To embark on your journey of making air fryer frozen plantains, you’ll need just a few simple items. The star of the show, of course, is a box of frozen plantains. For preparing frozen tostones, a little cooking oil spray is also recommended. You’ll generally encounter two main types of frozen plantains in most major supermarkets:

• Maduros: These are sweet, ripe plantains, typically deep yellow to black in color, often pre-sliced or whole. When air-fried, they become wonderfully soft, sweet, and caramelized. They are a fantastic dessert or sweet side. My personal favorite are the maduros horneados (baked sweet plantains), which offer natural sweetness making them an ideal treat.
• Tostones: These are savory, green plantains that have usually been twice-fried and flattened before freezing. They yield a firm, crispy texture reminiscent of a savory chip when air-fried.

When selecting frozen plantains, look for reputable brands like Goya, which are widely available and consistently high quality. Ensure the package is sealed and free from excessive ice crystals, indicating it has been properly stored.

Remember that air fryer models can vary significantly in power and efficiency. The cooking times provided are general guidelines, and you might need to adjust them slightly based on your specific appliance. If you have a smaller air fryer, cooking the entire box of plantains in multiple batches might be necessary to ensure even air circulation and optimal crispness.

Prepare Your Air Fryer and Plantains

First, ensure your air fryer is clean and ready. Remove all packaging from the frozen plantains. Gently place the frozen pieces in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave a small amount of space between each piece. This is crucial for proper air circulation, which helps achieve uniform cooking and crispiness. If you are using an air fryer oven model, position the plantains on the top rack for the best results. For frozen tostones, lightly spray them with cooking oil. This step helps achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and a satisfying crunch.

Air Frying Process for Maduros and Tostones

The cooking times differ slightly depending on whether you’re making maduros or tostones:

For Frozen Maduros: Air fry for approximately 8 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Remember to flip the plantains halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning and caramelization on both sides. If you are using pre-sliced maduros and notice any pieces sticking together after a few minutes, gently separate them with tongs.

For Frozen Tostones: Air fry for about 10 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Similar to maduros, flip them halfway through the cooking cycle. For extra crispiness and a beautiful golden finish, spray them with a little more cooking oil after flipping.

Keep a close eye on your plantains, especially during the last few minutes, as air fryer cooking can be very efficient. The goal is to achieve a perfect balance of texture and color without burning.

Seasoning and Serving Suggestions

The beauty of air-fried plantains lies in their versatility. You can season them to suit your taste, whether you prefer sweet or savory.

• For Maduros: I love to enhance their natural sweetness with a drizzle of melted butter and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar. A touch of honey or maple syrup can also be delightful, as Sally mentioned in her review!
• For Tostones: A simple pinch of sea salt is always a classic. For an extra kick, try Tajín seasoning. Serve them with fresh lime wedges on the side, perfect for squeezing over, and don’t forget your favorite dipping sauces like salsa, guacamole, or a garlicky mojo sauce.

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  1
  box
  frozen plantains
  (maduros or tostones)

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  cooking oil spray
  (for tostones only)

• Remove all packaging and place the frozen plantains in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece for even cooking. (Air fryer ovens: use the top rack.) If you’re making frozen tostones, lightly spray them with cooking spray.
• Frozen maduros: Air fry for 8 minutes at 400°F (200°C), flipping them halfway through cooking time. If using sliced maduros, break apart any pieces that are stuck together after a few minutes.

  Frozen tostones: Air fry for 10 minutes at 400°F (200°C), flipping them and spraying with more oil spray halfway through cooking time.

• After cooking, let the plantains cool for a couple of minutes. Maduros should be soft, caramelized, and slightly browned. Tostones will be firmer and crisp on the outside, more like a chip.
• You can season your plantains any way you like. I love to drizzle maduros with melted butter and add a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar. Tostones are great with a pinch of salt or Tajin, plus lime wedges and a side of salsa or guacamole for dipping.

💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule

This is a level 2 recipe (transition or weight maintenance). Plantains are indeed rich in carbohydrates, but this doesn’t diminish their significant nutritional value. In fact, when consumed in moderation, they offer a host of health benefits that make them a smart addition to your diet.

Rich in antioxidants:
Plantains are an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C, two potent antioxidants crucial for protecting your body’s cells from oxidative stress and supporting overall immune health.

Essential vitamins and minerals:
Beyond antioxidants, plantains provide important nutrients like vitamin B6, vital for brain development and function, vitamin K for blood clotting and bone health, and essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which are critical for heart health, muscle function, and nerve transmission.

Fiber content:
With a good amount of dietary fiber, plantains can significantly aid digestion, promote gut health, and contribute to a feeling of fullness and satiety, helping with weight management.

Considering their nutrient profile, air-fried plantain chips often present a more wholesome snack choice compared to many processed options like cookies. They also contribute to increasing your daily intake of fruits and vegetables, an important aspect of a balanced diet.

It’s worth noting that ripe plantains contain more natural sugars than their green counterparts. As plantains mature, their starch converts into sugar, similar to how many fruits ripen. Calorie for calorie, the sugar content of raw ripe plantains is comparable to that of bananas.

Green plantains are particularly rich in resistant starch. This type of starch resists digestion in the small intestine, acting more like fiber and potentially promoting a greater sense of fullness. However, it’s important to know that resistant starch levels decrease as plantains ripen and especially when they are cooked. Since green plantains are typically cooked before consumption, the amount of resistant starch we obtain from them in our diets is usually limited.

Nutrition information is for one serving of Goya maduros as listed on the box. Refer to the product packaging for the most up-to-date nutrition info.