These dehydrated plantain chips are the perfect healthy snack. They are so easy to make. Furthermore, you only need one ingredient: plantains. To make these plantain chips, all you have to do is slice the plantain and put it in the dehydrator. 

Plantain Chip Seasonings 

Although these plantain chips only require 1 ingredient, you can also add a pinch of sea salt to bring out the plantain’s sweet flavor, but to be honest, I opted not to use sea salt.

I baked half of the plantain chips without any seasonings, and they came out perfectly. However, I added cinnamon ‘sugar’ to the remaining plantain chips.

To make the cinnamon sugar plantain chips, I combined 2 tablespoons of stevia and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, then sprinkled them onto the plantain chips before placing them into my dehydrator. The cinnamon ‘sugar’ mixture enhances the flavor of the chips without any added sugar. 

PRO TIP:  Line your dehydrator trays with parchment paper before you put your plantain chips into the dehydrator. If you place the plantain chips directly onto the trays, they will stick to the trays, and it will be hard to peel the chips from the tray. 

Should I Use Green Or Ripe Plantains For Plantain Chips?

When it comes to green and ripe plantains, there are many conflicting views. The way I approach this subject is biased based on my preference for frying ripe plantains.

I know what you are thinking; what does frying plantain have to do with dehydrating plantain? Let me explain; I grew up eating fried plantain which are pretty common throughout the Caribbean.

We always used ripe plantain in my family, so it is second nature for me to use them to make plantain chips. When selecting plantains, make sure they are soft but firm. If the plantain is too soft or mushy, it will be harder to slice into thin slices. 

While you can use green plantain to make plantain chips, I would not recommend it.

Green plantains are very hard to peel. Even if you cut both ends of the plantain, cut a slit down the middle, you will still have a hard time separating the peel from the plantain.

Furthermore, green plantains are not as sweet as ripe plantains. You will end up with plantain chips that are dry, chalky, and cardboard-like.  

How To Make Plantain Chips In the Oven

There’s no need to fret if you do not have a dehydrator. You can make plantain chips in the oven. The oven method is quicker than using a dehydrator.

Simply peel the plantain, slice it into thin chips and place them onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet in an even layer. If desired, add salt or cinnamon and stevia and program your oven to 350°F.

Bake the plantain chips for 30-35 minutes. Do not forget to turn the plantain chips over and rotate the cookie sheets halfway through the cooking process.

Health Benefits Of Plantains

Although plantains contain a hefty amount of starch, they also contain a healthy amount of other nutrients. Plantains are known for their antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-ulcerogenic, and antihypertensive effects.

These effects are largely attributed to their polyphenol activity. However, more research has to be completed to investigate plantains polyphenol activity. In addition to this, fully ripe plantains also contain high concentrations of phosphorus, magnesium, nitrogen, potassium, and calcium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and C.