If you have a big bunch of bananas or a large quantity of other fruit that you're afraid may ripen all at once, place a few in a brown paper bag with holes made in it. The bag traps ethylene gas, making the fruit inside ripen almost twice as fast.
Fully ripened fruit belongs in the refrigerator. Unripe fruit is best kept at room temperature in an open-weave basket that allows air to circulate.
If fruit has become overripe, don't throw it away. Puree it in a blender or food processor with a little lemon juice and sugar and spoon the result over ice cream.
Do not wash soft fruits unless absolutely necessary. Instead, wipe away dirt with a paper towel or brush it off with a pastry brush. However, if you do have to wash strawberries, they will retain more juice and absorb less water if you wash them before hulling. And always rinse the berries quickly in running water instead of soaking them.
