Mangoes are famous for being the king of all fruits and for a good reason.These delicious tropical fruits can be found in the majority local stores, mainly during the summer when thy are in season. Mangoes have a rich, nectar-like taste and warm yellow color, and taste best when eaten raw.Though we usually associate the color yellow with ripe mangoes, this is not always the case. There are a lot of different varieties of mangoes, and each one has its own texture, taste, and color. Ripe mangoes are often soft and have a sweet, fruity smell, which indicates that they can be consumed. There is no greater disappointment than getting ready to eat one of these succulent fruits and biting into a sour mango. Read on to know how to always pick the sweetest one!How can you tell if a mango is ripe?You can identify ripe mangoes by their warm yellow-orange color. However, you may cut one up thinking it is ready to eat, just to find out that it is still pale yellow and unripe inside! So, how do you know if a mango is ripe enough to eat if going on its looks isn’t enough?Depending on the type of mango, a ripe mango can be yellow, pink, red, or even green! For other fruit, we typically take green as a universal sign of fruit being unripe, but with some types of mangoes this isn’t the case! To find out whether a mango is ripe or not, it is important to check other factors like its shape, scent, and feel.Unripe mangoes are usually long and pointy, and riper ones are plumper and rounder near the stem. If a mango is flat near the stem, then it probably means that it’s not ready to eat yet. To check if your fruit is ripe, gently press around the fleshiest area of the mango and try to gauge whether the texture is correct for a ripe mango or not. It should feel firm, but not too firm like an apple or pear, but slightly soft like a peach. If the spot is too mushy, then it means that the mango is overripe.Another way to decide if a mango is ready to eat is by the smell coming from the area near its stem. The ideal scent is a sweet, fruity aroma which means that that the mango is ready to slice into and enjoy! However, do note that if the smell is sour, or similar to that of alcohol, then that means that the mango has ripened too much and is not safe to consume anymore.If you observe the peel closely, you may also notice small brown speckles which are usually an indicator of ripe mangoes. A few varieties also develop wrinkly skin once they reach the peak of their ripeness which is the perfect time to consume them. Though unusual, the weight of mango can also help determine its ripeness. A ripe, ready-to-eat mango will always feel heavier and plumper than an unripe one.If you have a bunch of raw mangoes and want to naturally speed up the ripening process, then it is recommended to store them wrapped in newspaper or a paper bag. Many vendors usually send mangoes in crates filled with straw, which helps mangoes to ripen faster. Always store raw mangoes at room temperature, and only put them in the fridge once they ripen. Ripe mangoes should ideally be consumed immediately or they turn sour. A great tip is to place ripe mangoes in the fridge a couple of hours before eating them for a tasty summer treat.If you want to speed up the ripening process even more, place a banana or apple along with unripe mangoes. These fruits naturally produce a high amount of ethylene gas, which acts as a ripening agent.What does a ripe honey mango look like?Honey mangoes are one of the many types of mangoes. These mangoes are quite unique and very different from other mango varieties. These mangoes named after their sweet, honey-like taste.Honey mangoes are native to Mexico and are smaller than most popular mango varieties. They are light yellow when ripe, and are ready to eat once their skin turns wrinkly. They are quite famous because of their sweet, creamy flesh, which is not as fibrous as that of other mangoes like the Alphonso mango. They also have smaller pits, meaning that each mango has more on the inside to offer.The flesh inside has a very soft, buttery texture and is extremely sweet and delicious, quite like honey!Though their native name is the Ataulfo mango, they are called honey mangoes, baby mangoes, and yellow mangoes to make them easier to refer to.What does a ripe mango look like on the outside?A ripe mango can look very different on the outside depending on what type of mango it actually is! Though the usual indicator for a ripe mango is a rich, yellow peel, this may not be true for some varieties of mangoes which can be light pink, red, green, or even a mix of a few colors on the outside!The most popular and tastiest mangoes in the world, the Carabera mango and Alphonso mango, turn a warm yellow in color when they are ripe. This is where the idea that all mangoes are ripe only when they are yellow. Mangoes like the Keitt and Kent varieties often stay green, with only patches of yellow to show their ripeness.Most mango varieties are plump and round once ripe, especially near the stem. They also have wrinkly skin and small brown or yellow spots, depending on the variety. Though it can take some practice to navigate your way around these delicious fruits, keep an eye out for the small details and you’ll be able to pick out the sweetest mangoes in no time!Also remember that if you’re planning to consume mangoes at a later date, then buy ones that are slightly unripe. Though they may take some time to ripen, mangoes must be consumed immediately once they reach peak ripeness or they tend to spoil very fast. Mushy, squishy mangoes are no good as they taste rancid and sour. Not to mention it’s a waste of a perfectly good mango!To eat a ripe mango, you can either peel it and eat it whole around the seed, or cut it into portions. The best possible way to eat a mango is to cut it horizontally, as close to the seed as possible, and make a grid-like pattern in the flesh using a knife. Once this is done, you can gently flip the slice upwards so that the soft cube-like pieces of flesh pop out, which can then be eaten off the skin easily!What can you do with ripe mangoes?Ripe mangoes are sweet and full of nectar, and taste best eaten on their own! However, if you want to enjoy this delicious fruit in other forms, then you will learn that it is quite versatile indeed. Mango juice is one of the sweetest, richest juices there is, and will quench anyone’s thirst.Mango jams, cakes, chutneys, and puddings are also very popular, with mango cheesecake, a fruity twist on the rich treat being a favorite among mango fans. It is also great when used in smoothies, milkshakes, and ice cream.Although mangoes are usually only available in summer, mango preserves, juices, and purees can be found all year round. These are carefully created during the peak mango season and stored for consumption throughout the year, so that mango lovers don’t feel their absence!All parts of mango are edible and non-toxic, even the pit and peel! However, the peel is very tough and waxy, and the pit is bitter and fibrous. This is why people prefer peeled mangoes. The only toxic part of a mango is the sap which oozes out from its stem when it is plucked. This may not be the case with all varieties of mango, but the sap can cause extreme irritation or rashes if it comes into contact with skin.
Mangoes are famous for being the king of all fruits and for a good reason.
