green tomatoes in a warm house may start to blush in just a few days. Less mature fruit or cooler temperatures will take longer.

Can I use other fruits instead of a banana

Yes. Apples, pears, and some other ripe fruits also release ethylene gas. Bananas are popular because they release a lot of ethylene and are easy to find.

Will all green tomatoes turn completely red

Not always. Some may stay slightly greenish or yellow, depending on the variety and how mature they were when picked. You can still cook with tomatoes that do not turn fully red.

Is it safe to eat tomatoes that ripened indoors

Yes. As long as the tomatoes are not moldy or spoiled, they are safe to eat. They may taste a bit different than summer vine ripe tomatoes, but they are perfectly fine for fresh eating and cooking.

What should I do with tomatoes that will not ripen

Use them as green tomatoes. You can make fried green tomatoes, chutney, pickles, or sauces. That way nothing goes to waste.

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