Enjoy crispy, golden tostones without the excess oil or calories with these easy Air Fryer Tostones! These fried green plantains are perfect with your favorite salsa or ceviche.
As the wife of a Dominican man, I am very familiar with all the ways to prepare plantains.
They’re surprisingly versatile, and I’m planning on highlighting several recipes that use them exclusively over the next year. But we’ve got to start somewhere, and tostones are about as basic a prep method as it gets!
We don’t eat these babies very often because of how they’re traditionally prepared – in oil. We’ve been on a loose kind of diet since January, but I had this brainchild to fire up the air fryer for Cinco de Mayo this week, and we’re now drowning in air fryer tostones and three or four kinds of salsa.
Not a bad way to go out I suppose. Letting the dipping begin!
This page includes step by step instructions, as well as tips and notes. If you’d like to skip all that, feel free to scroll down to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
What are tostones?
Tostones are a traditional Latin American snack or side dish made from unripe green plantains. The plantains are peeled, sliced, and then twice-fried until crispy, resulting in a savory and crunchy texture.
The traditional method of prep involves deep frying sliced plantains in hot oil until they are lightly golden. They are then removed from the oil, drained, and smashed flat with a tostonera or other flat object. The flattened plantains are then returned to the hot oil for a second fry until they are crispy and golden brown.
Tostones are commonly served as a side dish with meals such as rice and beans, or as a snack with salsa or dipping sauces like garlic or cilantro sauce. You can also enjoy them simply with salt and a squeeze of lime juice.
How can tostones be made in an air fryer? Very easily! Since air fryers magically mimic deep fryers, but use a fraction of the oil, nailing the flavor is easy, even when using healthy oils like avocado oil or coconut oil.
Air fryer green plantains are full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but are still considered a high-calorie food. With some moderation and attention to what you serve them with, they can be part of a balanced diet.
Ingredients for air fryer tostones
Tostones are so easy to make from scratch, and they take less time than you might think! This is a basic recipe made only with salt, but you can add any kind of seasoning to the oil when you toss the plantain chunks – Adobo, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin are great additions that add even more flavor to the final product.
- Green plantains – they MUST be green to make this recipe! Yellow and black plantains are already ripened and a much sweeter than their young, green counterparts.
- Kosher salt
- Avocado oil – you can also use olive oil, vegetable oil, or any other neutral-tasting oil here.
Can I make air fryer frozen tostones instead?
Absolutely! If you’d rather skip messing with fresh plantains, you can air fry store-bought tostones right from the freezer! Just place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, being sure not to overcrowd them so they cook evenly. Spray them with non-stick cooking spray, then air fry them at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, carefully flipping them halfway through, until they’re crisp and golden brown.
How to make tostones in air fryer
Please note that these first few steps are optional, and you can make these air fryer tostones in even less time if you skip to step 3!
- Combine 4 cups of cold water with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Peel the plantains and slice them into 1-inch thick chunks. Soak them in the salted water for at least 20 minutes. This helps to prevent browning, as well as excess drying out while they’re frying.
- Drain the plantains through a fine mesh sieve, then pat them dry well with paper towels.
- Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, place the plantains in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle them with oil, sprinkle with a few pinches of salt, and toss well to coat. Add them in a single layer to the air fryer basket and cook for 3-5 minutes per side, until just tender.
- Carefully remove the hot plantains from the basket. Place them one by one between a folded piece of parchment paper, then use the flat bottom of a large glass to smash the plantain into a 1/4-inch thick disc.
- Working in batches as needed, return the flattened plantains to the air fryer basket, overlapping them slightly.
- Spray the tops of the plantains with cooking oil spray, then air fry for 3 minutes.
- Flip them carefully, spray them again, and air fry for another 3-5 minutes, until they are crisp to your liking.
- Sprinkle the tostones with sea salt and serve as desired.
To make the optional garlic dipping sauce…
Simply whisk together oil, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and red pepper in a small bowl. Serve it with hot air fryer tostones.
What else can be served with air fryer tostones?
Tostones are a wonderful vessel for various types of sauces, salsas, and other dippable things! You can switch up the feel of the meal depending on what you serve them with!
- Dominican Republic – Salsa de ajo. This is our go-to, simply made with garlic, oil, and vinegar or lime juice.
- Cuba – Mojo sauce. Similar to salsa de ajo, this tangy sauce is made mainly from garlic, olive oil, and sour orange juice.
