Can You Freeze Plantains?

3 minutes

A relative of the humble banana, plantains are a nutrient-rich and incredibly tasty veggie that is a staple food in many parts of the world. They’re popular because they can be prepared and cooked in so many ways, which leads them to being enjoyed as a snack, accompaniment, or even a main meal.

But what’s the best way to store plantains? Can you freeze plantains? 

How to Freeze Plantains

The good news is that freezing plantains is nice and straightforward. While you can technically freeze them just as they are (i.e. without peeling them), we think that preparing them in advance is a smart move, as it can save you time at the other end.

Here’s how to freeze plantain: 

1. Peel
   Cut either end of your plantain, and run the knife down the middle of the skin. Pop the plantain out and place it on a chopping board. 
2. Chop
   Cut your plantain in half or slice it into individual pieces; it’s entirely up to you. 
3. Place in Freezer-Safe Bags
   Add your plantain to freezer-safe bags. We advise you to split them into serving-size portions at this stage to make your life easier when it comes to defrosting and enjoying them. 
4. Seal, :abel, and Freeze
   Press as much air as you can out of the bags and seal them. Then, write today’s date, as well as the use-by date on the front of each bag, before placing them in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze plantain for around six months. 

3 Tips for Freezing Plantains

Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing plantains to have the best results:

Mash it
While we recommend freezing plantain as above, you can also mash it if you prefer. After mashing your plantain, add a squeeze of lemon juice to the mixture before freezing it, as this will help to preserve it without bruising excessively. 

Cook Them First
Unlike bananas, you shouldn’t eat raw plantain. While you can freeze them raw, you can cook them in advance if you prefer. Either way, you should definitely cook them before you tuck in to eat them! 

Prepare in Different Ways
Plantain is an exceptionally diverse veggie, and it can be enjoyed in so many ways. You can boil, fry, or grill plantain, and each cooking method brings with it a host of wonderful flavours and a unique texture. It’s always a good idea to bear in mind how you’re likely to cook it when you’re freezing it, so you can bag it up in the right way.

How Long Can You Freeze Plantains?

You can freeze plantains for around six months. Some people will freeze them for longer than this, but if you do, you might notice that they bruise once they’ve been defrosted.

While this is largely unavoidable, six months is a decent amount of time to keep your plantains in the freezer, so try and use them within this timeframe if you can.

You Can Freeze Plantains for up to 6 Months

How Do You Defrost Plantains?

In most instances, you can cook plantains straight from frozen. This is particularly the case if you steam or boil them.

But if you want to thaw them before you set about preparing them for your dinner guests, simply remove the bag of plantain from the freezer and allow it to defrost in the fridge.

Make sure you keep the bag sealed during this process so it doesn’t bruise excessively. It will take 5-6 hours to thaw plantain in the fridge, so make sure you allow yourself sufficient time. 

Can You Refreeze Plantains?

While you can technically refreeze any type of vegetable that has been preserved properly, it’s not the best move when dealing with plantain. The reason for this is the texture of plantain, and you might find that it turns into a mushy mess if you freeze it more than once.

If you’re concerned about wastage, split your plantain into smaller portions before you freeze it, so you can easily take out what you need at any given time.

Do Plantains Freeze Well?

Plantains freeze extremely well. Perhaps the only thing that you need to be mindful of is that they bruise slightly when you’re defrosting them.

But if you keep them sealed while they’re thawing in the fridge (or cook them from frozen), you shouldn’t encounter any issues with frozen plantains. 

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing plantains or plantains in general, then these may help:

What is the Best Way to Store Plantains?

This comes down to how quickly you expect to use the plantains. They will keep in the fridge for around 1 week. You can also keep them a room temperature for a few days.

If, however, you don’t expect to use them up within a week then it’s a good idea to freeze them using the method above.

Can You Fry Plantain from Frozen?

Yes, you can fry plantain from frozen. Grab the sliced pieces from the freezer and place them into a hot pan until golden brown and cooked through. Make sure you don’t crowd the pan when doing so.