Air Fryer Plantains (Plus VIDEO)

Plantains vs. Banana

Although they look similar, plantains are different from bananas. Many people confuse one for the other, which often leads to a second trip to the grocery store.

They can be used interchangeably, but some fundamental differences are here.

1. Plantains are bigger and harder to peel than bananas.
2. We usually eat bananas raw while we usually bake or fry plantains. This is to make the starches more digestible.
3. Plantains are not as sweet and so are prepared more like a veggie. They can replace potatoes in many dishes. However, bananas make a great dessert.
4. Both bananas and plantains are sweetest when they are ripe. You can tell when plantains are ripe just by looking at them. The skin should be almost black or be covered with black spots, then you know it’s ripe. On the other hand, when bananas are black, they’re done for.

And don’t worry, you can use your air fryer for both bananas and plantains, and they both turn out fabulous. Just remember to check the labels the next time you go to the grocery store.😉

How to Air Fry Plantains

Prepare the Plantain

1. Preheat air fryer to 350F /180C.
2. Slit – Cut both ends off the plantain with a sharp knife. This will make it easy to grab the skin of the plantains. Slit a shallow line down the long seam of the plantain. (Photo 1)
3. Cut Diagonally – Slice plantains in diagonal pieces or medium-sized slices then set them aside. Or you can cut them smaller. (Photo 2)

Follow Air Fryer Instructions 

• Load the Air Fryer – Place the plantain slices in the air fryer, spray with cooking oil, if desired, and cook for 10 minutes while turning halfway through. Don’t crowd them so that they can cook evenly. (Photos 3-4)
• Transfer – Carefully remove plantains from the air fryer and transfer them to a paper-towel-lined plate or tray.
• Season – with salt and your favorite spices, if desired, and enjoy a bite! Serve them as is or as a side dish to this Instant Pot Black Beans.

Air Fryer Tips

Got your hands on a new air fryer unit? I had a lot of questions when I first used my air fryer. Luckily my hubby helped me with it.

Here are some things to expect when making air fryer plantains for the first time.

• You’ll want to wash the basket (where you put the food) and dry it before using.
• When you first use an air fryer, you’re gonna smell a light plastic odor. This is because most brands of air fryers come with a protective coating. This is nothing to worry about. The odor will fade with use.
• When cooking air fryer plantains, don’t hesitate to take a peek. You’re actually supposed to flip it midway to evenly cook the dish.
• If cooking smaller bits of food, give the basket a good shake for even browning.
• Do not overcrowd! I cannot reiterate this enough. As a general rule in cooking, whether it’s stovetop, baking, or air frying, you must not overcrowd.

Fried, Baked, or Air-Fried Plantains

Fry

The most traditional preparation for African and Latin American plantain dishes is frying. Deep-frying plantains whole soften the fruit, so it becomes easier to manage. This Fried Plantains recipe should give you an idea of how to prepare it easily.

Bake

Baking is a better alternative if you don’t want to use too much oil. This also tenderizes the plantain so you can use it for other dishes. However, this method often leaves you with a crusty final product.

I personally like it as it brings a unique taste to the whole dish. Check out this easy Baked Plantains recipe for reference.

Air Fryer

A regular air fryer cooks the plantains using hot air. It’s a healthier alternative to traditional frying as it uses little to no oil at all. This method gives you a healthy snack alternative. Win-win!

Fair Warning: The different methods of cooking plantains create a slightly different taste. But don’t worry, they’re all absolutely fabulicious!

FAQs

Other Ways to Serve Air-Fryer Plantains

The primary purpose of cooking the plantains is to soften them up just enough to make them edible. However, using an air fryer cooks the dish differently.

So, how you fry plantains depends on what you’re going to serve with them.

Whole Plantains

Whole plantains come out just like the baked version when cooked in an air fryer, and the surface area is crucial to cooking the dish evenly.

If you place it just as it is, it would probably cook the exterior pretty nicely but may leave the center a bit hard. I suggest cutting slits along the plantain to expose the center so it becomes tenderer.

This is a great way to make air-fried stuffed plantains similar to Stuffed Baked Plantains.

Chips

Usually, plantain chips are baked or fried. The latter often gives you an annoying greasy finish, making changing movies a nuisance. Luckily, air fryer plantains don’t use oil!

This snack is super easy because slicing the plantain exposes more surface area. It will cook perfectly on all sides and down to the core.

The size of the bits also helps it cook evenly when the basket is shaken. This Plantain Chips recipe should give you an idea of how to make the traditional version.

Appetizers

This Kelewele or Aloco recipe perfectly depicts how simple it is to use air fryer plantains as appetizers. This recipe brings back so many childhood memories because these are often street food back in West Africa.

It cooks perfectly tender in the air fryer without excess oil since it’s cut into wedges. This means it’s healthier than the traditional version.

Storage and Shelf Life

Because plantains contain a lot of starch, it has a short shelf life. If done the traditional way (with oil), the average shelf life of this dish is 3-4 days. However, since our dish doesn’t use oil, any uncooked starch in the fruit hastens the dish’s shelf life.

The proper way to store this dish is to wait for it to cool, then store it in an airtight container. If you seal it up before it cools, it will get soggy.

More Plantain Recipes

• Plantain Pancakes
• Mpuh Fish (Spicy Fish in Plantain Pudding)
• Klako (Plantain Fritters)
• Kondres (Spicy Stewed Plantains)
• Tostones

Watch How To Make It