Plantain chips are a popular snack food made from fresh plantain. They are widely enjoyed for their sweet taste, crispy texture, and long shelf life. The most common type of plantain chips are fried, resulting in a golden-yellow color and a crunchy texture. So, how are plantain chips made commercially? The following is a summary of the main processing steps.
1. Peeling
Because each plantain has a different shape, it is difficult to guarantee good peeling results using machines, and it is easy to damage the plantain. Therefore, manual peeling is usually employed.
2. Slicing
Depending on the desired finished product, plantain can be sliced into either round or long pieces.
Long plantain slices: Plantain are cut lengthwise, forming thin, elongated slices. These plantain slices have a unique shape and are more likely to develop a crispy texture, commonly found in high-end snack markets.
Round plantain slices: Plantain are cut crosswise, forming regular round slices. This is a common form on the market, with a neat appearance, suitable for large-scale production.
3. Frying
The plantain slices are placed into a fryer for frying, which is a crucial step in determining the texture of the plantain chips.
4. De-oiling and Cooling
Excess oil is removed from the surface of the plantain chips using a de-oiling machine, making the product crispier and less greasy.
Of course, the crispness of plantain chips depends crucially on the precise control of the frying process, including frying temperature, frying time, and oil content control.
The frying temperature is generally controlled between 150–180°C. Too low a temperature will result in the plantain chips absorbing too much oil and becoming less crispy. The frying time needs to be matched to the thickness of the plantain chips, usually ranging from tens of seconds to a few minutes. Plantain chips, a classic snack food, owe their success to a scientific processing procedure and precise control. If you have any questions about plantain chips equipment or the production process, please feel in touch with us.