Learn how to Prepare and Package Tostones for future use. How many times have you wanted to serve tostones (double fried plantains) for dinner but did not have the time or energy to prepare them. Therefore, one day I decided to purchase large quantities of green plantains (10 to 20 green plantains) and freeze them after they were peeled, cut, fried once and flattened.
Once frozen, they were then vacuum sealed and stored in the freezer. I understand that you can purchase them already frozen but when you prepare them yourself, you select the fresh produce, add the condiments and oil of your choice.
Since the purpose of this cooking video is to show How to Prepare and Package Tostones (Double Fried Plantains), I will only be using two green plantains for this demonstration.
A Little Food History!
The plantains originated in Southeast Asia, traveling West until it arrived in Puerto Rico around 1516 from the Canary Islands. The plantains are considered a staple in our diet.
Cutting and Peeling the Green Plantains!
The green plantains are a member of the banana family. However, they are longer, thicker and much starchier than the familiar banana. The green plantain is prepared and eaten at various stages in its ripeness. The green plantain is very firm and is usually boiled or fried and consumed much like a vegetable. Furthermore, it is also grated and incorporated as an ingredient in various recipes. The green plantain, above all, is usually cooked before it is consumed regardless of its stages of ripeness.
You will need 2 green plantains for this recipe.
Cut off both ends of the green plantain.
Make three separate slits lengthwise from top to bottom barely touching the flesh.
Peel the green plantain with your hands. Remove any remnants of the skin with a knife.
Cut the green plantains into 1-inch to 1½-inch thick round slices.
Soaking the Green Plantains!
Pour water into a bowl. Add garlic powder and salt, according to your taste. Stir until well blended. Soak the green plantain slices for 5 to 10 minutes.
Note: The soaking time depends on how much you want the plantains to absorb the seasoning.
Frying the Green Plantains for the First Time!
Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet (1 to 2 cups) to 365ºF. Place the plantain slices that have been soaking and shake or pat dry any excess water before placing into skillet.
Fry the plantain slices on both sides until they become fork tender and turn a golden color.
The plantain slices have a golden color and they are fork tender so remove them from the skillet.
Place the fried plantain slices in a bowl or on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil.
Flattening the Fried Green Plantains!
The wooden press known as tostonera is an essential kitchen tool to prepare tostones (double fried plantains). The tostonera is normally used for flattening cooked slices of green plantain and other starchy fruits.
Flatten the cooked plantain slices while they are still warm. Place a fried plantain slice on the bottom section of the tostonera.
Close lid of tostonera to flatten the cooked plantain.
Continue flattening the remaining cooked plantains.
Note: If you do not own a tostonera, just place the cooked plantain between a folded parchment or wax paper and flatten with a plate.
These plantain slices have been fried once and flattened.
Freezing the Flattened Green Plantains!
Lined several cookie sheets or baking pans with wax or parchment paper and arrange the fried flattened plantains on top. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer overnight.
Packaging the Flattened Green Plantains!
The frozen plantains were removed from the freezer.
Demonstrating how frozen the plantains are by tapping it on top of cookie sheet.
Fill several large vacuum seal bags with at least 7 to 8 frozen plantains.
Once all the bags are filled, we can now vacuum seal the bags. Continue this process until all the bags are sealed.
The final step is to label and date each bag. Place the bags in the freezer for future use.
Removing the Frozen Green Plantain from Freezer!
Let’s pretend that you made dinner for your family and they asked for tostones. You don’t have, at that moment, green plantains. However, you know that you have frozen tostones prepared by you stored in the freezer. Therefore, cut across the vacuum seal bag with a scissor.
Place the frozen plantains on a plate.
Frying the Frozen Green Plantains for the Second Time!
In a 12-inch skillet, heat oil to 365ºF. Add the frozen plantains to the skillet.
The second frying is to crisp the tostones (double fried plantains). Fry the frozen tostones until a crispy texture is formed on both sides.
They now have a crispy texture on both sides so remove the tostones from skillet and place them on a plate lined with paper towel to absorb the excess oil. The texture and flavor remain the same as if the green plantains were peeled, cut and fried twice the same day. You can’t tell the difference but most importantly, you also save a lot of food preparation time.
Serve warm as a side dish or appertizers. They can also be accompanied with a Mayo-Ketchup dipping sauce.
Click on the button below to watch my YouTube video on How to Prepare, Package and Freeze Tostones (Double Fried Green Plantains)!
Recipe and Nutritional Facts!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. Please refer to our Nutritional Facts Disclaimer for more information.
For the Nutritional Facts for Tostones (Double Fried Green Plantains), click on this link Double Fried Green Plantains.
2 Comments. Leave new
Hello! How long can you keep the tostones frozen before they are considered bad to use? Thank you!
Hola Julissa, It depends on how it is stored. If you freeze them in regular plastic bags, they will last only 1 month because air will get into the bags, causing freezer burn. However, if you freeze them in vacuum seal bags, they can last 3 to 6 months in the freezer.