3 for sure, I really like that tangy freshness. I've been getting a lot more accepting of the higher numbers though, so I'll do up to a 5 without much complaint, and even a 6 if there's really nothing else to eat.
6 exclusively, as soon as the peel starts getting greasy though it's bad. It gets better and better until it hits a cliff and suddenly it's only suitable for banana bread, and only barely. They freeze for smoothies nicely though.
4 is ideal, but I'll happily eat 2-6. 7 is "I should make banana bread" 2 days before I throw it out.
I think the banana companies are doing something different with the ripening process the last few years because the peels stay greener longer, even though the banana is ripening at the same rate.
So while at work one of my friends pull out a banana that looked like 7 out of a bag saying it was an extra one and if I wanted it. Not being rude I accepted the banana never eating anything beyond a 3. My brain was going nuts at this stage because he pulls out another banana for himself that looked way more aged than a 7. I think it was a few hours off from self fermenting into a banana daiquiri or something. He is acting like this is a normal fucking day the whole time.
5 to a 6. I put bananas in oatmeal mostly so I don't mind the loss in structure if they become sweet.
What's more important than ripeness is quality imo. I hate Walmart bananas, they taste like ass regardless of their ripeness. But the aldi bananas taste better as a 2 than a Walmart one as a 5.
The bananas we get here are mostly Cavendish and lady fingers. I find the smaller Cavendish are nicer? Or at least, if it's a bad one at least it's small. Lady fingers I haven't had one that makes me think they're worth the extra dollars on the kilo
Anywhere from 1 to 5. 6 is just too thin-skinned/squishy/falling apart (still perfectly fine for including in a meal, just not as a snack on its own) and 7 obviously even more so.
A 1 banana and a 5 banana are basically completely different fruits. 1 is sharp and "grassy" while 5 is sweet and mild. So they're for different moods.
1-2. i kinda love the slight starchiness and once it starts getting a bit yellow, its perfectly firm and the banana flavor really shines through. even the green ones i'll eat from time to time.