Published by: Gourmet Sleuth Last Updated: 03/08/2018
Plantains can be prepared at any stage of ripeness. Make sure to pick a recipe appropriate for the fruit you have on hand. The plantain is normally eaten as a starchy staple food. It can be boiled, baked, or fried and served as a vegetable or made into a sweet dessert, depending on the degree of ripeness of the fruit. Green: When the plantain is green it is quite starchy and the flavor is much like a potato. The green fruit can be fried or boiled. Yellow: When the plantains yellow the sugars begin to develop and impart a slight sweetness to the fruit. At this stage the fruit may show a few freckles of black. Black: The plantain is at it's sweetest once it turns black. Normally you would want to use black plantains for dessert or any recipe where a sweet taste is desirable. You may purchase yellow plantains and store them in a paper bag until then ripen and turn black.