# Why do banana peels oxidize so quickly when removed from the banana? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735 "2012-09-25T02:27:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/1 "2012-09-25T02:27:38Z")
I bought some bananas a week ago. By today, those that were left were pretty ripe but not too bad. When I ate one, the peel turned dark brown within an hour. How does the fruit of the banana keep the peel from oxidizing? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/2 "2012-09-25T02:31:50Z")
Well, just looking at a banana peel, the outside is sealed against the outside environment, while the inside isn’t. As long as the peel is on the banana, the vulnerable inside isn’t exposed; remove it and the inside is exposed to the air. I’m not at all sure if what you are seeing is oxidation and not the peel drying out, either. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/3 "2012-09-25T14:04:54Z")
I’m not sure that it’s oxidation either but _generally_ things get lighter in color as they dry out. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/4 "2012-09-25T14:20:30Z")
the browning of banana is oxidation of phenols. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/5 "2012-09-25T14:23:09Z")
The browning is in fact an [oxidation reaction](http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryfaqs/f/brownapplefaq.htm) and is due to cell damage when you cut or peel bananas, as well as other fruits (the same thing causes the skin to turn brown after several days even if not damaged because it degrades over time). ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/6 "2012-09-25T17:51:53Z")
[Intelligent design](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z-OLG0KyR4), obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/7 "2012-09-25T17:56:36Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > [Intelligent design](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z-OLG0KyR4), obviously. I just lost 10 IQ points and I’m blaming you **anson2995**. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/8 "2012-09-25T18:42:58Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I just lost 10 IQ points and I’m blaming you **anson2995**. It’s important to understand that nonsense is often disguised in a plausible wrapper. Kinda like a banana. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-banana-peels-oxidize-so-quickly-when-removed-from-the-banana/635735/9 "2012-09-25T18:51:06Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I just lost 10 IQ points and I’m blaming you **anson2995**. Comments are where hope for mankind goes to die, but his was a gem in a turdpie: > [@](#): > > “so was God trying to piss off humans with the coconut?”