AbstractCompression testing indicated that the ripening of plantains is accompanied by textural changes which include a considerable decrease in the apparent compressive strength and the overall textural uniformity. The magnitude of the apparent strength was found to depend on the specimen's diameter. The prefailure deformation increased during ripening and reached a maximum level of 40‐45%. After this stage, the prefailure deformation declined as the fruit's flesh continued to soften. Unripe fruits could be distinguished from ripe fruits not only by the magnitude of these parameters but also by the failure pattern. The failure of unripe fruits was characterized by an instant formation of a single inclined failure plane, and that of ripe fruits by a progressive development of multiple irregular planes. The shift in the failure pattern may serve as a textural criterion for fruit ripenes