Baby Bananas

Bananas are revered as one of the world’s divine foods. You have never experienced bananas like this small, red variety unless you’ve visited Ecuador or Central America. They are smaller in size than the common Cavendish banana and have a creamy white to pink flesh, with a slight raspberry flavor. They can be sliced and dried or eaten raw in salads, but are usually eaten fresh out of hand.

Red Bananas, when ripe, should have a purplish hue. Choose slightly firm Red Bananas and avoid bruises or cracks. Store Red Bananas uncovered at room temperature. Turn occasionally. To prepare for frying, simply cut off ends and peel. Season with fresh herbs from Melissa’s.

Peel and enjoy raw, eaten out of hand. Slice and add to fruit salads, fry, or leave whole for decorative use.

ananas are low in sodium, high in potassium, and contains approximately 6 vitamins and 11 other minerals!

The banana is many times considered nature’s perfect food because it offers so many health benefits. It is low in sodium, high in potassium, and contains approximately 6 vitamins and 11 other minerals!

The common banana, or the Cavendish Banana, is native to tropical countries like Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The banana is truly popular worldwide.

This can be served in a multitude of different ways in breakfast items like cereal, pancakes, and waffles; chilled fruit juice, fruit salads, desserts, and even poultry or meats.

Melissa’s Organic Bananas are hand-selected for excellent quality. As is true with most bananas, the Organic Banana is harvested green and then allowed to ripen while transported to its destination.

Avoid bananas with split skins. Bananas with brown or black spotted peels only indicate ripeness, while the fruit itself remains unchanged. Store at room temperature. Once ripe, bananas may be refrigerated for a few days.

Bananas are extremely versatile. They can be eaten out of hand, baked or added to fruit salads and desserts.

Similar to the well-known Cavendish banana, the Burro Banana is flatter, smaller and more square, yet just as versatile. The Burro Banana, from Mexico, is available year-round and has a tangy lemon flavor. Once ripe, the soft flesh is creamy white or yellow with some firmness toward the center.

Used when firm, the Burro banana can be sliced and added to cereals or made into banana chips (see recipe below). When softer, they can also be mashed and used in cakes, Bananas Foster and other dessert recipes.

Burro Bananas from Melissa’s are hand-selected for excellent quality. As is true with most bananas, Burro Bananas are harvested green and allowed to ripen while transported to their destination. When ripe, the skin is yellow with black spots.

Bananas with brown or black spotted peels only indicate ripeness, while the fruit itself remains unchanged. Store at room temperature. Once ripe, Burro Bananas may be refrigerated for a few days. Freezing is not recommended.

Fresh from the tropics, a rare selection of the finest “hands” of bananas make up this assortment, which may include the following varieties:

• Baby Bananas, which are snack-sized and have a sweet flavor, with a hint of cinnamon aftertaste.
• The creamy, sweet, chunky shaped Burro Bananas have a slight taste of lemon.
• The Red Bananas are creamy white to pink fleshed and flavored with a hint of raspberry blended with notes of vanilla.
• Manzano Bananas, with their stubby looking fingers, have a sweet taste with flavors of gourmet apples and tones of strawberries.
• Plantains, known as “cooking bananas” have the best texture and flavor for sautéeing and are popular when served battered and deep fried.