- Argentina – Chimichurri. Fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley, plus garlic, vinegar, and oil lend a bright, fresh flavor to these air fryer tostones.
- Mexico – Guacamole. You can never go wrong with savory mashed avocado! Try Abe’s small batch version!
- Mediterranean – Aioli. Creamy, garlicky, and umami as all get out, aioli is an uncommon but delish choice.
- Salsa is a given! Try these with my Avocado, Black Bean and Corn Salsa or Fresh Strawberry Salsa for a bit of sweet to go with the savory.
- Like seafood? Air fryer tostones are wonderful paired with shrimp cocktail or a really lime-forward ceviche. The textures are out of this world!
- Bring a little American fusion action to the party by serving up a batch of Texas Caviar or some creamy Maryland Crab Dip alongside these air-fried goodies.
- You can even serve these tostones with fried cheese (queso frito)! It’s crispy on the outside, gooey and salty on the inside, and completely addicting.
- For those who like a little heat, just drizzle some hot sauce on these air fryer tostones! You can even try sriracha or gochujang for an Asian twist!
FAQ
While both tostones and maduros are made from plantains, they are prepared and served in different ways, resulting in distinct flavors and textures.
Tostones are made from unripe green plantains, twice-fried until crispy and golden brown. They are crunchy and savory, and are often served as a side dish or a snack.
Maduros are made from ripened yellow or black plantains. They are sliced, fried once, and then sprinkled with sugar, which caramelizes and creates a sweet and tender texture. Maduros are soft and sweet, and are served as a dessert or a side dish.
Air fryer tostones are best when served fresh and hot, but they can be stored for a day or two in an airtight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat them, simply reheat them in the air fryer for 2-4 minutes at 350 degrees F, until they are heated through and crispy.
Air fryer tostones can be frozen, and very well! Store the air fried tostones in an airtight container or plastic bag, being sure to remove all the air before placing them in the freezer. When you are ready to eat them, simply place the frozen tostones in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes at 380 degrees F, until they are heated through and crispy.
More delicious things to serve with air fryer tostones!
If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a 5 STAR RATING! If you really love it, leave us a comment and let us know – we appreciate all forms of feedback!
LET’S CONNECT!
Join in on the fun in our Facebook group! Feel free to share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, help out your fellow home cooks, and see what’s new with The Crumby Kitchen (so that you never miss a new recipe)! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.
ORDER OUR #1 BEST SELLER COOKBOOK!
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and tag #crumbykitchen so we can see all the wonderful recipes YOU recreate from this site!
You can also enjoy exclusive content before anyone else by subscribing to our weekly newsletter – and you’ll never miss a delicious recipe again!
Air Fryer Tostones (Fried Green Plantains)
Ingredients
- 3 large green plantains
- 4 cups water
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- Cooking oil spray
- Flaky sea salt for serving
- Lime wedges for serving
- Salsa for serving
Garlic dipping sauce
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro chopped
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- (Optional step) Combine cold water and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Slice the plantain into 1-inch thick chunks and soak them in the salted water for 20 minutes to prevent browning.
- Drain the plantains through a fine mesh sieve, then pat them dry well with paper towels.
- Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, place the plantains in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil and toss well to coat. Add them in a single layer to the air fryer basket and cook for 3-5 minutes per side, until tender.
- Carefully remove the hot plantains from the basket. Place them one by one between a folded piece of parchment paper, and use the flat bottom of a large glass to smash it into a 1/4-inch thick disc.
- Working in batches as needed, return the flattened plantains to the air fryer basket, overlapping them slightly.
- Spray the tops with cooking oil spray, then air fry for 3 minutes. Flip, spray again, and air fry for another 3-5 minutes, until crisp to your liking. Sprinkle them with sea salt and serve as desired.
Garlic dipping sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together oil, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and red pepper. Serve with hot tostones.
Shelby says
I love that these tostones are made in the air fryer! And paired with some salsa they’re the perfect snack!
Addison says
My family loved these tostones with tacos! They are so yummy, crispy and delicious.
Jane says
The satisfying crunch, the delightful combination of flavors, and the guilt-free aspect make it a pure joy to eat.
Giangi Townsend says
Amazing recipe! Rich in flavor , crunchy on the outside, soft on hte inside.
Perfect to nibble on as I work.
Thank you.
Rosanna Stevens says
Yum I was SO excited to be able to make these again in the air fryer after trying them on holiday. Thank you!