--- title: "Green Plantains vs Yellow Plantains: What's the Difference" description: At first sight, it’s easy to mistake a plantain for a banana. image: https://blog.micfood.com/hubfs/34-1.png --- Have Questions?** 1.800.788.9335** | [info@micfood.com](mailto:info@micfood.com) [BROKER LOGIN](https://portal.micfood.com/login/) | [SALES PORTAL](https://portal.micfood.com/sales-portal/) [![MIC Food logo](https://blog.micfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MIC%20Food%20-%20transparent%20(1).png?width=3300&height=1368&name=MIC%20Food%20-%20transparent%20(1).png "MIC Food logo")](http://micfood.com) - [Home](https://micfood.com/) - [Company](https://micfood.com/our-company/) - [Services](https://www.micfood.com/our-services/) - [Segments](https://www.micfood.com/our-segments/) - [Products](https://www.micfood.com/products-list) - [Ripe Plantains](https://micfood.com/products/ripe-plantains/) - [Green Plantains](https://micfood.com/products/green-plantains/) - [Yuca](https://micfood.com/products/yuca-cassava/) - [Tropical Vegetables](https://micfood.com/products/tropical-vegetables/) - [Quality](https://micfood.com/quality/) - [Recipes](http://micfood.com/recipes) - [Blog](https://www.micfood.com/blog/) [![MIC Food logo](https://blog.micfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MIC%20Food%20-%20transparent%20(1).png?width=3300&height=1368&name=MIC%20Food%20-%20transparent%20(1).png "MIC Food logo")](http://micfood.com) - [Home](https://micfood.com/) - [Company](https://micfood.com/our-company/) - [Services](https://www.micfood.com/our-services/) - [Segments](https://www.micfood.com/our-segments/) - [Products](https://www.micfood.com/products-list) - [Ripe Plantains](https://micfood.com/products/ripe-plantains/) - [Green Plantains](https://micfood.com/products/green-plantains/) - [Yuca](https://micfood.com/products/yuca-cassava/) - [Tropical Vegetables](https://micfood.com/products/tropical-vegetables/) - [Quality](https://micfood.com/quality/) - [Recipes](http://micfood.com/recipes) - [Blog](https://www.micfood.com/blog/) # Green Plantains vs Yellow Plantains: What's the Difference [MIC Food](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/author/mic-food) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.micfood.com/blog/green-plantains-vs-yellow-plantains-whats-the-difference) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.micfood.com/blog/green-plantains-vs-yellow-plantains-whats-the-difference) ![](https://blog.micfood.com/hubfs/34-1.png) At first sight, it’s easy to mistake a plantain for a banana. There are several different varieties of banana-like fruits, which are all part of the same family but taste very different from each other.   **WHAT ARE PLANTAINS?** Commonly referred to as a “cooking banana” or *platano* in Spanish, a plantain can easily be mistaken for a banana. [Plantains are a fruit](https://www.micfood.com/blog/the-plantain-fruit-or-vegetable/), consumed as a vegetable and are a good source of Potassium as well as Vitamin A. Plantains can be grown year-round which makes them a valuable, reliable food source in countries across the globe from Central and South America to the Caribbean, India, Africa and Asia.   **STAGES OF RIPENESS** [Plantains](https://www.micfood.com/products/) can be cooked at any stage of ripeness – from green, to yellow or black – to create a variety of dishes from appetizers to desserts. Plantains taste different at each stage of development, though the interior color of the fruit will remain creamy, yellowish or lightly pink.   **GREEN PLANTAINS** When the peel is green to yellow, the flavor of the plantain is bland and has a starchy texture. It's also important to note that raw plantains must be cooked prior to consuming. This is the optimal stage to make **savory** foods such as [tostones](https://www.micfood.com/blog/traditional-toston-vs-hawaiian-tostones/), which are versatile, tender, and crunchy.   From the Spanish verb *tostar* which means “to toast”, *tostones* are [green plantains](https://www.micfood.com/products/green-plantains/) that are peeled and sliced length-wise and then twice-fried. (See also: [patacon](https://www.micfood.com/blog/hispanic-food-101-a-glossary-of-terms-for-your-favorite-hispanic-food-dishes/))   ![Hawaiian Tostone Mini Cuban H WATERMARK-1](https://blog.micfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Hawaiian%20Tostone%20Mini%20Cuban%20H%20WATERMARK-1.jpg?width=1125&height=1080&name=Hawaiian%20Tostone%20Mini%20Cuban%20H%20WATERMARK-1.jpg) *"Toston" Cuban Sandwich with Tio Jorge® Hawaiian Tostones*   **RIPE (YELLOW) PLANTAINS** As the peel changes to brown or black, it has a sweeter flavor and more of a banana aroma, but still keeps a firm shape when cooked. When prepared at this stage, plantains can be used to make sweet, filling, and satisfying [*platanos maduros*](https://www.micfood.com/blog/hispanic-food-101-a-glossary-of-terms-for-your-favorite-hispanic-food-dishes/). Spanish word for “ripened”, *maduros* also refers to a Latin side dish made up of [sweet ripe plantains](https://www.micfood.com/products/ripe-plantains/) that are typically sliced on a bias and fried.   ![Plantain Tidbits Noodels Bowl Top View](https://blog.micfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Plantain%20Tidbits%20Noodels%20Bowl%20Top%20View.jpg?width=5760&height=3840&name=Plantain%20Tidbits%20Noodels%20Bowl%20Top%20View.jpg) *Thai Noodle Bowl with Big Banana® Ripe Plantain Tidbits*   **CONCLUSION** No matter what type of plantain you choose, you can count on [MIC Food®](https://micfood.com/) for all your tropical food needs.   Here at MIC Food® we are helping chefs, restaurants, industrial kitchens, retail brands, delis, and others in the food industry rethink their menus by providing a variety of plantain products that come peeled and cut, ready-to-heat and serve, saving you hours of prep time so you can focus on what matters the most: making every meal memorable.   [**Ask Our Chef**](mailto:askourchef@micfood.com) **about how you can incorporate plantains into your menu! Or read up on our** [**Big Banana® brand**](https://www.micfood.com/blog/big-banana-by-mic-food/) **to find which product best suits you.** *Hungry for more?* Check out our [recipe library](https://micfood.com/recipes) for more inspiration!   Relates Articles: [Bananas vs Plantains](https://www.micfood.com/blog/banana-vs-plantains-whats-the-difference/), [Traditional Toston vs Hawaiian Tostones](https://www.micfood.com/blog/traditional-toston-vs-hawaiian-tostones/), [Plantain 101: What are Plantains?](https://www.micfood.com/blog/plantain-101-what-is-a-plantain/)   SOURCES: [http://www.promusa.org/Plantain+subgroup#footnote1](http://www.promusa.org/Plantain+subgroup#footnote1) [http://myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/tostones.html](http://myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/tostones.html) [https://foodandnutrition.org/blogs/stone-soup/difference-bananas-plantains/](https://foodandnutrition.org/blogs/stone-soup/difference-bananas-plantains/) [https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/plantain-nutrition-benefits](https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/plantain-nutrition-benefits) [https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/plantains.html](https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/plantains.html) [https://www.theplantaincouncil.com/about-the-plantain](https://www.theplantaincouncil.com/about-the-plantain)   ## Related Articles [![](https://blog.micfood.com/hubfs/MIC%20Blog%20Thumbnails-7.png)](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/plantain-101-what-is-a-plantain) ### [Plantain 101: What Is A Plantain?](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/plantain-101-what-is-a-plantain) At first sight, it’s easy to mistake a plantain for a banana. There are several different varieties of banana-like foods, which are all part of the same family, but... [MIC Food](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/author/mic-food) [Read More](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/plantain-101-what-is-a-plantain) [![](https://blog.micfood.com/hubfs/23-1.png)](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/banana-vs-plantains-whats-the-difference) ### [Banana vs Plantains: What’s the Difference?](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/banana-vs-plantains-whats-the-difference) At first sight, it’s easy to mistake a plantain for a banana. Although they look a lot like bananas and are close relatives, plantains are very different. They are not... [MIC Food](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/author/mic-food) [Read More](https://blog.micfood.com/blog/banana-vs-plantains-whats-the-difference) [![white-logo-300x109](https://blog.micfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/white-logo-300x109.png?width=300&height=109&name=white-logo-300x109.png "white-logo-300x109")](http://micfood.com) #### DIRECTORY - Home - Company - Services - Segments - Products - Quality - Resources - Contact #### CONTACT 13595 SW 134th Ave. Suite 201, Miami, FL 33186 (786) 507-0540 1.800.788.9335 Fax: 786.507.0545 [info@micfood.com](mailto:info@micfood.com)