How to Properly Store Fried, Baked, or Boiled Plantains

You may have found the perfect recipe for your plantains, but if you do not eat them all you will want to carefully store them for later consumption. Plantains are not cheap, so you definitely do not want to waste these delicacies.

Whether fried, baked, or boiled, cooked plantains should all be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will typically last 3 to 4 days after they have been cooked. If you want to store them longer, freeze them in an airtight container where they will last up to 3 months.

You don’t need anything fancy to store cooked plantains. My favorite airtight container for the fridge is this one. They are simple, hold a lot of plantains, and are freezer-safe.

Read on to learn more details on the best ways to properly store fried, baked, and boiled plantains. 

How to Store Fried Plantains

One of the most delicious ways to cook plantains is to fry them just like you would French fries or potato wedges. You can fry either fresh or frozen plantains with some corn flour and oil. Just heat the oil to medium to high heat, dip the plantains in the hot oil, and fry them until they are golden brown. But, what if you have any leftovers? 

You can store your fried plantains in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days after cooking. You can also keep them in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to reheat your fried plantain slices, just do the following: 

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
• Place the fried plantains in a shallow baking pan
• Put the pan in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for five minutes. 

If they are not heated through, you can continue to bake them in the preheated oven for a minute longer until they are ready. 

How to Store Baked Plantains

Baked plantains should be stored in a resealable ziplock bag or an airtight container. That way, you can snack on them like chips anytime you would like and they will stay fresh and delicious for about a week. You can also keep them in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 12 months.

Baking Plantains Correctly

If you do not want extra calories that come with frying, you can bake plantains in the oven. Simply blanch them and then spread the blanched plantains out in a baking dish. Drizzle with some butter or olive oil along with your favorite spices – cinnamon, salt, pepper, for example. Bake for thirty to forty minutes until they are crispy outside. 

Baked plantains are a low-fat, delicious treat, so you will want to store any leftovers as shown above.

How to Store Boiled Plantains

Another low-fat method of cooking plantains is by boiling them. This is an especially good method if you are trying to cook frozen plantains. Just take them out of the freezer and boil them in salted water for around 20 minutes until they are tender. Boiled plantains complement any meal and can be seasoned with a variety of tasty things. 

Boiled plantains will be softer than baked or fried plantains, so they should also be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 or 4 days. They can also be frozen for up to 12 months, just keep in mind that they are more delicate than baked or fried plantains, so they may be bruised upon thawing.

They can easily be reheated to be eaten as a tasty snack, a side dish for breakfast, on a salad, or even as part of a meal. 

How Do You Keep Plantains from Spoiling?

Plantains will ripen fast and become soft within three to five days, so it is important to store them properly so that they do not spoil. 

Plantains can be kept out at room temperature for several days without spoiling. However, if you want to preserve your plantains for a longer period of time, you will need to take a few specific steps. That way, your plantains will not become overripe or spoil before you have time to cook with them: 

• Clean off the plantains with water to rinse off any debris and pat them dry with a paper towel
• Peel the plantains with a paring knife and carefully remove the peels in strips by slicing along the length of the ridges
• Cut the peeled plantains to your preferred size, preferably in the size and pattern that may be used for a future recipe
• Split the plantains into various ziplock bags and make sure they are level.
• Gently press the air out of the ziplock bag
• Place the ziplock bags in the freezer

Plantains can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months without spoiling. Then, you can take them out and use them for any of your favorite recipes.

Do Plantains Need to be Refrigerated?

Plantains do not need to be refrigerated right away after you purchase them. Ripe plantains can be kept out at room temperature, uncovered, for several days without spoiling. Just make sure they are kept away from direct sunlight, as that will damage the plantains when they are left out and not refrigerated. 

If you do not think you will eat them right away, you can keep them in the refrigerator for about a week and they will not spoil. Simply slice them up and place them in an airtight container and they will last for a few more days in the refrigerator than if they were left out for a longer period of time. 

How to Store Plantains in the Fridge

You can store your plantains in an airtight container in your refrigerator. It should be noted that the plantains will continue to ripen in the refrigerator, so make sure your recipes call for ripened plantains. If not, you should opt for freezing them since that will slow down the ripening process more than if they are stored in the refrigerator. 

If you want to maintain your plantains and not let them overripe or spoil, the best way to protect them is to store them in your freezer. 

Can You Freeze Raw Plantains?

Freezing raw plantains is a great way to preserve them for a much longer period of time. Now, they may bruise a bit when they thaw, similar to if you were freezing a raw banana, but they are still good for up to a year.

That being said, it is recommended to use your frozen plantains within the first 3 months to avoid freezer burn. However, if you forget they are in them and find the plantains within a year, eating them is absolutely fine. Just remember that you will need to cook the frozen plantains; do not try eating them raw. However, you can do these: 

• Fry
• Boil
• Grill
• Mash
• Roast 

Any of the above cooking methods will work very well with your frozen plantains. When you decide you would like to cook your frozen plantains, it is best to cook them immediately when the ice is still on them to protect the texture.

How to Store Plantains in the Freezer

If you purchased plantains raw and will not use them right away, you can freeze them for up to a year by taking the following steps: 

• Peel them using a sharp paring knife
• Cut off the ends of the plantains
• Slice them to your desired size and shape
• Put them in airtight plastic bags and make sure all of the air is pushed out 

By completing the above steps, you can freeze your raw plantains and have them for nearly a year. They will remain flavorful and delicious when they are used, just like the day they were purchased. 

How to Keep Plantains from Turning Brown

Whether you purchase green or ripe plantains, they will eventually turn brown as they continue to ripen. In fact, they will begin to go soft after only three to five days from your purchase.

If you want to keep plantains from turning brown, but do not want to freeze them, you can peel and chop them and then keep them in a ziplock bag.  As long as no air or water gets into the ziplock bag, your plantains will not turn brown for about a week or more.

If you want to keep them longer, you will need to place the bags in the freezer.

Final Bite

Plantains are a versatile and delicious fruit that can be enjoyed as a fried dish, baked delicacy, or boiled meal. You can use plantains whether they are raw, ripe, or even overripe in many popular dishes, from desserts to side dishes to main meals. However, if you do not use them right away, hopefully this article has let you know all you need to know in order to store them correctly.

Thanks for stoppin’ by!

For more, don’t miss Can You Survive on Bananas? | The Nutritional Facts.