I enjoy having a banana at breakfast, whether I am spreading it on toast or chopping it into porridge, but buying a bunch can often be a waste of money as they spoil so quickly. Recently, I learned that bananas are actually not meant to turn spotty and brown within a day, as they should remain fresh for weeks if you keep them far away from a fruit bowl.

It may sound bizarre, but many fruits, such as bananas, produce a substance called ethylene gas that helps them ripen so they can develop their flavour. However, when too much ethylene is in the air, it will cause fruit to speed past ripening and greatly shorten their shelf life, as they will begin rotting instead.

Bananas are one of the highest producers of ethylene gas, and really need to be stored separately from any other fruit in your kitchen to keep everything fresh.

I now realise I have had to throw away so much fruit because I was storing it wrong, but storing bananas is actually very easy as long as you keep them on your kitchen counter.

While shopping the other day, I came across a banana tree, also known as a banana hanger, which helps keep bananas fresh for so much longer.

It is fine to keep bananas on the kitchen counter on their own, but using a hanger allows more air to circulate around the fruit, which slows down the buildup of ethylene gas.

Bananas will also be less likely to become bruised with a hanger, as soft spots cause them to spoil. Using a hanger keeps them tucked away so they do not take up too much space on your kitchen counter, so you can cook without any clutter.

I bought my hanger for £8 at Lakeland, but they can usually be bought at any supermarket with a kitchen utensils aisle or even online.

Then, all I did was gently hang a bunch of bananas onto the hanger. It is best to keep them intact in a bunch, as keeping them separate can also speed up spoilage.

I then placed the hanger in a cool spot in my kitchen. Try not to put your hanger next to your stove, as any heat or humidity while cooking will cause them to turn brown before their time.

It has now been over two weeks, and my bananas are still yellow. They are just beginning to turn spotty now, but they last so much longer than when I kept them in a fruit bowl.

This food storage technique costs a little money, but it is well worth the investment in my opinion, so you cut down on food waste, which will save you money in the long run.