How To Buy And Store Mangos?

Some varieties of mangos do not turn red, orange or yellow. If you prefer to buy these alternative green varieties, try to look for other signs of ripeness like a sweet aroma. Green mangos are popular in many dishes from Thailand, India, and Malaysia. In Indian markets, you will find dried green mangos that are processed into mango powder or amchoor/amchur, which is a very popular East Indian seasoning.

The ripe mangos should give slightly to light pressure from the fingertip and you should see a slight depression on the surface. Even if you buy them unripe, keep the mangos in a paper bag in a warm place; they will ripen within two days. If you keep the unripe mangos at room temperature, it may take them up to 1 week to fully ripen.

You will be able to recognize fresh mangos by their size; they should be about 4 inches in length while the weight can range from 9 ounces to 4 pounds. The larger the fruit, the higher the fruit-to-seed ratio. The peak season is from May through September, but there are many markets that import mangos from warm climates year-round.

You can store ripe mangos in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks, or they can be dried, frozen, cooked in syrup or puréed. In the commercial market, you can buy them in canned, fresh, and dried forms. If you buy dry mangos, be sure to rehydrate them in warm water for about four hours before adding them to your recipe.