Talk:Banana

A comment (or two)

At this stage, almost every article is going to have broken ("red") links to as-yet unwritten CZ articles, but it seems a bit much to write "The naming of species in the genus Musa, family Musaceae, is a complex business. See more, including the taxonomic history, at Musa," when no such article exists.

Also, I find the Hobbies Workgroup categorization a little odd. I suppose it's there because bananas are a potential garden plant. But then isn't just about anything a potential hobby for someone? Do we need editorial oversight from the Hobbies Workgroup for an article on bananas? —Eric Winesett 11:01, 24 November 2007 (CST)

For a)no, I don't think so. It's in a note, and I put it there because it *is* a complex business and *someone* should speak to it, and a note will remind someone to do that...eventually....As to b)well, I started this, and I was thinking of cooking with bananas, and gardening with bananas (I am from Australia, after all. I suppose people don't spend time cooking and gardening with bananas in Philadelphia.) Thinking more about it, "Food Science" would probably be better...?

Aleta Curry 22:59, 24 November 2007 (CST)

We can agree to disagree on the first part, but this much I know: Next time I fill out a form that asks about my hobbies, I'm definitely writing "bananas". —Eric Winesett 23:47, 24 November 2007 (CST)

I'm going to write "sexual dimorphism" [1]. ;-) --Joe Quick 00:07, 25 November 2007 (CST)

Ha! "Name your hobbies" -- Photography, stamp collecting and bananas. Least it would be a talking point! "Sexual dimorphism" was one of my wittier moments. I'll go change the cat; surprised you didn't already. Aleta Curry 14:19, 25 November 2007 (CST)

Unattractive?

Yes, some dried bananas are rather ugly brown, but slightly glazing them, or perhaps dipping in an acidic juice, works fine in my dehydrator. Howard C. Berkowitz 04:30, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Ah. I've never tried making them myself. There was a guy in Tahiti years ago who dried them in the sun, like coprah, I think. They were sure delicious. But ugly. I've since seen others that were more attractive but never tasted as good. Of course, it also depends on the kind of banana. Tahiti was loaded with different varieties; I had them growing wild on my property at various times.... Hayford Peirce 16:59, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Fruit drying isn't as easy as it looks, although there are tricks and techniques. For many forms of produce, you have to blanch them in a brief dip in hot water before drying, to denature enzymes that cause deterioration; that's also important for freezing. In other cases, a dunk in fruit juice, or perhaps a dilute ascorbic/citric acid solution with a small amount of sugar, can give comparably good appearance compared to the much more toxic sulfuring. Howard C. Berkowitz 17:10, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

I'm sure it's not simple. Since he was the only guy in Tahiti doing it (he was a Frenchman from France), it probably wasn't just a matter of sticking them in the sun.... Hayford Peirce 17:23, 6 February 2009 (UTC)