Hi i canned peaches, cherries, bananas for over ice cream and now I have black stuff floating on top.. Is this the bananas?? Is it ok to eat? thanks maureen

-- maureen (onemaur@yahoo.com), August 11, 2001

Answers

Never heard of canning anything with bananas. Hope you didn't can too many. Probably should have added the bananas fresh when using the topping. Probably be OK, but I wouldn't take the chance.

-- Belle (gardenbelle@terraworld.net), August 11, 2001.

Maureen: Bananas have black seeds--does the "black stuff" resemble seeds? I think the bananas would turn darker if not treated with ascorbic acid or lemon juice, but can't be sure without seeing the finished product. Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), August 11, 2001.

Maureen, where did you get the recipe? Did it include all of the fruit in one recipe or separately?

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), August 11, 2001.

Maureen, I asked my really rural hillbilly relations, and they have have never been sucessful canning bananas, they always turn black and very mushy!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 12, 2001.

Hi Maureen, the Christmas before last my middle daughter and I baked sweet breads and cakes in jars, sealed them out of the oven with lids, made pretty gingham tops and gave these an jams away for presents (mail lady, neighbors etc) The carrot cake, date breads and pumpkin breads were all the rave, we didn't even dare give away the bananna breads, they indeed were black polkadotted! They tasted fine for the family. Bananas simply turn black! :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 12, 2001.

The only way I know of to can bananas is with citric acid. I buy them already canned and I just looked at the ingredient list. It is as follows:

Pineapple Papaya Guava Banana slices Water Sugar Passion Fruit Juice Citric Acid

So, I don't know if it is the combination or just the citric acid but it keeps them from turning black.

-- stephanie nosacek (pospossum@earthlink.net), August 12, 2001.