A row of ripe and unripe plantains.
FOOD NEWS
How To Properly Peel A Plantain Like The Experts
By Elizabeth Thorn
Plantains beside a bowl of oil.
Plantains are a beloved fruit and staple ingredient across many cultures, but even though they look like bananas, peeling them is not as easy.
Plaintains next to a knife on a counter.
Unlike their sweet banana counterparts, a plantain's peel is too tough to be simply stripped away. So instead of peeling, you need to cut it off.
A knife cutting through a plantain.
To get started, cut each end of the plantain with a pairing knife. Then look or feel for the ridges on the skin and make a shallow cut in each ridge.
A knife cutting a plantain.
Use the knife or your fingers to tear the skin away gently. If the plantain is ripe, you might only have to cut into one ridge, and the skin should easily peel away from the fruit.
Plantains next to salt, pepper, and a bowl of butter.
Once the skin is removed, you'll be left with a naked plantain ready to be used in all sorts of recipes, from savory dishes like tostones to sweet treats like plantain bread.