Until recently, bananas were an exotic wonder for us, and now they are full of shelves in all supermarkets. This tasty and healthy delicacy is very popular with everyone and, importantly, it is not able to cause any allergic reaction. The fruit is imported to us from other countries, and it has long been believed that for the most part it is a fodder banana that residents of overseas countries would not eat. Is it really?
Delicious fruit
Bananas in our country are not only eaten fresh, they are often boiled, baked and even fried. There are recipes with a wide variety of variations, in which both bright yellow ripe fruits and still very green ones are used. They make chips, and in Asian countries they make honey and even special banana beer. Bananas contain a unique substance - serotonin, due to which their use leads to an increase in mood.
Quality standard
Until 2001, a banana feed was often delivered to our country that did not meet general consumer standards. Now, thanks to the presence of the standard, the quality of all imported fruits has improved significantly. In today's GOST, three classes of this product are prescribed - the second, first and extra. They can be determined by the number of pieces in the common brush, the diameter of the fetus and its length.
- The second grade must be at least fourteen centimeters.
- First grade - 19 cm.
- Extra - at least twenty centimeters.
You can now go shopping with a ruler or pay attention to the box, where the manufacturer must indicate the minimum length of the fruit, its age and plantation code.
Types of varieties
Up to four hundred different banana varieties are known around the world today, which are divided into textile (for paper production), decorative and edible. Many people believe that high-quality fruits bypass our country, and only banana feed is supplied to us. In fact, those fruits that are used in food are divided into vegetable, dessert and table. We eat mostly banana varieties of Cavendish, ladies fingers, and baby. They are more miniature, distinguished by the tenderness of the flesh and a wonderful sweet taste.
Vegetable bananas
There is another category of bananas - canteens, of which they often prepare children's dishes and desserts and are called "plantains." Such fodder bananas (photo - below) are also eaten, but they are coarser and tougher, different rough and slightly sweet pulp. It is preferable to boil or fry such fruits, they are much larger, fatter, even “plantains” with a red skin are found.
Dessert banana is usually consumed fresh, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, but for a wide sale the producer most often buys fodder bananas.
How to distinguish
The manufacturer usually notes the vegetable species of bananas on the box using a special designation - plantain. In addition, their main differences are sizes and clearly defined longitudinal faces. What bananas are considered fodder? These are almost straight long and large fruits, the diameter of which is at least four centimeters.
They pluck them from the trees not yet ripened and in this form they deliver to us, since this variety of bananas does not turn yellow when ripe, and immediately starts to turn black. Due to the high starch content, “plantains” are characterized by high calorie content. Confusing these varieties when buying is quite difficult. The market is filled with yellow bananas that no one buys for the future.
Basic Rules
Finding out which bananas are feed is easy. There are a number of differences that clearly indicate their direct origin. It is on them that it is worth paying attention when buying these fruits.
- Our market is rich in two varietal groups of “pantines” - “horned” and “French”. Both of them are notable for their low price and green, unripe appearance.
- To the touch, they are comparatively much stronger than table varieties, have a rough ribbing and tough skin.
- Such green bananas have flesh tart, fresh. At room temperature they quickly blacken and completely lose their taste.
It is recommended to choose exclusively yellow fruits, on which there are no visible defects, scratches and black spots. The gray color of bananas is a clear sign of stale fruit.
The benefits of plantine
The main value of vegetable bananas is phosphorus, which is contained in large quantities here. These varieties are classified as dietary and are recommended for use because of the presence of vitamins A, B, E, and C. The feed banana is rich in sulfur, chlorine, zinc, manganese, potassium, and calcium. It is indicated for use by people suffering from cardiovascular pathologies, all types of arthritis and arthrosis, nervous disorders and having problems with the gastrointestinal tract. They contribute to the overall strengthening of the immune system, eliminate weakness, increase mood, have expectorant and diuretic properties.
It is from this variety of bananas that delicious and nutritious hot dishes are obtained. They have a mild flavor, which goes well with other, brighter, ingredients. In a number of countries, wine, beer, cereal, granola, chips, banana flour, and even coffee substitute drinks are made on the basis of "plantains."
The energy value of such a nutritious fruit is 90 kcal per hundred grams of the product, but during the heat treatment they significantly reduce the amount of sugar and calories. That is why nutritionists recommend including people with diabetes or being overweight in their weekly diet. Fodder bananas are recommended to be prepared as vegetables, combining them with herbs and aromatic spices. This is a great side dish for any meat or fish.