Sure we all love a good mango slice every now and then, but it can be difficult knowing how to tell if a mango is ripe.
We’ve most likely been told that you can just look at the color or give it a quick squeeze, but a little more investigation goes into choosing the perfect mango. We’re here to break down the best ways of selecting the best mango in the market.
Test The Firmness
When it comes to choosing a ripe mango, you need to squeeze it and see how firm it is. This doesn’t mean that you should apply too much pressure or poke at the fruit until it bruises. Lots of different fruits need to be handled gently like avocados, tomatoes, and apples. Mangos are no different in that you need to show them a little TLC to determine whether they’re ripe.
You’ll need to pick up the mango and gently squeeze it between your fingers. What you’re looking for is the mango to yield slightly to the pressure you’re putting on it. If it’s rock hard, it isn’t ripe yet. If it’s too mushy then you’re looking at an overripe or possibly damaged mango. The mango should give slightly under pressure, but not too much. If you detect a bit of healthy softness, you’ve got yourself a ripe mango.
Give It A Good Smell
Easily one of the best things about mangos is their signature scent. The only thing you need to do here is just to find the stem of the mango and smell it. If you smell a sweet, fruity scent coming from it then you know your mango is good to go. The aroma will be a cross between pineapple and melon.
On the other hand, if you smell something close to a strong, bitter scent like plastic then you should avoid it.
Don’t Rely Solely On Color
A lot of people may have told you that a mango’s color will determine when it’s ripe but that isn’t always the case. There are over 500 kinds of mangos out there and they don’t all share the same properties. It’s a well-known fact that mangos can be green, a golden yellow, or even a bit pink. Considering there are so many kinds of mangos in the world, their coloring is only an indicator of which kind they are, not how ripe they are.
Shelf Life Of Mangos
Once mangos are officially ripe, you can store whole ones in the fridge for up to five days. Just remember that mangos are sensitive and you shouldn’t keep them in the fridge for long periods of time. Refrigerated mangos tend to go mushy and become damaged if left for too long. You have a solid 4-5 days to safely keep them in the fridge.
If you’ve already diced the mango then you can keep the remaining pieces in an airtight container for about 3-4 days before you need to pitch them. If you’re looking to prolong their life even further, you can store cut mango in the freezer for up to six months in an airtight container.
Be warned: once you see the flesh turn brown in color, you know the mangos need to go into the garbage.
That’s it! These simple steps will help you determine which is the best mango to purchase and help you keep them safe once you bring them home.
