Fried Ripe Plantains

By
Cynthia Nelson
Cynthia Nelson
Cynthia Nelson
Food columnist and blogger Cynthia Nelson is the author of "Tastes Like Home: My Caribbean Cookbook." Living in Barbados, Cynthia shares her love of the diverse food of the islands.
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Updated on 01/3/22
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Fried ripe plantains on a plate

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 4 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 9 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Yield: 2 plantains
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
464 Calories
21g Fat
75g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 464
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 12mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 75g 27%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Total Sugars 34g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 26mg 131%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 1116mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Fried ripe plantains have a crispy, caramelized texture and irresistibly sweet taste. It's a ubiquitous Caribbean dish that is served with almost every meal, and it's enjoyed in other parts of the world as well. This is a quick and easy recipe that is sure to bring the taste of the Caribbean into your home.

Plantains are a member of the banana family. Unlike a banana, plantains are starchy and need to be cooked before eating. As a plantain ripens, its starches are converted to natural sugars, resulting in a sweeter taste. Frying a fully ripe plantain quickly in oil coaxes all the sugar to the surface where it's caramelized. This creates a delicious chip that's simultaneously crisp and sweet. After the first taste, you'll realize why this is one of the best ways to eat plantain.

The keys to successful fried plantains are choosing ripe fruit and using the right pan, oil, and heat. A ripe plantain's skin should be almost black or, in some cases, have a dull yellow color with patches of black. In addition to being sweeter, ripe fruit peels easily and cooks in no time.

Serve fried ripe plantains as a side dish or snack. They're excellent alongside island favorites like red beans and rice and Jamaican jerk chicken and can be added to soups or stews. In the South American country of Guyana, they're traditionally served with a national dish called cook-up rice (rice, beans, and meat cooked with coconut milk).

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Click Play to See This Crispy Fried Plantain Chips Recipe Come Together

"The recipe worked perfectly, and the fried plantains were delicious! The flavor is slightly sweet, with contrasting caramelized edges. This was a very easy preparation, and I was able to cook the slices in a 10-inch skillet in two batches. The plantain slices can burn quickly if the oil becomes too hot, so watch carefully." —Diana Rattray

Fried Ripe Plantains Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe plantains

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons oil (such as canola or vegetable oil), for frying

  • Sea salt, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for fried ripe plantains
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Peel plantains by cutting off both ends, and cutting a slit down the side of each plantain.

    Peel plantains
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Remove the plantain peel by peeling it side to side rather than lengthwise. It will come off in sections. You may need to use the knife at the edge of each section to help loosen it from the flesh. 

    Remove peel
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Cut the peeled plantains into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Diagonally is preferred because it provides a larger surface for caramelization; it can be cut straight across into rounds.

    Plantains
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Drizzle just enough oil into a nonstick skillet to coat the bottom of the pan, and place it on medium heat.

  6. When the oil begins to shimmer, but not smoke, add plantains (work in batches). Fry for 1 1/2 minutes on one side, flip and cook for 1 minute on the other side.

    Fried plantains
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Remove plantains from the pan and drain on paper towels.

    Remove plantains
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Continue frying in batches until all the plantains are fried.

    Continue frying
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt to give a sweet and salty taste to your fried ripe plantains.

    Sprinkle lightly with seasalt
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga 

  10. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • The Right Pan: A nonstick skillet is the best choice for this recipe. Sugar burns quickly and sticks, and the ripe plantain has high sugar content. The nonstick surface will aid in the easy release of the cooked plantain from the pan.
  • The Right Oil: Choose a neutral-tasting oil such as canola or vegetable oil. Use only enough to coat the bottom of the pan; too much oil will result in soggy plantains. After frying each batch, drizzle additional oil into the pan if needed.
  • The Right Heat: Use medium heat to fry the plantains. You may have to lower the heat depending on the size of your stove burner and pan. If you don't, your plantains can brown too quickly and burn.

What's the Difference Between Green and Yellow Plantains?

When shopping, you may come across both green and yellow plantains. They are the same fruit, but the color of the skin indicates the plantain's ripeness. At its peak of ripeness, a plantain's skin will be dull yellow with black patches, or completely black. Unripe plantains are green or cream to bright yellow in color. They are also fried to make green plantain chips called tostones. To ripen plantains at home, leave them on the counter; this may take a few days or a couple of weeks, depending on the current ripeness.

Are Fried Plantains Healthy?

Nutritionally, plantains are similar to starchy vegetables, particularly potatoes, and have less sugar than bananas. They're high in complex carbohydrates, contain little fat or sodium, and are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. When fried, the nutritional value will largely depend on the oil you choose. Canola oil is considered one of the healthiest cooking oils that can also stand the high temperatures required in frying.

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Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Oyeyinka BO, Afolayan AJ. Comparative evaluation of the nutritive, mineral, and antinutritive composition of Musa sinensis L. (Banana) and Musa paradisiaca L. (Plantain) fruit compartments. Plants (Basel). 2019;8(12):598. doi:10.3390/plants8120598