How to Peel a Banana

Bananas are delicious, nutritious and come in their own biodegradable packaging that you can use to keep your hands clean while eating it! But those pesky peels can be a challenge to open if you’ve never done it before. Luckily, being able to peel a banana is simple.

TL;DR

Grab the banana peel by the stem with your thumb pointed down toward the banana. While gripping the stem, apply pressure with your thumb to the top of the banana at the base of the stem. Using your thumb as a lever, pull the stem down to break it. Remove the rest of the peel as needed. 

What you’ll need

Tools and items

• A ripe banana
• Your hand

Optional

• A knife (a butter knife works fine, but any knife will do)

It’s really simple, but…

Bananas are plentiful, but not all bananas are created equal. Bananas that are not quite ripe are more difficult to peel and over-ripe bananas will turn to mush if you push too hard. 

Additionally, if you have any physical limitations affecting your hands or arms, peeling a banana could pose additional challenges. Using some kind of cutting tool (like a knife or kitchen shears) may be your best option for opening a banana. 

How to peel a banana

Using your hands from the top 

1. Grab the banana by the stem, with your thumb pointing down toward the banana
2. While gripping the stem, apply pressure with your thumb to the top of the banana at the base of the stem 
3. Using your thumb as a lever, pull the stem down to break it 
4. Remove the rest of the peel as needed using your fingers

Using your hands from the bottom  (peeling like a primate, allegedly)

1. Find the black knot at the bottom of the banana where the peel comes together on the opposite end from the stem
2. With your thumb and index finger, gently squeeze the end until it splits open
3. Remove the rest of the peel as needed using your fingers

Note: While many people claim this is how monkeys and primates open a banana, most biologists will tell you this is a myth. Monkeys do not eat bananas in the wild and would most likely bite through the skin to get at the banana on the inside.

 Using a knife 

1. Lay your banana on a flat surface
2. While holding your banana safely away from where you plan to cut, remove the top, bottom or cut the banana in half
3. Remove the rest of the peel as needed using your fingers

You did it!

Now you can enjoy your potassium rich treat anytime you want.