How to select Mangoes

Mangoes are fruits that are grown in subtropical climates. Their orange flesh is sweet and adds great flavor to fruit salads, smoothies or ice cream. Mangoes that have been harvested too early can have a bitter taste, and mangoes that are too ripe can have an unpleasant texture. Finding a ripe, flavorful mango can be challenging, but it is important since mangoes are one of the more expensive fruits.

Instructions

1. Pick up the mango and gently squeeze it. It should yield slightly to light pressure from your fingers. Avoid mangoes that are too hard because it will take a long time for them to ripen (if they do at all). Avoid mangoes that are too soft because they are likely past their peak.

2. Examine the skin of the mango. The mango can be green, yellow, red, or a combination of these colors. Color gives little to no indication of a mango's ripeness (although some mangoes do get more yellow as they ripen). Black spots on the skin can indicate that the fruit is ripe. A slightly wrinkled appearance can indicate that the fruit was harvested too early and will not be sweet.

3. Smell the mango. Ripe mangoes have a sweet fragrance that is slightly detectable. This, however, is not a failsafe way to determine ripeness so if none of the available mangoes have an odor select a mango based on firmness and skin texture.

Tips & Warnings

• Mangoes have a fibrous pit in the center that is nearly impossible to remove. Cut the flesh away from the pit and scoop the flesh out of the skin.

• Mango juice stains fabric.