Fisher & Paykel RB90S Installation Instructions And User Manual page 39

Ethylene gas
Ethylene is an odourless, colourless, gas produced naturally by fruit and vegetables. This gas
plays an important role in accelerating the ripening process. Some fruit and vegetables produce
large amounts of ethylene, while others are very sensitive to the gas. You may have noticed that
when you place an apple into the fruit bowl with bananas, the bananas will ripen more quickly.
This is due to the ethylene gas given off by the apple.
By separating those items that produce high levels of ethylene from those that are most
sensitive, you can prevent food from spoiling too quickly. As a general rule, separating fruit and
vegetables will help reduce the effects of ethylene.
Examples:
Food sensitive to ethylene
Avocados (unripe)
Brussel sprouts
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumber
Eggplant
Kiwifruit
Lettuce
Persimmons
Quince
Spinach
Tomatoes (unripe)
Watermelon
Food storage tips – fresh food
Foods that produce high levels of ethylene
Apples
Apricots
Avocados (ripe)
Cantaloupe
Cherimoya (custard apple)
Passionfruit
Peaches
Pears
Tomatoes (ripe)
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