Why should a plantain be cooked before it is eaten?
Though they look like bananas, plantains are quite different in texture and taste, and require cooking before eating, according to the Congo Cookbook website. They are a staple food item in many Caribbean nations and other tropical regions.Plantain vs. BananaThe plantain looks like a banana, but if you try to peel and eat it, you’ll quickly discover some fundamental differences between the two. The green plantain is starchy, not sweet, and so hard, it must be peeled by scoring it with a knife.CookingThe under-ripe (or green) plantain must be cooked to be edible; otherwise, you might crack a tooth. By steaming, boiling, baking or frying the plantain, you change its texture and flavor.ChoosingWhen choosing plantains, the ripeness should correspond to your recipe. Green plantains are under-ripe, and have hard, thick skins. Yellow and black plantains are riper and softer, and are often used in desserts.Ripe PlantainsRipe plantains may be yellow or black in color, and have developed a sweet
