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Plantains are a part of the banana family and look similar in appearance, but compared to bananas, plantains are far starchier and contain less sugar. Plantains can be included in many recipes or eaten raw. Plantains can take longer to ripen than other fruit and it is difficult to find ripe plantains in the supermarket. You can let plantains sit out to ripen or speed up the process by ripening them in a paper bag.
Steps
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Choose the right environment to ripen your plantain. You can ripen plantains in your own kitchen. However, make sure you choose the right place to ripen your fruit.
- Plantains ripen best in a warm and well-ventilated place. If your kitchen is very cold or stuffy, try to find another room in your house to ripen them.
- Plantains can ripen in cooler environments. It just may take longer.
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Allow your plantains to sit undisturbed. Plantains will ripen fastest if they're not bothered. Keep them out of reach of children and pets. Do not handle your plantains while they're ripening. Plantains are usually not sold ripe in the stores and take awhile to ripen on their own. Your plantains will need to sit undisturbed for awhile to get them adequately ripe.Advertisement
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Give it enough time. It should take 7 to 11 days for a plantain to ripen. In a warmer environment, you can expect plantains to ripen faster. A plantain is ripe when it's black and wrinkled in appearance and soft to the touch. A plantain should not need to be poked too hard to yield to the pressure of your finger when it is ripe.
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Store plantains in a paper bag. If you need plantains to ripen quicker, you can store them in a paper bag. Place your plantains in a paper bag. [1] X Research source You do not need to close the bag all the way. In fact, it is best to only close the bag loosely.
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Set the plantains somewhere in your kitchen. Choose a spot where they can ripen undisturbed. Keep them out of reach of pets and children. [2] X Research source
- Remember, a warm and well ventilated environment is best for ripening plantains.
- To speed up the ripening process, place a ripe tomato or avocado in the bag with the plantains. The gases released by the ripe fruit will also speed up the ripening process for the plantains.
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Check the plantains over the course of two weeks. Plantains generally take about two weeks to ripen. However, plantains may ripen quicker if they're in a paper bag. Check them frequently over the course of two weeks and remove them from the bag once they ripen. [3] X Research source
- Remember, ripe plantains are black and wrinkled in appearance and soft to the touch.
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Recognize when your plantain is ripe. Many people assume a plantain ripens the same way as a banana. While the fruits look similar, plantains look much different than bananas when ripe. While you can fry or bake plantains before they're completely ripe, if you intend to eat them raw you need to wait until they're ripe. [4] X Research source
- Plantains are mostly black when ripe with a few yellow streaks.
- Plantains that are completely black are still edible, but may be a little overripe. [5] X Research source
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Avoid refrigerating plantains. Plantains are best left unrefrigerated. This is especially true if they have not yet ripened. Refrain from refrigerating plantains until they're at your desired stage of ripeness. [6] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I pan fry these after they are oven ripened?Community AnswerYes, you may fry them.
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QuestionWhy haven't they ripened after all these tips after a month?Community AnswerIn order to eat a plantain, you must place it in boiling water to soften. Plantains are not like bananas; they do not just ripen.
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QuestionCan plantain still undergo the ripening process after cutting it?Community AnswerYes, and cutting it will speed up the process, so be ready to use it within a couple days.
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Tips
- When shopping at a local market that offers discounted prices on overripe produce, look specifically for plantains in the discount bin. Some merchants are unfamiliar with the ripening process of plantains, and may sell under-ripe plantains for discounted prices, or confuse them with bananas.Thanks
- If you prefer the starchy taste of plantains, fry or boil plantains when they are under-ripe and green in color. Green plantains will maintain a heavily starchy taste similar to that of potatoes.Thanks
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Warnings
- Do not stack your plantains. You should lay plantains side by side instead of stacking them. Stacking plantains may increase the accumulation of mildew. For best results when ripening plantains, avoid stacking them together.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/3621-plantain-primer
- ↑ http://www.muchogusto.com/index.php?page=plantain
- ↑ http://www.muchogusto.com/index.php?page=plantain
- ↑ http://thepioneerwoman.com/food-and-friends/whats-the-deal-with-plantains/
- ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/3621-plantain-primer
- ↑ http://www.muchogusto.com/index.php?page=plantain
About This Article
Article Summary
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To ripen a plantain naturally, place them in a warm, well-ventilated area. Make sure to keep them out of reach of children or pets that may move them, because they won’t ripen if they’re handled frequently. Wait 7-11 days after purchasing the plantains for them to ripen naturally. If they don’t ripen, try placing them in a paper bag and close the bag loosely. Check them often to see if the skin has become black and soft, which means they’re ripe. To learn more, such as what to avoid while storing your plantains, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Having more than one way to ripen plantains was very useful. The first idea would take several days. The second way took an hour. I didn't have several days. Thanks!" ..." more
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"Having more than one way to ripen plantains was very useful. The first idea would take several days. The second way took an hour. I didn't have several days. Thanks!"
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"I was having some issues in the ripening process of plantains. Very good tips on how to do it correctly. I will try these tips on my next purchase. Thanks."
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"Never had plantains before, actually bought thinking they were bananas. Your post was so easy to follow procedures. Thank you!"
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"Useful as we intend to do commercial ripening of plantain for bulk supplies to a restaurant in Nigeria."
"I learned how to store them and the amount of time it takes for them to ripen."
