You cannot peel plantains like a normal banana. The only exception is when is too ripe, you might be able to peel it down, but not as easily as a normal banana would. You still would have to cut the top using a knife. The best way to peel the plantain is to use a peeler. First, cut the top and bottom of the plantain. Then peel off the hard, green, fibrous, peel using a peeler, until you start seeing the banana flesh.