Q&A for How to Ripen Mangoes

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  • Question
    How do you know when a mango is ready to be eaten?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    There are several indicators that a mango is ready to be eaten. First, press the skin gently; it should give a little (if it gives too much, the mango is overripe and is best in a smoothie or used for deserts/baking). Second, the mango will smell sweet, fruity and delicious. Third, the color will no longer be green but will appear orange or red, or a combination in between (color on its own is not an indicator though - the other indicators must also be present). You’ll find more help here: How to Tell if a Mango is Ripe .
  • Question
    What kind of chemical is used to ripen mangoes?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Ethylene gas is the natural gas used to ripen mangoes. Placing an unripe mango in a paper bag will cause the mango to release ethylene naturally, helping it to ripen. In some countries, calcium carbide has been used to ripen bananas but it is now considered carcinogenic and causes a wide range of health problems––this, it is not suitable for ripening fruit intended for human consumption.
  • Question
    How do you store cut ripe mango slices to prevent darkening?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Once sliced, mango deteriorates quickly, so act quickly to stop it from browning. One method is to squeeze a fresh lemon and sprinkle the juice over the slices; the ascorbic acid will slow down the browning. Or, you could use ascorbic acid derived from a vitamin C tablet; just crush a 250g tablet and add to 1 cup ice water, then brush the mango slices with this. Freezing the slices will also stop them from browning.
  • Question
    When a mango is ripe?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    A mango is ripe when it gives off a sweet fragrance, gives slightly when pushed gently and has an orange, red or blushed color to it.
  • Question
    Can you ripen mangoes off the tree?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, mangoes will ripen after being picked from the tree. The mango can be ripened in a paper bag or wrapped in newspaper and left on the kitchen counter. Check it the next day to see how much it has ripened; leave longer if needed. There are various other ripening methods suggested in the article above.
  • Question
    How do I peel mangoes?
    Community Answer
    Use a vegetable peeler. It peels the skin really closely so that none of the mango goes to waste.
  • Question
    Where can I get really sweet mangoes?
    Community Answer
    Go to Indian/Pakistani stores and look for the ones imported from either of those countries. They are by far the sweetest mangoes I've ever had.
  • Question
    How do I improve my mango tree that I recently planted?
    Community Answer
    Only water your mango tree if it has gone a long time without water; over-watering your tree isn't good. Also, be sure to cover your tree if it gets cold enough to frost outside as that can also damage the plant.
  • Question
    Can I stop a mango from ripening by cutting a piece off the top?
    Community Answer
    If you want to stop a mango from ripening, put it in the fridge. You can also cut it up and freeze it.
  • Question
    I cut up a mango before it was ripe. How do I ripen the slices?
    Community Answer
    Mango will not ripen once sliced into pieces. You have to cut up fruit that is already ripe. Determining if fruit is ripe or not is a skill worth cultivating.
  • Question
    I purchased an already cut-up mango in a container. The pieces are very hard. Will it ripen? How?
    Community Answer
    Yes but you have to add honey water. Just enough that the mango may absorb enough to transfer around. The sweeter the honey water, the better. Warm the honey water up and pour over seal it up and in the next day or two, it will be good to go.
  • Question
    I purchased some mangoes that were already cut, and some of them are not ripe enough. Will they ripen more if I leave them in the container at room temperature?
    Community Answer
    Once a mango is cut up, it does not continue to ripen. To ensure as much of the mango can be consumed as possible, the fruit must be fully ripe before being cut.
  • Question
    What is the ideal temperature at which mangoes will ripen?
    Community Answer
    Room temperature is the ideal temperature for mangoes to ripen.
  • Question
    How can I store fresh mangoes in the refrigerator for 6 months? Can I ripen them after this storage?
    Community Answer
    Fresh fruit will not last for six months. You can cut up ripe mangoes and freeze them, but there is no way to preserve fresh fruit for more than a few weeks. a
  • Question
    How effective is ethylene chamber ripening? How do I differentiate between naturally ripened and artificially ripened mangoes?
    Community Answer
    It's not very effective. It halts ripening and the mangoes will rot sooner. A mango is naturally ripened when it does not smell like gas. Try to buy Florida or California mangoes.
  • Question
    How do I slow the ripening of mangoes so I can keep them longer?
    Community Answer
    Put them in the fridge. Although this does not massively extend the shelf life of mangoes, it will allow them to keep a couple extra days.
  • Question
    How can I ripen mangoes?
    Community Answer
    Follow the instructions listed in the article above.
  • Question
    Should mangoes feel soft before I pick them? If they are hard to remove from the stem, should they be left on longer?
    Community Answer
    If it is hard to remove from the stem, then yes, leave it for longer. It also depends how fast you are going to eat them. If you are picking a mango to eat it immediately, then it should be somewhat soft.
  • Question
    What is the difference between a ripe and an unripe mango?
    Community Answer
    Unripe mangoes are usually green on the outside with a harder, more bitter flesh on the inside. Ripe mangoes have more orange and red coloring on the skin with juicier flesh inside.
  • Question
    The wind blew at least a dozen mangoes off my tree. They are still hard and green. Is it worth trying to ripen them?
    Community Answer
    If they are a decent size, it's worth ripening them.
  • Question
    What amount of heat do I need for mango ripening?
    Community Answer
    Room temperature is required. Avoid cold temperatures as tropical fruit can be damaged by cold if exposed to it before ripening.
  • Question
    Can rain spoil mangoes when transporting them?
    Mike Smith
    Community Answer
    Depends how long they're in the rain. They were grown in the rain, so it' doubtful a bit of rain water will have any effect on them.
  • Question
    Do I need to wash my mangoes before they've ripened?
    Skylar Wilson
    Community Answer
    No, don't wash them until they're ready to eat. When they are ready, they can be washed.
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