How to ripen a mango?

In the brief guide, we are going to answer the question ‘How to ripen a mango’ with depth analysis of which are the best indicators to determine whether it is preferable to eat for us or not, and which methods we should use to determine which mango is likely to be eaten by us.

How to ripen a mango?

Allowing mangoes to ripen on the tree is the most natural method of obtaining sweet, juicy fruit. If you’re fortunate enough to have a cultivar in your yard, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a delicious mango or two right off the branch. All you need is good gardening skills, a keen eye, and a lot of patience.

How do you tell if a mango is ripe?

Smell

Give the mango a long, deep sniff. If it’s ripe, it will smell sweet and fruity. Unripe mangoes have a crisp, tart aroma that makes you pucker when you bite into them.

Color

Take a close look at the color of the mangoes to determine which ones to harvest first. Choose those with a light blush or peach tone. These mangoes are sweet and ready to eat.

Shape

A mango’s ripeness can also be determined by its shape. A quick inspection of its beak (the hooked part of the fruit) reveals a lot about its ripeness. The mango is ready to eat if the beak is filled out or slightly rounded.

Texture

Mangoes with wrinkly or loose-looking skin should not be avoided. Most of the time, these are the sweeter ones.

Don’t be put off by a few black spots on the mango skin’s surface.

Mangoes with a few splotchy, black blemishes on them frighten some people. These blemishes usually signal the beginning of the end of a mango’s life. 

While mangoes are notoriously susceptible to spoilage, black blotches do not always indicate a bad mango. In fact, it could indicate that the mango has higher sugar content.

If the black spots on the mango are especially soft, cut it open and look for translucent fruit. This is an indication of spoilage, and the mangoes should be discarded.

What are the steps to follow when ripening the mango?

Allow the mango to ripen in a paper bag or newspaper

• Allow the mangoes to ripen overnight on the kitchen counter and check for ripeness in the morning. Mangoes wrapped in a paper bag release ethylene, an odorless gas that accelerates the ripening process.

• Remove and use the mango when it emits a fruity scent and yields to gentle pressure, which usually occurs after about a day (or less).

• Alternatively, you could try ripening the mangoes in a warm place by covering them with onions and hay; this method of ripening has been used for centuries in India.

• When wrapping mangoes in a paper bag or newspaper, make sure not to completely close the bag. Some air and gas must escape or mold and mildew will form.

• Add an apple or banana to the bag to hasten the ripening process even further. Adding more ethylene-emitting fruits will increase the ethylene in the bag, resulting in a juicier mango faster.

Place the mango in a bowl filled with uncooked rice or popcorn kernels

• This old wives’ tale originated in India, where hardworking mothers hid unripe mangoes in bags of uncooked rice to hasten to ripen. 

• In Mexico, the trick is similar, but instead of rice, uncooked popcorn kernels are used. The ingredients differ, but the process and outcomes are the same: Instead of waiting three days for your mangoes to ripen naturally, they should be ready in a day or two, if not sooner.

• The reason for this is the same as it is for the paper bag method: rice or popcorn traps ethylene gas around the mango, resulting in a much faster ripening process.

• In fact, this method is so effective that you sometimes end up with overripe mangoes. Check for doneness every 6 to 12 hours. As long as you don’t forget to put the mango in the rice bowl, you should have a deliciously ripe mango at your disposal.

Place the unripe mango on the kitchen counter and allow it to come to room temperature

This method requires only time and patience. Mangoes, like other fruits, can take several days to ripen, but this is the most natural way to get them plump, juicy, and ready to eat. When the mango is soft to the touch and has a strongly fruity aroma, it is ready to use.

Conclusion

In the brief guide, we discussed answering the question ‘How to ripen a mango’ with depth analysis of which are the best indicators to determine whether it is preferable to eat for us or not, and which methods we should use to determine which mango is likely to be eaten by us.

Citations

https://lawn.com.au/how-to-ripen-mangoes/

https://www.wikihow.com/Ripen-Mangoes

https://www.mccormick.com/articles/purewow/how-to-ripen-a-mango-when-you-want-to-eat-it-like