How Much Does A Banana Weigh and How Much to Have?

One of the best things you can get out of reading this article, besides the obvious, is to know exactly how much banana is good for you. Did you know that bananas are consumed more than apples and grapes every year? It’s a staple household fruit that most people love and eat.

Figuring out the weight also means understanding the different types of bananas available in most farmer markets across the world.

Types of Bananas

Bananas are a high-protein and sweet treat. They are high in potassium, pectin, fiber, vitamin C and B6, and magnesium. So clearly there’s no shortage of healthy nutrients in the fruit.

But the mind wonders: do all the bananas have these nutrients?

Different types of bananas are popular in different parts of the world. But here are some of the common and popular ones…

1. Apple Bananas

Apple bananas are exceptionally sweet, in fact, they are the sweetest bananas available. They are also perfectly moist and don’t brown very easily. You can make some really delicious salads using apple bananas.

A single apple banana is heavier than a small apple. It should come up to 80g to 10g.

2. Cavendish Bananas

Cavendish bananas are the most common banana variety found everywhere in the world. I’m drinking a banana and grape smoothie using a Cavendish banana as I write this! So it’s quite popular and nutritious.

They are longer than apple bananas. They do develop a few brown spots which increase with time. Cavendish bananas have the perfect softness and super-ripe taste. Ideal for making smoothies, banana bread, and other dishes because of their soft and mildly sweet flavor.

A single Cavendish banana weighs about 110g to 170g. This differs based on the fleshy part and the peel weight of the banana. But 160g is the average weight of a large, full-ripe Cavendish banana.

3. Lady Finger Bananas

Lady finger bananas are small, sweet, and usually are given to kids. They are great for snacking because of their small size and thin skin.

Because of their thin skin, small size, they weigh the least. Perhaps lighter than apple bananas which are less than 80g.

4. Red Bananas

Red bananas are exactly what they sound like. They’re red in color and very sweet. Not very soft but not too hard either. Even though these aren’t so readily available, they make perfect ingredients for new recipes.

5. Cooking Bananas

Cooking bananas look very similar to plantains but they aren’t the same fruit. Cooking bananas have tough like potatoes. You can make delicious chips out of them. You can roast cooking bananas, steam, air fry, and deep fry them. They’re perfect because they are a starchy food.

From the outside, they look just like bananas but from the inside, they’re like a starchy vegetable.

Recommended Portion Size of Bananas

According to studies, 2 cups of fruits is and should be the ideal portion for most people. Unless you have a pre-existing health condition, in which case you’ll need to consult with a nutrition specialist.

The standard serving size for the majority of people is 1-2 cups of fruit. This includes bananas, berries, melons, cherries, etc.

When you compare this to the serving size of a single banana:

A small-sized banana, like apple bananas, amounts to a half cup.

A large banana, like the Cavendish banana, amounts to a full cup.

Stages of Banana Ripeness

You can consume bananas in all their stages of ripeness. And this matters, why? Because the softer a banana gets, the lighter and mushier they get. So if you want to understand the basics of bananas, you also have to think about banana ripeness.

You can differentiate the various stages of ripeness in bananas by their colors:

Green, green-yellow, yellow, yellow with brown spots, and brown.

Green

When the banana is green, it’s firm and more starchy than sweet. You can eat green bananas but they taste better when you cook them. You can add them in soups, stews, and salads. And there are a variety of ways to cook green bananas – by roasting, steaming, frying, boiling, and pan-frying.

If the green banana is too hard and difficult to peel, wrap it in a newspaper for 12-24 hours. This should ripen the banana skin making it slightly softer.

Green-Yellow

Green-yellow bananas are softer than green bananas. They are easy to peel and cut. You can cook them the same way you cook green bananas. I do not recommend eating green-yellow bananas either because they taste better when cooked.

Yellow

When the banana is yellow, it’s golden! What this means is that yellow bananas are sweet and tasty. You can add them to your smoothies, fruit bowls, and desserts.

Having said that, it’s important to consume yellow bananas quickly because they develop brown spots fairly quickly. So you’re supposed to eat it while it’s still ripe and yellow.

Yellow with Brown Spots

While it’s okay to eat a yellow banana with brown spots, they tend to become very soft and mushy. It’s the best stage for when you want to make smoothies, puddings, ice cream, and other desserts.

Brown

Overripe bananas are brown in color. They have an intense flavor and smell. If you keep a brown banana open in your kitchen, chances are you’ll smell it before you can see it.

Again, not many people eat a brown banana and it’s not harmful either. But adding a brown banana to recipes is a better choice.

Conclusion

Knowing how much does a banana weighs gives you a better idea of how much to consume. What’s the portion intake for different types of bananas for you? I’m going to “weigh” in to tell you all the basic facts about bananas that you should know.

Starting from the various types of bananas to stages of ripeness. It’s easier this way to understand why bananas are so special in the food kingdom. So I hope that from this article, you will be able to learn more about bananas since you buy and eat them.