Air Fryer Tostones Cuban Fried Plantains

Satisfy your craving for Cuban food with these crisp, savory air fryer tostones. Made with green plantains, a light coating of oil, and a sprinkle of salt, this easy plantain recipe is quick, flavorful, and lighter than the traditional deep-fried version. Serve air fryer tostones as a side dish, appetizer, snack, or gluten-free base for toppings.

If you have never cooked with plantains before, tostones are one of the best places to start. They are salty, crisp around the edges, tender in the center, and wonderfully satisfying. Although they may look a little like fried bananas, tostones are made with green plantains, which are firmer, starchier, and much less sweet than ripe bananas.

Traditional tostones are fried twice in oil. The plantain slices are cooked once to soften them, flattened into discs, and then fried again until golden and crisp. This air fryer tostones recipe follows the same basic method, but uses circulating hot air and only a light coating of oil. The result is a delicious batch of Cuban fried plantains with less mess, less oil, and no lingering frying smell in the kitchen.

These crispy plantain bites are perfect with rice, shredded beef, grilled meats, beans, or a simple salad. They also make a fun appetizer when topped with diced tomatoes and onions, avocado, guacamole, cream cheese, or guava paste. Keep them simple with salt and lime, or serve them with your favorite dipping sauce.

What’s the Difference Between a Banana and a Plantain?

Plantains and bananas are related, but they are not the same. Plantains are usually larger, firmer, and starchier than bananas. They also contain less sugar, especially when they are green. Because of this, green plantains are usually cooked before eating and are used more like a vegetable than a sweet fruit.

Plantains are common in many warm-climate cuisines, including Caribbean, African, Indian, and Pacific Island cooking. They are a valuable staple because they grow year-round and can be prepared in many different ways. Depending on their ripeness, plantains can be fried, boiled, steamed, mashed, baked, or added to savory and sweet dishes.

For tostones, you want very green plantains. The peel should be green and the flesh should be firm. Ripe plantains, which turn yellow and then black as they sweeten, are better suited for sweet fried plantains. Green plantains give tostones their classic savory flavor and sturdy texture.

How to Make Air Fryer Tostones

Making air fryer tostones is simple. First, preheat the air fryer while you peel the plantains and slice them into thick rounds. A short first cook softens the slices just enough to flatten them. After that, each piece is pressed into a disc and returned to the air fryer at a slightly higher temperature to become crisp and lightly golden.

The key is using just enough oil to help the surfaces crisp. An oil mister or cooking spray works best because it gives the plantains an even, light coating. If you do not have spray oil, use a pastry brush and brush both sides of each piece with a small amount of oil.

Air fryers do not work exactly like deep fryers, so temperature matters. A moderate temperature for the first cook helps soften the plantains without drying them out. A slightly hotter second cook gives the flattened discs crisp edges and a tender middle. Salt the tostones as soon as they come out of the air fryer so the seasoning sticks well.

Recipe Tips for the Best Tostones

Tostones are best served right away while they are hot and crisp. If you want to prepare part of the recipe ahead, you can peel, slice, air fry, and smash the plantains, then wait to do the final cook just before serving.

Like apples and bananas, plantains can brown after they are cut and exposed to air. If you need to pause between the first and second cook, dip the flattened plantains briefly in water mixed with a little lime juice, lemon juice, or salt. Pat them dry very well before returning them to the air fryer. Excess moisture will keep them from crisping properly.

This recipe is easy to scale, but you may need to work in batches. The plantain pieces should sit in a single layer in the air fryer basket so hot air can circulate around them. Crowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking and softer tostones. As a general guide, one large plantain makes about two to three side-dish servings, depending on the size of the slices and how many other dishes you are serving.

Air Fryer Tostones {Cuban Fried Plantains}

Yield:
4 servings

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
15 minutes

These air fryer tostones are crisp, savory, and simple to make with green plantains, a little oil, and salt. They are a lighter take on classic Cuban fried plantains and are perfect as a side dish, snack, or appetizer base.

Ingredients

• 2 large green plantains
• Oil for spraying
• Salt
• Lime wedges for serving, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 F for 3 to 4 minutes. While it heats, peel the plantains and cut them into 1-inch-thick rounds.
2. Lightly spray both sides of each plantain round with oil. Arrange the pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed.
3. Air fry the plantains at 350 F for 5 minutes.
4. Remove the plantains from the air fryer. Flatten each piece with a tostone press or the bottom of a sturdy drinking glass.
5. If you are not doing the second cook immediately, dip the flattened plantains in water mixed with a little lime juice, lemon juice, or salt. Pat dry before continuing. Skip this step if you are going straight to the second cook.
6. Increase the air fryer temperature to 375 F. Spray both sides of the flattened plantain discs with oil.
7. Air fry in batches for 5 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and crisp. Remove from the air fryer and season with salt.
8. Serve immediately with lime wedges or your favorite dipping sauce, if desired.

Notes

• Use any neutral or mild cooking oil you like. Olive oil, avocado oil, or canola oil all work well when applied in a light coating.
• For appetizer-style tostones, arrange the finished plantains on a platter and add toppings such as diced tomato and onion, guacamole, sliced avocado, cream cheese, or guava paste.
• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. A single layer helps the tostones cook evenly and become crisp.