Plantain Chips | Lightly Salted

When you’re shopping for plantain chips with food allergies in mind, you want a producer who can guarantee the snacking environment as clearly as the ingredient list. Gerbs Lightly Salted Plantain Chips are made in our family-owned, dedicated allergen-free facility in Johnston, Rhode Island. Our facility has never handled gluten, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, dairy, eggs, sesame, or any of the 14 major allergens. No co-packers. No shared production equipment. Every bag is packed by our own trained staff on equipment used exclusively for non-GMO, vegan, and kosher products. That is the Gerbs Guarantee.

Plantains (Musa paradisiaca) are a close botanical relative of bananas but are a distinct culinary and agricultural category. Unlike dessert bananas, plantains are starchy rather than sweet, and they are traditionally cooked, fried, baked, or dried, rather than eaten raw. Our plantain chips are made from sliced plantains fried in sunflower oil and lightly salted, producing a savory, crisp chip with a mild natural sweetness and a hearty, substantial crunch. Plantains are a staple crop across Central and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, where they serve a role more similar to potatoes than to fruit in everyday cooking.

The light salt makes these chips genuinely snack-ready without tipping into overly salty territory, versatile enough for straight snacking, dipping, or use as a soup topper.

Plantain chips are sliced plantains (Musa paradisiaca or Musa × paradisiaca) that have been fried in oil and salted, producing a savory, crunchy chip. Plantains are a category of cooking banana, botanically closely related to the common dessert banana but starchier, less sweet when unripe, and traditionally cooked rather than eaten raw. They are a staple food across Central and South America, the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia, where they fill a culinary role similar to potatoes in temperate cuisines. When sliced thin and fried, plantains develop a crisp texture and a mild, earthy sweetness that makes them a satisfying savory snack. Gerbs Lightly Salted Plantain Chips are made with sunflower oil and a measured amount of sea salt, simple, clean ingredients.

Potassium

Plantains are a meaningful source of potassium, USDA FoodData Central reports approximately 499 mg of potassium per 100g of raw plantain (more than bananas). In chip form, this concentrates further per gram of product. Potassium is an essential electrolyte for fluid balance, blood pressure regulation, and normal muscle and nerve function. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure already within the normal range.

Vitamin B6

Plantains are a notable source of vitamin B6, USDA FoodData Central reports approximately 0.299 mg per 100g raw plantain, representing roughly 18% of the Daily Value. Vitamin B6 supports amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis (serotonin, dopamine), immune function, and the conversion of stored glycogen to glucose for energy.

Resistant Starch

Unripe and partially ripe plantains contain resistant starch, a form of carbohydrate that passes through the small intestine without being fully digested, acting instead as a prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Resistant starch content is higher in less-ripe plantains and in dried/fried preparations than in fully ripe fresh plantains.

Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene)

Plantains contain beta-carotene, approximately 457 µg per 100g raw (USDA FoodData Central), contributing to provitamin A intake for vision, immune function, and skin health. The concentration varies with ripeness; more ripe, yellow plantains have higher carotenoid levels.

Energy Density from Complex Carbohydrates

Plantain chips are an energy-dense snack, providing approximately 120-130 calories per ounce primarily from complex carbohydrates. As a starchy food, plantains provide a longer-sustaining form of energy than simple sugar-based snacks. As with all foods, individual results may vary. Gerbs makes no medical claims.

Serving Size: 1 oz (28g) | Calories: 130 | Total Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 0.7g | Sodium: 80mg | Total Carbohydrate: 19g | Dietary Fiber: 1.5g | Total Sugars: 4g (no added sugar) | Protein: 0.8g | Potassium: 290mg (6% DV) | Vitamin B6: 0.16mg (9% DV) | Vitamin A: 200 IU (7% DV)

Values are approximate and based on USDA FoodData Central data for fried plantain chips. Actual values may vary by batch.

Lightly salted plantain chips have a hearty, satisfying crunch and a savory-sweet flavor profile that distinguishes them clearly from banana chips. The plantain’s starch content produces a more substantial chip with a firmer, more potato-like crunch. The flavor is mildly sweet, plantains have natural sugars that develop during ripening, balanced by the light sea salt. The sunflower oil contributes a clean, neutral richness. These chips are substantial enough to serve as a dipping chip alongside salsa, guacamole, or bean dip.

Plantains, Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt.

Straight Snacking

Plantain chips are a complete, satisfying savory snack on their own. The hearty crunch, mild sweetness, and light salt hit all the major snacking notes, crunch, flavor, and salt, in a package that is allergen-free and made from a single main ingredient (plus sunflower oil and sea salt). Keep a bag at your desk, in the pantry, or in a travel bag for anytime savory snacking.

Dipping

Plantain chips are substantial enough to serve as dipping chips alongside guacamole, black bean dip, fresh salsa, or mango-avocado preparations. Their firmness and mild flavor profile make them a versatile dipper that doesn’t compete with bold dips. They are thicker and sturdier than most potato chips, reducing the risk of breakage on heavier dips.

Soup Topping

Crumble plantain chips and use as a crunchy soup topping for black bean soup, sweet potato soup, and Latin American-style pureed vegetable soups. They add crunch, a mild savory-sweet flavor, and a starchy body that complements the soup without the gluten and allergen concerns of croutons or crackers.

Grain Bowls

Add whole or roughly crushed plantain chips as a crunchy element to grain bowls, rice bowls, and burrito bowls. They add the textural contrast of a crouton or tortilla strip with a more interesting flavor profile. Their Caribbean and Latin American flavor associations make them a natural fit for rice-and-beans preparations and Mexican-inspired bowls.

Store Gerbs Plantain Chips in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. Unopened, they keep for up to 9-12 months. After opening, consume within 1-2 months for peak crunch, plantain chips are fried in sunflower oil and will gradually go stale once exposed to air. The oil will oxidize faster in warm or humid conditions. Do not refrigerate, moisture from refrigerator air can soften the chips and accelerate staling. Store away from strong heat sources such as stovetops.