A Simple Way to Preserve Ripe Plantains

Anyone who loves ripe plantains has probably experienced this: you buy a bunch plantain, only to watch them over‑ripen and sometimes spoil before you’re ready to eat them. This scenario ofen forces one to eat plantains every day or whip up multiple plantain-based dishes just so they don’t go to waste.

As much as I adore ripe plantains, I don’t want to eat them daily. I believe part of what makes food special is enjoying it in moderation.

If you ever find yourself with ripe plantains you’re not ready to eat , or you want to buy in bulk without worrying about spoilage; there’s a simple, reliable method: freezeing. All you need is steady electricity, some freezer space, and plastic or paper bags.

Freezing ripe plantains has been a fail-proof method for me. The secret isn’t just in freezing, it’s in how the freezing is done so one can easily take out only the quantity needed at each time.

How to Freeze Ripe Plantains 

1. Prep the plantains

Peel and slice the ripe plantains into your preferred sizes and shapes. I recommend slicing based on their intended use; chips, cubes, diagonal cuts, etc. as the shape tends to depend on what you plan to cook later. I don’t salt mine before freezing, but that’s entirely up to you.

2. Open-freeze the sliced plantain

Lay the slices individually on parchment paper (or any freezer-safe surface) and place them in the freezer.
How long this takes depends on your freezer temperature and slice size, but I usually leave mine overnight.

This step is crucial: open-freezing prevents the slices from sticking together, making it easy to remove only what you need later.

Slices of ripe plantain left to freeze individually a on parchment paper in a freezer 

3. Pack and store

Once frozen , transfer the individual slices/cuts into a freezer-safe bag or container and return them to the freezer.

This method keeps the plantains fresh and allows you to grab any quantity you want without thawing a whole batch at once.

Plastic bags containing slices of frozen plaintain 

Freezing ripe plantains has truly been a game‑changer for me, and I hope it becomes just as helpful for you. With a little prep, you can enjoy perfectly ripe plantains anytime without the pressure to eat them before they spoil.