That is also why there are so many delicious African plantain dishes on my blog. Personally, I just love to snack on them as chips because they’re super quick and easy to prepare. The other day, I was going to make Fried Plantains for my family’s weekly movie night. Then, before starting to fry, I noticed that I had run out of oil! Luckily, you can make these treats in an air fryer! I explored a bit more on what else we can make out of this combo, and I’m telling you, everything! They can be used interchangeably, but some fundamental differences are here. And don’t worry, you can use your air fryer for both bananas and plantains, and they both turn out fabulous. Just remember to check the labels the next time you go to the grocery store.😉
How to Air Fry Plantains
Prepare the Plantain Follow Air Fryer Instructions
Load the Air Fryer – Place the plantain slices in the air fryer, spray with cooking oil, if desired, and cook for 10 minutes while turning halfway through. Don’t crowd them so that they can cook evenly. (Photos 3-4)Transfer – Carefully remove plantains from the air fryer and transfer them to a paper-towel-lined plate or tray.Season – with salt and your favorite spices, if desired, and enjoy a bite! Serve them as is or as a side dish to this Instant Pot Black Beans.
Air Fryer Tips
Got your hands on a new air fryer unit? I had a lot of questions when I first used my air fryer. Luckily my hubby helped me with it. Here are some things to expect when making air fryer plantains for the first time.
You’ll want to wash the basket (where you put the food) and dry it before using.When you first use an air fryer, you’re gonna smell a light plastic odor. This is because most brands of air fryers come with a protective coating. This is nothing to worry about. The odor will fade with use.When cooking air fryer plantains, don’t hesitate to take a peek. You’re actually supposed to flip it midway to evenly cook the dish.If cooking smaller bits of food, give the basket a good shake for even browning.Do not overcrowd! I cannot reiterate this enough. As a general rule in cooking, whether it’s stovetop, baking, or air frying, you must not overcrowd.
Fried, Baked, or Air-Fried Plantains
Fry
The most traditional preparation for African and Latin American plantain dishes is frying. Deep-frying plantains whole soften the fruit, so it becomes easier to manage. This Fried Plantains recipe should give you an idea of how to prepare it easily.
Bake
Baking is a better alternative if you don’t want to use too much oil. This also tenderizes the plantain so you can use it for other dishes. However, this method often leaves you with a crusty final product. I personally like it as it brings a unique taste to the whole dish. Check out this easy Baked Plantains recipe for reference.
Air Fryer
A regular air fryer cooks the plantains using hot air. It’s a healthier alternative to traditional frying as it uses little to no oil at all. This method gives you a healthy snack alternative. Win-win!
Other Ways to Serve Air-Fryer Plantains
The primary purpose of cooking the plantains is to soften them up just enough to make them edible. However, using an air fryer cooks the dish differently. So, how you fry plantains depends on what you’re going to serve with them.
Whole Plantains
Whole plantains come out just like the baked version when cooked in an air fryer, and the surface area is crucial to cooking the dish evenly. If you place it just as it is, it would probably cook the exterior pretty nicely but may leave the center a bit hard. I suggest cutting slits along the plantain to expose the center so it becomes tenderer. This is a great way to make air-fried stuffed plantains similar to Stuffed Baked Plantains.
Chips
Usually, plantain chips are baked or fried. The latter often gives you an annoying greasy finish, making changing movies a nuisance. Luckily, air fryer plantains don’t use oil! This snack is super easy because slicing the plantain exposes more surface area. It will cook perfectly on all sides and down to the core. The size of the bits also helps it cook evenly when the basket is shaken. This Plantain Chips recipe should give you an idea of how to make the traditional version.
Appetizers
This Kelewele or Aloco recipe perfectly depicts how simple it is to use air fryer plantains as appetizers. This recipe brings back so many childhood memories because these are often street food back in West Africa. It cooks perfectly tender in the air fryer without excess oil since it’s cut into wedges. This means it’s healthier than the traditional version.
Storage and Shelf Life
Because plantains contain a lot of starch, it has a short shelf life. If done the traditional way (with oil), the average shelf life of this dish is 3-4 days. However, since our dish doesn’t use oil, any uncooked starch in the fruit hastens the dish’s shelf life. The proper way to store this dish is to wait for it to cool, then store it in an airtight container. If you seal it up before it cools, it will get soggy.
More Plantain Recipes
Plantain PancakesMpuh Fish (Spicy Fish in Plantain Pudding)Klako (Plantain Fritters)Kondres (Spicy Stewed Plantains)Tostones
Watch How To Make It
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