When can babies eat plantains?
Plantains may be introduced as soon as a baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. While plantains are delicious when deep fried, opt for baked or boiled plantains for babies and hold off on fried plantains until a child is older.
Background and origins of plantain
Plantains are a type of banana, with more starch, an earthier taste, and just a touch of sweetness that becomes more pronounced as they ripen. While plantains can technically be eaten raw when they are very ripe, the fruit is called a “cooking banana” for a reason. It is most often prepared like a vegetable… specifically, like a potato—boiled and mashed, steamed and grilled, smashed and fried, sliced and baked—almost always with aromatic seasoning from alliums, herbs, and spices.
Plantains originated in the tropics of Asia, where colonizers took the fruit to Africa and later to the Americas, where it flourishes today. Around the world, the fruit is used to make breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. In Ghana, plantains are marinated in savory spices to make kelewele; in Cuba, fufu features boiled and mashed plantains mixed with sofrito; in Nicaragua, fried plantains show up with stewed meats, rice, and beans on heaping plates called frittanga; and in the Philippines, plantains are battered and fried to make sweet fritters called maruya.
★Tip: When reading recipes, pay attention to a plantain’s stage of ripeness. Green plantains are hard and extra starchy and cannot necessarily be swapped for sweet plantains which, over time, become mottled with brown spots as they ripen, and eventually turn black—a sign of peak sweetness. Make sure to store plantains at room temperature to ripen. Once they are black, transfer the fruit to the fridge to extend the shelf life. Once peeled, they can be frozen for up to a month.
Are plantains healthy for babies?
Yes. The fruit contains plenty of carbohydrates and important nutrients to help babies thrive. Plantains are packed with B vitamins, including B6 and folate, to help babies turn food into energy and grow their cells and tissues. They also contain some vitamin A to strengthen babies’ eyesight, skin, and immune system, and vitamin C to help babies absorb iron and develop a strong immune system. Plus, they are a rich source of fiber that can promote a healthy digestive system by cultivating friendly bacteria in a baby’s gut.1
Plantains are often processed to create food products like chips, fries, and tostones—delicious twice-fried rounds of green plantains—and their sweeter fried cousins, maduros. Many preparations of plantains involve frying in oil. However, the high heat of frying can lead to undesirable changes in the oil/fat quality such as the creation of trans fats and free radicals.2 Plus, fried food, including plantains, tends to be accompanied by quite a bit of salt. If fried plantains are part of your family’s food culture, consider offering more boiled or baked, lightly salted (or unsalted) plantains to babies, and once a child is old enough to handle the challenging consistency of fried plantains, offer in moderation.
Plantain flour is a nutritious product for babies and toddlers, especially in gluten-free families. Made with starchy green plantains, the flour contains fiber and vitamins, and when it’s processed from both the flesh and the peel, it offers calcium, iron, and antioxidants.3 4
★Tip: As with many fruits picked before peak ripeness, plantains often are artificially ripened and, as a result, may contain chemical residues.5 Plantains also tend to be heavily sprayed with pesticides, affecting families on or near plantations.6 Washing plantains before slicing may help reduce pesticide exposure.7 For those with more bandwidth in their budget, consider choosing organic and/or fair-trade plantains to support smaller plantain producers and their families.
Are plantains a common choking hazard for babies?
No, though certain preparations of plantains (such as tostones or plantain chips) can be. As always, be sure to create a safe eating environment and stay near baby during mealtime.
For more information on choking, visit our sections on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.
Are plantains a common allergen?
No. Plantains are not a common allergen, although individuals with ragweed allergy, latex allergy, or oral allergy syndrome (also called pollen food allergy syndrome) may be sensitive to plantains and bananas.8 9 10 Oral allergy syndrome typically presents as a mild and temporary itching in the mouth, which usually resolves on its own. However, oral allergy symptoms tend not to be a problem when the plantain is cooked before serving. People who are allergic to bananas may also be allergic to plantains as the fruits are part of the same plant family.11
As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity on its own for the first couple of servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.
How do you prepare plantain for babies with baby-led weaning?
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience. Your child is an individual and may have needs or considerations beyond generally accepted practices. In determining the recommendations for size and shape of foods, we use the best available scientific information regarding gross, fine, and oral motor development to minimize choking risk. The preparation suggestions we offer are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for child-specific, one-on-one advice from your pediatric medical or health professional or provider. It is impossible to fully eliminate all risk of a baby or child choking on any liquid, puree, or food. We advise you to follow all safety protocols we suggest to create a safe eating environment and to make educated choices for your child regarding their specific needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.
6 to 12 months old: Cook plantains until soft then cut into large pieces to serve as finger food or mash, adding milk or stock to loosen the food if desired. Serve with minimal seasoning to introduce the taste of the fruit on its own. Let baby use hands to scoop up the food or offer a pre-loaded spoon to encourage utensil practice.
12 to 18 months old: Offer bite-size pieces of well-cooked plantain and try mixing the fruit with other foods like beans and grains. You may also continue to serve large pieces of cooked plantain for biting and tearing practice and mashes for spoon practice. Just hold off on serving fried plantains such as tostones; the hard, crispy texture can be challenging for young toddlers to break, chew, and swallow safely.
