When To Pick Plantains

When to pick plantains really depends on what you plan to do with them in the kitchen.

You can pick plantains at nearly any stage of their growth, but the perfect time to pick plantains hinges entirely on whether you want them sweet or starchy.

If you’re wondering when to pick plantains for frying, boiling, or making savory dishes, you’ll want to harvest them while they are still green and firm.

But if you have a sweet tooth and crave caramelized slices or plantain desserts, then knowing when to pick plantains means waiting until they turn yellow and develop black spots.

The trick is that plantains don’t ripen all at once, so you need to observe the color and feel of the fruit to decide the exact moment to pick plantains from your garden.

In this post, we’ll break down the best times to pick plantains based on ripeness, how to tell when they’re ready, and tips for ripening them after you pick plantains.

Let’s dig in.

When to Pick Plantains: The Color Guide

When to pick plantains is a question of color, as the skin tells you exactly what stage of flavor and texture you’ll get.

The timing to pick plantains ranges from about 80 to 180 days after the flower appears, but the visual cues are even more reliable than the calendar.

Here’s how to know when to pick plantains for every culinary need:

1. Green Plantains: Pick for Savory Dishes

The earliest time to pick plantains is when they are fully green and have a waxy, matte appearance.

At this stage, you should pick plantains because the flesh is very starchy, firm, and neutral in flavor, much like a potato.

You want to pick plantains that are still green for dishes like tostones, mofongo, or savory chips that need a crispy, non-sweet result.

When to pick plantains in the green stage is usually about two to three months after the bunch emerges, and the fruit should feel hard with no give when pressed.

If you pick plantains too early while they are still slightly angular, they will be overly tough and difficult to peel, so wait until the ridges have smoothed out to pick plantains at their prime green state.

2. Yellow Plantains: The Versatile Middle Ground

The next window of when to pick plantains is when they have turned completely yellow with just a few black specks.

You’ll find that picking plantains at this yellow stage gives you a lovely balance of slight sweetness and firm starchiness.

This is a fantastic time to pick plantains if you want to slice them for baked plantains or pan-fried maduros that are tender but not too sugary.

When the skin is yellow, the plantains are ripe and ready, so you can pick plantains and use them immediately for breakfast or lunch sides.

For most home cooks, this is the most practical time to pick plantains because they are forgiving to cook and pair well with rice, beans, or grilled meats.

3. Black or Spotted Plantains: For Sweet Desserts

If you’re wondering when to pick plantains for maximum sweetness, the answer is to wait until the skin is almost entirely black or covered in heavy dark patches.

You should pick plantains at this very ripe stage because the starches have converted almost completely into sugars, making the flesh incredibly sweet and aromatic.

The best time to pick plantains for dessert recipes is when they feel soft to the touch and the skin is thin and dark, almost like an overripe banana.

When you pick plantains this late, they are perfect for making plantain cake, sweet empanadas, or simply roasting them as a dessert side dish.

Just be careful not to wait too long, as you want to pick plantains before they become mushy or start leaking sap.

Signs That Tell You It’s Time to Pick Plantains

Beyond just color, there are physical signs that make it clear when to pick plantains from the stalk.

You don’t want to guess when to pick plantains because an underripe harvest will never develop the right sweetness even if you wait.

Here are the top indicators for when to pick plantains in your backyard:

1. The Ridges Have Flattened

Young green plantains have prominent, sharp ridges running down their length.

When you are evaluating when to pick plantains, run your fingers across the skin, and if the ridges have filled out and become smooth, that’s a strong signal.

This indicates the fruit has plumped up with flesh, signaling that you can safely pick plantains for cooking purposes.

Waiting until the fruit looks round and full is one of the simplest ways to decide when to pick plantains.

2. The Flower Bud Withers and Dries

Plantains grow in a bunch below a large purple flower that hangs down.

As the fruit matures, this flower bud begins to dry out, turn brown, and eventually falls off.

When the flower has completely withered, it’s a clear indication of when to pick plantains because the fruit has stopped growing.

At this stage, you should pick plantains within a few weeks, as leaving them too long on the plant can cause them to split and rot.

3. Check the Dried Styles on the Fruit Tips

At the very tip of each plantain, you’ll see a small black or brown remnant of the flower’s style.

As the plantain matures, these styles dry up and often fall off easily.

If the tips are still green and supple, it’s not yet time to pick plantains.

But if these tips crumble at a light touch, you know the fruit has reached a mature stage and you’re ready to pick plantains.

How to Ripen Plantains After You Pick Them

Sometimes you have to pick plantains before they are fully ripe due to cold weather, pests, or because you need space on the tree.

Thankfully, you can still pick plantains green and ripen them indoors with a few simple tricks.

Here’s how to handle the process from the moment you pick plantains:

1. Keep Them at Room Temperature

If you pick plantains that are green, simply place them on your kitchen counter at room temperature.

They will gradually turn yellow and then black over the course of five to ten days.

This is the most natural way to ripen plantains after you pick plantains, and it preserves their flavor beautifully.

Avoid direct sunlight, as that can make them cook unevenly and develop soft spots.

2. Use a Paper Bag to Speed Up the Process

If you need to ripen plantains faster after you pick plantains, place them in a brown paper bag alongside a ripe apple or banana.

The apple or banana emits ethylene gas, which accelerates the ripening of your picked plantains.

Check the bag every day, and you’ll find that plantains you pick plantains can go from green to yellow in just a few days.

3. Never Refrigerate Green Plantains

A huge mistake is to immediately refrigerate plantains right after you pick them.

Cold temperatures halt the ripening process, and you will be stuck with hard, starchy plantains that never sweeten.

If you must store them, wait until the plantains have turned fully yellow before placing them in the fridge to extend their shelf life.

So, When to Pick Plantains?

When to pick plantains really comes down to your intended recipe, as every stage of ripeness offers a unique taste and texture.

If you want savory, crispy dishes, you should pick plantains while they are green and firm.

For a versatile, mildly sweet option, pick plantains when they are yellow, and for desserts, wait until they are black and soft.

Use the visual signs of flattened ridges, withered flowers, and dried tips to determine when to pick plantains from your tree.

Remember that you can always pick plantains early and ripen them indoors, so don’t stress too much about perfect timing.

Just match the ripeness to your meal plan, and you’ll enjoy the perfect plantain every single time.