The plantain is a fruit that is part of the banana family and has a similar appearance but, when compared to them, it has a lower sugar content and more starches. Some people prefer to include unripe plane trees in their typical Caribbean or Indian dishes when they are still green or yellow. However, these fruits are not considered fully ripe if the outer skin color is not brown. You can ripen them following a process similar to the one used for bananas.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: In a Paper Bag
Step 1. Remove the plantain from the plastic container in which it is sold in the supermarket
This way it will ripen more evenly.
Step 2. Place the fruit in a brown paper bag
In this way the ethylene gases that develop during maturation will remain trapped.
Step 3. Store the bag in the kitchen at room temperature
The pantry or a wall unit are excellent places to store plane trees until fully ripe.
Step 4. Let the fruit ripen in the bag for 6-8 days
They will be perfect when their skins become completely black and firm to the touch.
Check the plantains every two days to check their degree of ripeness
Step 5. Remove them from the bag when the skins are black
They are now perfectly ripe and ready to eat.
Method 2 of 2: In the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 148 ° C
Step 2. Arrange the fruits on the baking sheet
Step 3. "Cook" the plantains in the oven for about an hour
In this way you stimulate the natural ripening process.
Step 4. Wait for them to cool after taking them out of the oven
Alternatively, you can put them in the refrigerator so that the temperature drops quickly
Step 5. Serve or eat the plantains when they have reached room temperature
Fruits ripened in this way are usually soft and sweet.
Advice
- When the grocery store has special offers on overripe fruit, look for plantains. Some shopkeepers do not know that these fruits are fully ripe when the skins are dark, or they confuse them with bananas, considering them to be beyond the right degree of ripeness, which is why they sell them at a discounted price.
- If you prefer the starchy taste of plantains, fry or boil them when they're not ripe and the skins are still green. Green plantains have a starchy flavor similar to that of potatoes.
