What is ethylene gas?
Ethylene is a type of hormone.
What does ethylene gas do?
Many fruits and vegetables release ethylene gas as they ripen, which helps soften the fruit and increase its sugar content. (1)
ethylene speeds up the ripening and activates the changes in color, textures, and flavor of fruit. (2)
ethylene gas leads to fruit ripening and eventually spoiling (2)
Ethylene works by breaking down chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green color on the skin of most fruits. (2)
What release ethylene gas?
apples (1)
apricot (1)
avocados (1)
cantaloupe (1)
ripe bananas (1)
mangoes (1)
onions (1)
papaya (1)
pears (1)
plums (1)
prunes (1)
tomatoes (1)
What fruits produce ethylene?
Ethylene-producing fruits are those that can ripen off the tree; pears, apples, and bananas, are a few. (2)
All fruits produce some amount of ethylene. (2)
What fruits produce a lot of ethylene?
apples
bananas
apricots
pears
Try to store these away from other vegetables and fruits even if you are preserving them in the fridge. Apples, for example, can make vegetables and other fruits go bad quickly if stored together because of the high amounts of ethylene they produce. (2)
What fruits produce little ethylene?
The fruits that produce less ethylene are more sensitive to ethylene, which is why one bad fruit in the basket makes all the others go bad. (2)
carrots (2)
cabbage (2)
unripe bananas (2)
lettuce (2)
potatoes (2)
peas (2)
cucumber (2)
broccoli (2)
eggplant (2)
okra (2)
watermelon (2)
peppers (2)
cauliflower (2)
Where should ethylene-producing fruits be stored?
advisable to store them separately once they ripen and away from ethylene-sensitive foods as the gas can cause over-ripening and speed up rotting. (2)
Enzymes that are activated by ethylene break down the polysaccharides in the cell walls , and the cell walls soften. (2)
When the ethylene is produced in excess, the fruit will soften beyond normal levels, and start going bad. (2)
Fruits that produce their own ethylene save you the process of having to use artificial chemicals to induce ripeness. (2)
Fruits release ethylene gas in high temperatures. (2)
It is advisable to refrigerate juicy fruits like kiwi and mango when fully ripe to retain their juice. (2)
To low down the ripening effect of ethylene gas is to keep fruit in an environment with less oxygen and more carbon dioxide. (2)
Oxygen is necessary for the ripening process, and its absence stops the process. (2)
Resources
1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-store-potatoes#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7
2. https://kitchenlily.com/ethylene-producing-fruits/
