If you're lucky enough to live in a banana-growing climate, your farmers market or local store may well sell a variety of bananas. Check out the range of possibilities below.
Apple Bananas (a.k.a. Candy Apple Bananas)
Photo © Molly Watson
Apple bananas are exceptionally sweet, hence their other name, Candy Apple Banana. They are grown in the rainy tropical forests in Hawaii. Their flesh is firm and has a slight pinkish tone. The sweet, moist flesh is perfect for snacking or using in desserts and is particularly well suited to adding to fruit salads and other raw preparations since it doesn't brown as quickly as other banana varieties.
Cavendish Bananas
Photo © Molly Watson
Cavendish bananas are the most common variety. They are the long yellow, slightly sweet bananas at supermarkets around the country.
Lady Finger Bananas
Photo © Molly Watson
Lady finger bananas are smaller and sweeter than the ubiquitous Cavendish.
Pisang Raja
Photo © Molly Watson
Williams Bananas
Photo © Molly Watson
Williams bananas are the same as Giant Cavendish. They are large, mild, and sweet.
Cooking Bananas
Photo © Molly Watson
Cooking bananas, like plantains, are better thought of as potatoes than as bananas. They can be roasted, steamed, fried into chips, and otherwise used like any starchy vegetable.