18 to 24 months old: Serve cooked plantains as you wish; almost anything goes at this age. If you feel your child has established strong chewing skills, you can introduce the occasional plantain fritters, tostones, and even plantain chips—though it is best to keep fried foods like these to a minimum.
How often should you offer solids? See our sample feeding schedules for babies of every age.
Recipe: Mashed Green Plantains
Inspired by Dominican Mangú
Yield: 2 cups (500 grams)
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Age: 6 months+
Ingredients
- 1 quart (1 liter) water or unsalted meat or vegetable stock
- 2 medium green plantains
- 2 small shallots
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) avocado oil, coconut oil, or olive oil
This recipe contains coconut, a fruit that is classified as a tree nut by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While coconut allergy is rare, take care when introducing it.
Directions
- Add the water or stock to a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Cover and set on medium-high heat.
- Prepare the plantains while the pot comes to a boil. Start by cutting off the plantains’ tips with a paring knife. To peel, make shallow cuts lengthwise along the fruit’s natural ridges, then use the knife to begin to separate the skin. Once there is enough skin to grab, use your fingers to pull it away from the flesh, then use the paring knife to cut away any remaining skin. Compost the stems and skins, then cut each plantain into 3 sections.
- Add the plantains to the boiling liquid and turn down the heat to create a steady simmer. Cook, uncovered, until a knife easily pierces a plantain, about 30 minutes.
- When the plantains are done, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain the pot.
- Transfer the plantains to a bowl and mash with a fork until smooth, adding splashes of the reserved cooking liquid to loosen the fruit if necessary.
- Peel and mince the shallots. Add your oil of choice to a skillet set on medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the shallots and stir to coat. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the mashed plantains and the rest of the reserved cooking liquid. Stir to combine, then continue to cook for 5 minutes to mix the flavors. Turn off the heat and let cool.
- Serve yourself and any other family members, seasoning with salt and other flavors for adults. Chopped avocado, cilantro, pickled onions, and hot sauce taste delicious on top!
- Serve: Scoop some mash into the child’s bowl. Exact serving size is variable. Let a child’s appetite determine how much is eaten. Let the child self-feed with hands. If you’d like to encourage use of a utensil, offer a pre-loaded spoon alongside the bowl for the child to pick up—or pass it in the air for the child to grab from you. Eat alongside your child to model how it’s done!
To Store: Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer for future meals. It will keep for up to 1 week in the fridge or 1 month in the freezer. If you like, portion the mashed plantain into kid-friendly servings sizes for easier access to leftovers.
Flavor Pairings
Try pairing plantains with other tropical fruits and vegetables like avocado, coconut, cassava, papaya, or yams; serve alongside eggs; hearty meats like bison, goat, lamb, spare ribs, and steak; or protein-rich seafood like salmon, sardine, or shrimp. Like other starchy foods, plantains act like a blank canvas for seasonings and spices, so experiment with your family’s favorite flavors. Try a savory blend of chile, garlic, lemon, and oil taste delicious—or go sweet with allspice, coconut sugar, and plenty of butter. Add extra flavor with ground peanut or your favorite nut.
J. Truppi, MSN, CNS
V. Kalami, MNSP, RD
K. Grenawitzke, OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT
S. Bajowala, MD, FAAAAI. (allergy section)
R. Ruiz, MD, FAAP, Board-Certified General Pediatrician and Pediatric Gastroenterologist
- Davani-Davari, D., Negahdaripour, M., Karimzadeh, I., Seifan, M., Mohkam, M., et al. (2019). Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3), 92. DOI:10.3390/foods8030092. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Perumalla Venkata, R., & Subramanyam, R. (2016). Evaluation of the deleterious health effects of consumption of repeatedly heated vegetable oil. Toxicology reports, 3, 636–643. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2016.08.003. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- Arun, K.B., Persia, F., Aswathy, P.S., Chandran, J., Sajeev, M.S., et al. (2015). Plantain peel—a potential source of antioxidant dietary fiber for developing functional cookies. Journal of food science and technology, 52(10), 6355–6364. DOI:10.1007/s13197-015-1727-1. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Korczak, R., Kamil, A., Fleige, L., Donovan, S.M., Slavin, J.L. (2017). Dietary fiber and digestive health in children. Nutrition Reviews, 75(4), 241–259. DOI:10.1093/nutrit/nuw068. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Barraza, D., et. al. (2011). Pesticide use in banana and plantain production and risk perception among local actors in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Pub Med. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.02.009. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- Barraza, D., et. al. (2011). Pesticide use in banana and plantain production and risk perception among local actors in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Pub Med. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.02.009. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- Nguyen, T. T., Rosello, C., Bélanger, R., & Ratti, C. (2020). Fate of Residual Pesticides in Fruit and Vegetable Waste (FVW) Processing. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 9(10), 1468. DOI: 10.3390/foods9101468. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. (2020). Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or Pollen Fruit Syndrome (PFS). Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Mayo Clinic. (2019). Food Allergy. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Anaphylaxis Campaign. (2018). Banana. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
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