Collection: Horn Plantains

Horn plantains from the North Queensland farms we buy from, in 1kg, 3kg, 6kg and 12kg.

Horn Plantains, Fresh from North Queensland

At Fruit and Veg Underground we buy horn plantains direct from a small number of North Queensland growers, where the tropical climate suits a crop that will not grow further south. Buying direct keeps the chain short: picked, graded and on the truck within days rather than weeks.

What Are Horn Plantains?

Horn plantains are a variety of plantain, larger and more robust than regular plantains, used throughout African, Caribbean, Latin American and Pacific Island cooking for their starchy texture. Unlike bananas, horn plantains are meant to be cooked, and they transform whether fried, boiled, roasted or mashed. They are the backbone of a long list of traditional dishes rather than something you peel and eat.

Why Buy From Us

✓ Picked at the right stage - green for savoury cooking, riper for sweet
✓ A short supply chain - North Queensland farms to our Narangba base to your door
✓ Three ripeness options in every size - Green, Half-Ripe, and Half Green/Half Ripe in one box - plus fully ripe Yellow in 3kg, 6kg and 12kg
✓ Authentic varieties - true horn plantains, not cooking bananas
✓ Available for most of the year from Queensland growers
✓ Four sizes - 1kg, 3kg, 6kg and 12kg

Choosing a Ripeness

Green - firm and starchy, barely sweet. For plantain chips, tostones and patacones, fufu, and any savoury dish where the plantain has to hold its shape. Green is also the only option that travels interstate by courier.

Half-Ripe - sweetness balanced with structure. For maduros, dodo, baking, and dishes where you want both. Local delivery and pickup only.

Half Green/Half Ripe - a mix in the one box, so you can cook savoury now and sweet in a few days. Local delivery and pickup only.

Yellow (fully ripe) - ready to fry for dodo and maduros. Sold separately in 3kg, 6kg and 12kg only. Local delivery and pickup only.

Green plantains ripen on the bench over about five to seven days, so ordering green and waiting is a perfectly good way to get ripe ones.

Culinary Uses and Recipe Ideas

• West African - fried plantain (dodo), plantain fufu, kelewele, red red
• Caribbean - tostones, maduros, mofongo, plantain chips, plantain porridge
• Latin American - patacones, tajadas, mangu, plantain empanadas
• East African - matoke-style dishes, plantain stews
• Pacific Island - green plantains in coconut cream, fa'alifu style
• Southeast Asian - turon, sweet plantain spring rolls

Fresh from Queensland Farms

We work with trusted North Queensland growers who understand what premium horn plantains need. Each shipment is checked before it goes out, and we keep handling to a minimum between farm harvest and your door.

Bulk Ordering

For families, restaurants, food trucks and caterers across Brisbane:

• 1kg - roughly 2 to 3 plantains. Try them, or enough for one meal
• 3kg - roughly 6 to 8. A week of cooking for a small household
• 6kg - roughly 12 to 16. The usual family box
• 12kg - roughly 25 to 30. Large families, catering and market stalls
• Wholesale - see our wholesale page for restaurant and commercial supply

Counts vary with the size of the fruit in that week's pick.

Why Brisbane Families Buy From Us

"The taste of home" is the whole reason this business exists. Authentic ingredients matter for traditional family cooking, and a cooking banana is not a plantain. Our customers across Brisbane, Narangba, North Lakes and surrounding Queensland areas come to us for the real thing, whether they are from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Samoa, Colombia, Puerto Rico or anywhere else plantains are a staple.

Order Fresh Horn Plantains Online in Brisbane

Browse the ripeness options and sizes, choose what suits your cooking, and we will get it to you on the Wednesday van run or by courier. See our delivery areas page for postcodes and costs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Horn Plantains

Where can I buy fresh horn plantains in Brisbane?

You can buy fresh Queensland-grown horn plantains online at Fruit and Veg Underground (favu.com.au). Local delivery runs on Wednesdays across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and a defined list of surrounding postcodes. Order any day of the week and your delivery lands the following Wednesday. Local delivery is $9.99, or $7.99 on orders over $50, and free on orders over $99, with a $5 minimum order. Pickup is also available by appointment from our Narangba headquarters.

What is the difference between horn plantains and regular plantains?

Horn plantains are a distinct variety that is larger, longer, and more angular than regular cooking plantains. They typically measure 30-35cm in length with a firmer, starchier texture. Horn plantains are the preferred variety for West African dishes like dodo, kelewele, and plantain fufu, as well as Caribbean tostones and Latin American patacones. Regular plantains are smaller and may be a different variety entirely.

Are your horn plantains grown in Australia?

Yes. All our horn plantains are grown in North Queensland, Australia. We source exclusively from trusted tropical farms in the Wet Tropics region where the climate closely mirrors the conditions of West Africa and the Caribbean. This means you get genuinely fresh, Australian-grown plantains rather than imported produce.

How do I ripen green horn plantains quickly at home?

To ripen green horn plantains faster: place them in a paper bag with a ripe apple or banana. The ethylene gas produced by the apple accelerates ripening. Keep at room temperature (never refrigerate green plantains). Depending on room temperature, green plantains will turn yellow in 3-5 days and fully ripe (black-spotted) in 7-10 days. For slower ripening, separate the individual plantains and store in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight.

Do you deliver horn plantains to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast?

Not on our van run. Our Wednesday local delivery covers Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay up to Caboolture, and a set list of surrounding postcodes including Ormeau, Coomera, Beachmere, Wamuran, Elimbah, Rosewood and Dayboro. The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are served by courier instead. Green horn plantains travel well and can be sent by courier to Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria, with rates calculated at checkout from the weight of your order. Ripe and half-ripe plantains are local delivery only, because they do not survive transit.

What sizes do you sell horn plantains in?

Horn plantains come in 1kg, 3kg, 6kg and 12kg. A 12kg box is roughly 25 to 30 plantains, a 6kg box 12 to 16, a 3kg box 6 to 8, and a 1kg bag 2 to 3. Counts vary with the size of the fruit in that week's pick. Class 1 is the most consistent grade for sizing, which is what caterers and market stalls usually want.

Can I order mixed green and ripe plantains?

Yes. Every size comes in three options: Green, Half-Ripe, and Half Green/Half Ripe. The mixed option gives you both in the one box, so you can cook savoury dishes now and sweet ones in a few days. Green is the only option that ships interstate, because ripe and half-ripe plantains do not survive courier transit.

Plantain Recipes & Guides

Savoury: African-style fried plantains (dodo), tostones with garlic and lime sauce, green plantain chips with curry leaves, green plantains in coconut cream, plantain with egg sauce.

Sweet: maduros, plantain turon, green plantain porridge.

Guides: how to ripen plantains fast, horn plantain vs plantain vs banana, plantain nutrition facts.

Related Collections

Also cooking African dishes more broadly? Browse our African collection. Looking for Pacific Island staples like breadfruit and taro? See our Islander collection. Sending interstate? See what ships interstate, and our FAQs for delivery details.