Banana Degradation Rate Under Different Conditions

Mariana Hoyos

The City College of New York

 

 

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Abstract

The experiment of banana degradation rate under different conditions was intended to demonstrate the most effective way to preserve a banana. The outcome expected from the experiment is that the best way to preserve a banana is to freeze it. This experiment was done by placing three different bananas in different environments. A kitchen countertop, a fridge and a freezer. Even though there were some inconsistencies. it was concluded that the most effective way to preserve a banana is by freezing it. This was proven by the results obtained throughout the experiment. According to the results obtained, the hypothesis ended up being true.

Introduction

Bananas are such a simple and accessible fruit, they are eaten by a lot of people, but sometimes they might ripen too quickly. Using bananas, this experiment will explore “The effect of freezing and refrigeration on the preservation of bananas in comparison to the degradation rate under room temperature”. Three different bananas were put under these three different conditions. The expected outcome of this experiment is that the most effective method to preserve a banana is freezing the banana.

Materials

The materials used in this experiment were:

• 3 bananas of the same hand (cluster or bananas)
• A fridge
• A phone to record pictures
• A knife to cut the bananas

Procedure

Initially three bananas from the same cluster were bought.  A photo was taken to record the conditions of the banana before initiating the experiment. The bananas were placed in different environments. The first banana (Banana 1) was placed on the countertop of a kitchen, in a room temperature, approximately 70 °F, this was the control banana. The second banana (Banana 2) was placed on the fridge at a temperature of 35 °F and this is the first variable. The third banana (Banana 3) was placed in the freezer at a temperature of 0 °F  and this was the second variable. The bananas were left for four days, untouched. After the four days. Photos of the outer physical appearance of each banana were taken. Then the bananas were sliced in half, and more photos were taken to record the internal physical appearance of the bananas.

Figure 1: Appearance of the bananas before the experiment.

 

Results

The results obtained from this experiment were: Banana 1 left on the countertop of the kitchen, looked yellow with several brown marks, indicating that it was ripe, softer and sweeter. Banana 2 left in the fridge also looked yellow with several brown marks, but the inside looked like the consistency of a fresh banana. Finally, Banana 3 left in the freezer, on the outer appearance was brown, the whole banana was brown, but when sliced, the banana was solid and harder, and had a slight brown color. But it did not feel ripe or too sweet.

Figure 2: Appearance of Banana 1 after the experiment.

 

Figure 3: Appearance of Banana 2 after the experiment.

 

 

Figure 4: Appearance of Banana 3 after the experiment.

 

Discussion of Results

The results obtained from the experiment were as expected. The best conserved banana was the one in the freezer. Even though Banana 3 was totally brown on the outside it kept the consistency of a fresh banana on the inside. Banana 1 was the one that started to degrade much faster than the other bananas. Banana 2, conserved a better state of freshness but it also started to degrade, but a much slower rate. According to reference.com, these results can be explained by the state of the water content of the banana. Water is what allows the chemical reactions and microbial growth of the banana to occur. When the banana was frozen, the water content changed from liquid to solid, which stops the decomposition process. Understanding this concept of preservation of a banana it makes sense that the result obtained of the better-preserved banana was the one frozen (Banana 3).

Conclusion

After this experiment the best method to preserve a banana was identified. There were different conditions for each banana that made them react differently. The most effective method to preserve a banana is by freezing it, as it was seen with Banana 3. This experiment can be helpful when storing bananas in the future, instead of making the bananas go ripe or degrade they can be frozen so the life of the banana can be longer. Recommendations are to remove the peel of the banana before freezing them, so the brown color could be avoided. For more accuracy in future experiments there should be given constant conditions to the bananas, for example keeping the fridge unopened during the entire experiment, since constantly opening it could have affected to the results. Overall, what was learned in this experiment is the lower the temperature of the environment of the banana the more effecting it is to preserve them and lower the decomposition rate of the banana. This was proved from the results obtained that the frozen banana kept an appearance and taste closest to a fresh banana.

 

 

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References

 

How Does the Temperature Effect the Decomposition of Rotting Bananas? (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.reference.com/science/temperature-effect-decomposition-rotting-bananas-d

0c6f2c70010bde7

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Reflection Essay – Lab Report

  

For this assignment we were required to write a lab report about three bananas put in three different environments (on a countertop, on a fridge and on the freezer). We checked how each banana started degrading and which banana started getting ripped faster. Lab reports are mostly used in the scientific world, where a hypothesis is tested, and results are obtained. With this lab report I was hoping to figure out what is the most effective way for me to store bananas at home. It is very interesting, since I always leave them on the countertop, and according to my results the best way to preserve a banana is by putting them either in the fridge or the freezer. And I will use these results for my own use in the future.

If I were to post this lab report on the internet anybody could have access. There is not a specific audience where this lab report was aimed at. Anybody interested in bananas could see it and learn. Therefore, there’s no a defined relationship between writer and audience. The research is done and published so anybody can access it an investigate further. The lab report was written in passive voice, giving the message that anybody can recreate the experiment.

As engineers, we will all be required at some point of our career to write lab reports. This lab report helped me reinforce the idea and structure of a report. To conduct the experiment itself, record the data, obtain results and put everything together into writing. This assignment was interesting and fun to do and helped me develop my skills when writing a report.