Air Fryer Sweet Plantains or Maduros are an easy and healthy way to make this classic Latin side dish.
Air Fryer Sweet Plantains
I grew up eating plantains every way you can imagine! Depending on the ripeness of the plantain, you’ll get different results. Mom makes them on the grill or fries them but I love making them in the air fryer! For sweet maduros, the best plantains are the ones that have black skins and tender flesh. The darker the skin, the sweeter they are, which is exactly what you want. Make these Air Fryer Maduros along with my Picadillo, Carne Bistec, or any Latin dish you like. And if you’d like to try more plantain recipes, check out my Air Fryer Tostones, Turkey Picadillo Stuffed Sweet Plantains, and Turkey Pastelón (Sweet Plantain Lasagna).
Air fried plantains are healthier than fried plantains since air frying requires a lot less oil. They are similar to bananas but with more starch. Plantains are high in carbs and contain some fiber, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A and K.
What color are plantains when ripe?
As they ripen, plantains turn from green to yellow to black, just like bananas. It’s usually hard to find ripe plantains at the grocery store. Typically, you must purchase unripe green plantains and let them ripen on the counter or somewhere warm to speed up the process. They can take anywhere from a few days to a
week to ripen.
What is the difference between tostones and maduros?
Tostones are green plantains that are fried until crispy and served as chips with dips like guacamole or salsa. I have three ways to make them: twice baked, air fried, and microwaved and baked. Maduros made from ripe plantains are soft and sweet and are served as a side dish.
How to Air Fry Maduros
Air frying sweet plantains is so easy. This recipe only has one ingredient – plantains – so the prep is minimal.
- Cut the ends off the plantain. Then with a paring knife, cut a slit along the length of the peel.
- Carefully remove the skin and place them in the air fryer.
- Spray the tops of the plantains with oil and air fry at 370° Fahrenheit for eight minutes on each side.
Variations
- Top air fryer maduros with cinnamon.
- Add melted cheese, like shredded cheddar, Monterey jack, or Oaxaca cheese.
More Latin Recipes You’ll Love:
- Latin Yellow Rice
- Arroz Congri (Cuban Rice and Black Beans)
- Turkey Pastelón (Sweet Plantain Lasagna)
- Turkey Picadillo Stuffed Plantains
- Instant Pot Refried Beans
Air Fryer Sweet Plantains
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium extra ripe plantains, the skin should be black
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil.
- Cut the ends off the plantain then using a sharp pairing knife, cut a slit along the length to peel.
- Remove the skin carefully and transfer to the air fryer basket.
- Spray with more oil on top and air fryer 370F about 8 minutes on each side, until tender.
- Then slice them and enjoy.
The sweet
Plantains were delicious!!!!!!
First time using the air fryer for maduros & it was a success. Mo esposo loved it & I loved not having to deal with the “grease” 😃
Thank you for sharing this air frying method .
This was exactly what I needed! I didn’t want to give up maduros but needed to step away from the deep fried foods. You wouldn’t know the difference unless someone told you!
Worked well, easy, and tastes great!
For my first time, I think they came out good. I sliced mine diagonally and then put them in the air fryer. I probably should have cooked less than 8 minutes for each side.
Thank you! I was looking for air fryer plantain and this hit the spot. ☺️
I am new to cooking plantains.Thank you for these instructions. I used my Emeril Legasse Air Fryer oven. I made two batches using 4 plantains. I extended the time to 20 minutes to allow for the time it took to turn over the slices after the top half had fried, probably resulting in slightly more than 9 minutes cook time for each side. I found that I liked best when I sliced the plantains in diagonal slices about 1/2″ thick. It is very true that the blacker the plantains are the sweeter. Thanks again.
really good
Such an easy recipe and no grease like when you fry it in a pan frying it in a pan. Air fryer is the way to go. Very tasty.
Loved it I have already tried it. Now I don’t have to give up plaintain
I made these and they were delicious thank you! I soaked the plaintains in salt
water for 15 minutes before cooking to bring out even more sweetness. So good!
I love this recipe! I was trying to avoid to fry mine again and I’m so glad to come across your recipe! So much better, taste light, with the same taste as oil fried. Thank you for sharing!
I thought I messed up because my plantain wasn’t as black as the one pictured. But they still came out great. Drizzled with honey!
I wasn’t too sure about these but it came out great. Mine looked nothing like the picture, but I sliced it up and sprinkled with sea salt and they tasted delicious. A much healthier alternative to frying in oil.
Can you do this with the green plantains if that’s all you can find?
They won’t be sweet if they are still green. Typically, you must purchase unripe green plantains and let them ripen on the counter or somewhere warm to speed up the process. They can take anywhere from a few days to a week to ripen.
No Air Fryer. But we LOVE sweet plantains!!
Any chance I’ll get similar results in a convection oven with the plantain on a rack above a cookie sheet?
Sure!! May need a few more minutes! Also you can bake them in a regular oven.