7/10/06 | Bananas Are Cheap
[ Currently Eating: Kiki's Bakery Toast ]
It’s funny how sometimes the people who write into Cheap Eats are on a mighty similar wavelength. In the past couple of months I have had not 1 person, but FOUR people write in asking why I haven’t featured the lowly but economically friendly Banana yet.
The answer is: Bananas just aren’t that sexy to write about. Oh, wait. Never mind - I’m not touching THAT one with a ten foot pole. Oh, wait… now I said POLE. Hurhhh.
Truthfully, bananas are just so excellent as Cheap Eats that I put it in that category of “Save For Rainy Day, When There Is Nothing Else To Write About.”
Today is definitely not rainy, and there are a ton of other food items backlogged at Cheap Eats. But I figured I’d better write about it since there were so many people who wanted to hear about it.
The Banana - Portable. Comes in it’s own wrapper. Kid friendly. Nutritious. Exercise pick-me-up. Damn cheap. Year round imports from warmer climes. Can be used in desserts. Overripe ones can be used in Banana bread. Green ones (or plantains) can be fried (yum).
It is seriously cheap… even at places like Trader Joe’s. I was there the other day and they were selling some really nice ones for like 15 cents or something each. They can be found in ethnic markets for even cheaper. I tend to buy them green unless they’re going to be eaten the same day. I sort of like eating bananas that are just on the cusp of turning yellow. Once they start getting speckled, I hand it off to my wife.
Hard to find the cons… well, some people just don’t like bananas. Like our cat. And fishermen… oh boy. There is this crazy, crazy superstition that has been running in our family for a long time. I come from a family of fishermen (mostly on the hawaii-side) and it is apparently GREAT and EARTH SHATTERING bad luck to bring bananas on a boat when you are going fishing. I’ve heard this told to me since I was young and we were going on boating trips. It is absolutely taboo.
I think the scientific explanations have something to do with fish really disliking the smell of bananas… so if you get it on your hands and then touch your bait then you’re not going to catch anything.
I’d like to test this superstition. Myself, I’ve not been able to since everytime we go fishing it’s with relatives who frown heavily on bringing bananas along. So let me know if you get a chance to tempt your fishing fate with bananas.
Price: $0.08 - $0.25
Found At: Everywhere
Cheap Eats Score: 9/10
July 10th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
There are other cons to bananas (besides the issues with taking them fishing) though they are specific to the person who is eating them. For one, they are one of the only kinds of fruit that can be fattening. Also, they are loaded with potassium which is a good thing for most but can be a problem if you have heart trouble.
The way you prefer bananas is probably healthier though since the sugar content increases as they ripen and you like them just as they turn yellow. Personally, I like to toss them in the refrigerator and make a smoothie from them with plain yogurt and skim milk (with a little cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetener of some kind - like honey). It’s cheap, healthy and very satisfying in summer.
July 10th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Yum bananas! Great cheap eats and one of the more fun, rich in potassium foods that help foot and leg cramps.
July 10th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Bananas aren’t cheap in Australia at the moment.. I just came back from a holiday in Australia and thanks to Cyclone Larry last December, 90% of their banana crop was wiped out. Meanwhile they have govt sanctions on importing bananas, to protect the local economy and it’s put banana prices up to about $8/lb (US)
July 11th, 2006 at 3:39 am
Bannanas aren’t fattening and unhealthy! Depending on the size, they have 90-120 calories (usually about 100 for an average-sized fruit). Very ripe ones may have a few more.
You can also skin and freeze them, to avoid having to throw them away–for a cheap summertime treat as well.
July 11th, 2006 at 5:46 am
I like mine the same as you. Just on the cusp of turning yellow.
If they go any further I throw mine in the freezer and make pure fruit smoothies with them.
1-2 frozen Banana’s
handful of frozen raspberries,
1-2 fresh satsuma’s manderin’s (other small juicy, seedless orange type fruits)
Blitz in the blender until smooth, adding a little orange juice if it’s too think.
Saves adding ice-cubes (and watering down the drink), and makes a great quick breakfast.
July 11th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
I refuse to buy into the notion going around that some fruits/veggies are bad for you. It’s a fruit for pete’s sake.
I love bananas! In cereal and in yogurt. But really I like making frozen adult beverages with them. Bananas and rum go great together!
July 11th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
I love bananas, especially in my strawberry/banana smoothie, but here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, they turn brown and mushy within a couple of days.
July 12th, 2006 at 6:11 am
I never said bananas were bad for you, just that they were the only fruit that could be fattening. This is a comparison to other fruits, not to other foods. Bananas are much higher in carbohydrates than other fruit. They carry a much higher glycemic load and have a bigger impact on blood sugar. Diabetics and people who are concerned about insulin resistance have to weigh the benefits of bananas against potential drawbacks. If you do not suffer any health problems, this isn’t an issue for you.
And you might have to limit intake if you have a heart condition and have issues with Potassium. If you want to generalize that to say they are “bad” for you, that’s your choice but it isn’t what I said.
Bananas are, in fact, very good for most people.
July 12th, 2006 at 11:07 am
Orchid - anything “can be fattening” if you eat enough of it - and bananas are not the only fruit that can be fattening - a mango has 30 grams of sugar (compared to 21 for an average banana) and is also about 100 calories. 100 calories from a banana a day will not make you fat. Add it to a daily dietary intake of 4000 calories - and yup - maybe you can say fattening. In fact, I eat one 5 days a week and I am not fat - but the fact that I work out 5 days a week may help that.
I agree with you that people with diabetics may need to watch their intake - well - not really since it is more than eating something which increases your glycemic index - its more about watching and maintaining your blood sugar levels and not eating too much etc.
Great discussion though - who knew bananas could be so controversial :0)
July 13th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
i never thought to freeze bananas before they get too ripe! great ideas HeartofGlass21 and Lee.
yep i like my bananas bespeckled!
July 13th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
The reason that Bananas are considered bad luck on boats is actually very historical.
You know how placing unripe fruit near bananas will help it to ripen faster? Well, when ships were just beginning to explore the world and take long voages, ships with banans had all their fruit go bad, and as a result of lacking the vitamins fruit provides most of the sailors on board such a ship contracted scurvy and died.
Someone finally put two and two together, and realized that ships without bananas did not have their crews dropping like flies.
So the superstition persists to this day: bananas are bad luck on boats!
April 12th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Did you know that if you hang banana’s above other fruit: they will start to turn brown in a matter of a day or two. If you don’t want your banana’s to go off too quickly, you should store them away from other fruits.
May 5th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
My mother has rhematoid arthirtis in her ankles> I was looking for anti inflammatory foods for her and read that bananas were bad. I was just wondering if you knew why.
March 31st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Hey, about the superstition… I swear I used bananas as bait everytime I aim for Catfishes or Carps (freshwater). I get them hooked everytime. They seem to like it. Try it out if you don’t believe!