Plantain may refer to: Cooking banana, banana cultivars in the genus Musa whose fruits are generally used in cooking. Plantains are the less sweet, starchier equivalent to the banana. Sweet bananas, sometimes called “dessert bananas” are much more popular in the United States and Europe, but plantains are an extremely important staple for people in tropical countries. They’re a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and the minerals magnesium and potassium. The fiber in plantains also helps lower your cholesterol, which in turn keeps your heart functioning at its best.