How to Peel a Plantain

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 15, 2022 Tested

Plantains are the deliciously starchy cousin to bananas, and are used to make both sweet and savory dishes. Ripe plantains that have turned black or brown can be peeled in strips like bananas, but unripe, green plantains require the use of a paring knife or steaming to come off.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Peeling Raw Green Plantains

1
Cut off the ends. Place the plantain flat on a cutting board. Use a sharp paring knife to cut off the stem and tip of the plantain.
2
Slice the skin along the ridges. If you examine the plantain you'll see that its peel is ridged lengthwise. Use the paring knife to slice into the skin along the length of the ridges. Don't slice too far in, or you'll mangle the plantain; stick the knife in just far enough to slice the skin.

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3
Remove the peel in strips with your fingers and the knife. Working lengthwise, remove a strip of the plantain by pulling up the end with your fingers. Use the knife to help work it loose, and keep pulling it up until the whole strip is off. Continue removing the remainder of the peel in the same way.
4
Slice off the extra bits of peel. Green plantains don't peel cleanly, so you'll probably see a few bits of peel left stuck to the fruit. Use the knife to slice these off and discard them. The plantain is now ready to use.^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Steaming Off the Peel

1
Cut off the ends. Place the plantain flat on a cutting board. Use a sharp paring knife to cut off the stem and tip of the plantain.
2
Slice the skin along the ridges. Use the paring knife to slice into the skin along the length of the ridges. Don't slice too far in, since you don't want to cut the fruit; just stick the knife in far enough to open the skin.^{[2]
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- If you're using a recipe that calls for chunks of plantain, you may slice it into sections, rather than simply slicing along the ridges.
3
Steam the plantain. Place it in a steamer or a pot filled with 1/2 inch of boiling water. Place a lid on the steamer or pot and allow it to steam for eight to ten minutes. Remove the plantain from the pot with tongs. It should be slightly soft to the touch.
- If you wish, you may boil the plantain instead of steaming it. Fill the pot with enough water to completely cover the plantain. Bring it to a rolling boil. Place the plantain in the boiling water and boil for 15 minutes, until the peel begins to fall off.
4
Peel the plantain. After the plantain has slightly cooled, you'll be able to remove the peel quite easily. Use your fingers to peel it off in strips with the aid of a paring knife if necessary.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Peeling Ripe Plantains

1
Grasp the plantain by the stem. Hold it the same way you would a banana, gripping the bottom with one hand and holding the stem with the other. If the plantain has turned brown and is fully ripe, the peel should come off easily.
2
Pull the stem toward the tip. The peel should begin to come off in one long strip. Completely remove the first strip with your hands.
3
Pull off the rest of the peel. Once the first strip is loose, the rest follows easily. Pull off the entire peel and discard it. The plantain is now ready to use.
4
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

Why does the plantain become sticky and black when peeled?

Community Answer

They have sugars and starches which will oxidize when exposed to air.
Question

How do you know when a plantain is ripe?

Community Answer

Plantains are ripe and perfect for eating when they turn yellow with lots of brown splotches. They are sort of ripe when they are banana-yellow, but it's much better if you wait until they get brown splotches.
Question

Can you eat plantains when they are green?

Community Answer

Yes, but they won't taste very good. Underipe plantains will tast bland and starchy. Consider ripening them first. Read How to Ripen Plantains for more information.

Warnings

Never eat raw plantains. Bananas can be eaten raw, but plantains must be cooked or they will give you a serious stomachache.

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Use appropriate care when handling a knife.

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