Ethylene Gas and Zeolite

Ethylene Gas - What is it?

If you have ever noticed that fruit ripens quickly on the kitchen counter? Or that bananas get brown spots in just a few days.  Even in the fridge, fruit can ripen quickly. This happens because a harmless, odorless, colourless gas called ethylene is at work in your kitchen.

Ethylene is a hydrocarbon gas that cannot be seen and has no smell. Ethylene gas in fruits is a naturally occurring process resulting from the ripening of the fruit or may be produced when plants are injured in some way. Ethylene gas in fruits and vegetables is actually a plant hormone which regulates the plant’s growth and development as well as the speed at which these occur, such as hormones do in humans or animals. Ethylene gas was first discovered about a long time ago noticed that trees growing near gas street lamps were dropping leaves more rapidly than those planted at a distance from the lamps.

Did you know that most produce purchased at the grocery store has been frozen? And, that most likely it was picked green and sprayed with ethylene to ripen it? This a an highly specialized science, so we always have ripe fruit and vegetables year round.

Have you ever had to throw out fruit and vegetables because is ripens before you can eat it? The North America stat is that approximately $600 in fruit and vegetables is thrown away each year because it ripens before it can be eaten.

We can help! By using our pouches by your fruit and vegetables, you can slow do the ripening.

Ethylene Gas and Zeolite

Zeolite is a natural mineral with unique absorbing properties. One of the gases that zeolite will absorb is ethylene.

The zeolite inside our pouches absorbs the ethylene that is produced as produce ripens. When the ethylene is gone, the produce ripens slower and lasts longer.

Why are they called Banana Pouches?

We first discovered that zeolite absorbed ethylene quite by accident. A pouch from one of our other sets was left on the kitchen counter and the bananas stayed crisp and fresh for almost a week. At first we didn't notice, but the next bunch turned brown in just a few days (after the pouch was removed), so the investigation began. The information was easily and readily available with just a few internet searches.

How to use Banana Pouch

Banana pouches "hang out" with your fruit. They can hang from a banana tree, on the edge of a fruit bowl or even in your crisper drawers. If they are placed in the fruit bowl or the crisper drawer, they will work as well, however they are more effective if hung. Banana pouches can also be used with vegetables as they release ethylene gas as well.

Banana pouches will work for several months and then will need to be renewed. Simply place the pouch in the microwave for 10 seconds and the pouch is ready to go back to work.

CAUTION: The pouch will be HOT after 10 seconds! Remove with care.

Banana Pouches & Fruit Flies

The other AMAZING side effect of this process is that fruit flies are not present. There are many theories of where these annoying creatures come from so the fact that Banana Pouches discourage their presence is AWESOME.