Plantains can be a delicious part of a main dish, a side dish, or enjoyed as a tasty snack all on their own. But how do you store them long-term without spoiling? Try freezing them! Discover how to freeze plantains the right way so you can use them all year round.
Plantains are such a versatile food. They make a great, healthy snack by themselves. And they can be prepared in various ways, including baking, grilling, and frying. Plantain chips, anyone?
So what do you do if you find that you’ve picked a few too many at the grocery store and need to save them? You guessed it — freezing plantains is a great way to store them.
In fact, both raw and cooked plantains will keep in the freezer for up to 3-6 months when done correctly.Read on to see how to freeze them the right way.
Jump to:
- What are plantains, anyway?
- What do plantains taste like?
- Can you eat raw plantains?
- How do you know when plantain is ripe?
- So, how do you freeze plantain?
- How to defrost plantains? And do you even need to before cooking?
- Other ways to store plantains
- FAQ
- More food storage answers
What are plantains, anyway?
Plantains are a relative of bananas, but they have some significant differences from their more popular cousin.
While both are tropical fruits, plantains are much starchier and less sweet. That makes them great for cooking as they will not break down as easily as bananas. They also absorb other flavors well.
The starchy texture is somewhat like that of a sweet potato, and they can be used in similar ways. Some popular ways to cook plantains include steaming, mashing, boiling, frying (think fried plantain slices or chips), and grilling them.
Another popular cooking method: make them in the air fryer for a quick snack!
Unlike bananas, which are best when overripe to make things like banana bread or banana muffins, plantains can be cooked both before they ripen and once they’re ripe.
And their texture will hold up when storing in the freezer, as long as they are kept free from freezer burn and other hazards.
What do plantains taste like?
If you bite into a plantain and expect it to taste like a banana, you may be in for a surprise.
In terms of taste, plantains are not very sweet, especially when underripe. The texture is also tougher and more starchy than bananas.
Cooking them helps release some sweetness and fruity aroma, similar to more recognizable banana flavors.
Once they start to ripen, their flavors become more pronounced. Black plantains will be noticeably sweeter than green ones.
Can you eat raw plantains?
Yes, you can eat plantains raw, but that doesn’t mean you should. The taste and texture simply isn’t as enjoyable as eating a raw banana, for example. Cooked plantains just taste better and have a better mouthfeel.
How do you know when plantain is ripe?
The ripeness of plantains is measured in color, smell, and taste. When plantains are unripe, their peels are green and they omit very little fruity odor.
As they turn ripe, their peel becomes yellow with black patches or dark spots and they begin to give off some subtle sweet fruit aromas.
When they start to turn more solid black, then they’re overripe. They’ll also start to soften and become sweeter.
So, how do you freeze plantain?
Now that we know the answer to the question “can you freeze plantain,” let’s see the best ways to freeze unripe, ripe, and cooked plantains.
How to properly freeze unripe plantains
In order to freeze plantains, you first need to peel them. And this is a bit trickier than you might think, as the peel can be hard to remove.
1. Cut off the ends of the plantain using a sharp knife.
2. Then score the ridges with the knife vertically down the peel of the plantain. Just go deep enough to touch the flesh. This will make the peel easier to remove.
3. Slide your finger or a dull knife under the peel.
4. Then carefully remove all the sections.
5. To freeze sliced unripe plantain, cut the fruit to the desired thickness, then place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Put the sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours until the slices are frozen.
7. This method of flash freezing before bagging helps prevent them from getting stuck to each during storage. Finally, place the frozen slices in a freezer bag.
To freeze a whole, unripe plantain, simply place the peeled fruit into a freezer bag or other airtight container and remove as much excess air as possible. Then store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Note: Freezing unripe or green plantains also essentially stops their ripening process. So you will need to thaw them out in order to ripen if you have a recipe that calls for cooking with ripe plantains.
How to properly freeze ripe plantains
If you’ve got the hang of freezing unripe plantains, doing the same with ripe ones will be easy.
Freezing sliced, ripe plantains
1. Remove the peel from the plantains.
2. Slice it how you wish. For example, if you plan to make a dish that calls for sliced plantains later, sliced them up. If you think you’ll roast plantain halves, then simply slice them once down the middle.
3. Once you’ve finished the prep, place the pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Freeze them for a couple of hours, then transfer them to Ziploc freezer bags or another resealable, freezer-safe container.
Freezing whole, ripe plantains
I get it. You’re busy. You don’t have time for all that slicing. No problem. You can freeze whole ripe plantains as well!
1. Place separate, whole plantains on a baking sheet, then freeze until fully frozen.
2. Place the frozen plantains in freezer-safe bags and label with the date you froze them.
3. Keep in the freezer until you’re ready to use them later.
How to properly freeze cooked plantains
What do you do if you’ve grilled up some plantains or made a bowl of mashed plantains and want to freeze the leftovers? Can you freeze them? Yes, you can absolutely freeze cooked plantains.
Simply transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container. They should keep for 3-6 months.
If you start to notice freezer burn, however, it’s best to simply discard them as the texture will become unpleasantly tough to eat. Additionally, the flavor may have started to take on those of other nearby foods they were stored with.
How to defrost plantains? And do you even need to before cooking?
One of the great things about plantains is that you do not need to thaw them prior to cooking.
You can use frozen plantains directly in dishes you’re making without noticeably affecting the flavor or texture. You might have to increase the cooking time a bit, however.
How to thaw plantains
In the refrigerator
If you prefer to thaw them, for best results simply place them in the refrigerator overnight, making sure they stay in their airtight container or freezer bag. This will help prevent them from absorbing other food odors.
They should defrost in about 5-6 hours, depending on the size of the pieces.
In luke warm water
Another method involves placing the sealed freezer bag in room temperature or luke warm water. This will defrost them more quickly than leaving them in the fridge. Just don’t use hot water as that may inadvertently start to make them mushy.
In the microwave
Avoid using the microwave if possible. Plantains have a high moisture content so you could accidentally start cooking parts of them if you’re not careful. If you’re very short on time and simply need to microwave them, use the defrost setting. It’s also a good idea to check them every couple of minutes to make sure they’re not starting to cook.
Other ways to store plantains
If you plan to use your fresh plantains relatively soon after buying them, freezing them isn’t necessary. And you don’t need to refrigerate them either.
The best way to store them is to simply keep them on a kitchen counter out of direct sunlight. They should keep for up to 3 weeks as they ripen.
FAQ
How can I get plantains to ripen more quickly?
To accelerate ripening, place plantains in a loosely closed brown paper bag overnight or for a couple of days, as needed.
More food storage answers
Discover how to best store other kinds of foods you may have at home. Check out the posts below.
- How Long Does Beef Jerky Last After Opening?
- How Long Does Iced Coffee Last in the Fridge?
- How Long Does Applesauce Last?
- Can You Freeze Rice Krispie Treats?
