According to food preservation expert James E. Rogers, there are 3 warning signs of banana spoilage, including mold, an unpleasant yeasty smell, and blackened pulp. They found that the banana was no longer safe to eat.

He said bananas naturally soften and darken as they ripen, so just browning or even blackening of the peel is not a sign that the banana is spoiled. However, it is generally best to throw away the banana if there is discoloration along with mold, oozing juice, an unpleasant odor, or black pulp inside.

According to experts, a banana that is completely brown, feels too soft or rotten, oozes liquid, or smells rotten or musty is probably not edible.

According to experts, the following three important symptoms should be noticed.

1. The fungus: Darkening of the rind is a normal part of the ripening process, but white, gray or green downy mildew is not normal. If mold is clearly visible on the banana, this is a clear sign of spoilage and should be thrown away.

2. Putrid smell or leaking liquid: Smell is also a useful tool for checking the condition of bananas. An overripe banana can produce a strong yeasty or alcoholic odor, while spoiled fruit can smell rotten or garbage-like. If the banana oozes liquid, it is also a sign that it has gone bad.

3. Dark pulp from inside: Although the banana peel may turn brown or black when ripe, the pulp inside is usually cream-colored (yellowish-white) to light brown in color. If the pulp has turned black, and has an unpleasant smell or a very soft and mushy texture, the banana is probably spoiled and should not be eaten. However, blackness is a different matter for refrigeration. Refrigerating or freezing can cause the peel to darken quickly, but the fruit inside may still be safe to eat.

According to James E. Rogers, director of Food Safety Research and Testing, it’s generally safe to eat as long as it’s not visibly moldy. Bananas that are deeply colored and ripe, but free of mold or other signs of spoilage, are best eaten raw, added to smoothies, or used in frozen desserts rather than in cooked dishes.