Comparing Bananas and Tomatoes - Shelf Life

*Warning: You may find some of these pictures disgusting, but then if you've own a refrigerator, you've probably seen this before.

I guess because it was that time of the year I would have normally been helping kids with science experiments, that made me want to check this out.  I did my own experiment.

Question: Will Bananas and tomatoes last longer on the counter or in the refrigerator?

Research: I've read many articles over the years that tried to tell me that fruit would last longer unwashed, washed, on the counter, in a cabinet, bag, or refrigerator.  I really couldn't tell if there was a difference.  In January, I had just read that tomatoes would last for a very long time when left unwashed, unbagged on the counter top away from direct sunlight.  I was also getting tired of bananas dying on me in a couple of days after I got them home.  There must be a reason Frigidaire put a "Fruit" drawer in my refrigerator.

Hypothesis: Fruit will last longer in the refrigerator than on the counter.

Test: As soon as I got home from the grocery with the bananas (which did come in a bag) and tomatoes (in a shrink wrapped Styrofoam container), I took one out of each container and put them on the counter away from direct sunlight.  The temperature of the kitchen was around 63°F @ night and 68°F during the day.  The rest of the fruit stayed in their containers and placed in the refrigerator's fruit drawer with a constant temperature of 43°F.  

Analysis: After one week, I took pictures.  Judge for yourself.

Which do you think was kept in the frig?

Again, which do you think was kept in the frig?  Hint: wrapping.

Conclusion: Maybe the experiment should be done again and leave the wrapping on the counter top fruit?  However, I'm keeping my fruit in their bags/containers in the refrigerator's fruit drawer.  Now I don't have to depend on articles I read.

Hope you enJOYed this science experiment?