How to Pick Out Mangoes

Series Summary

When buying fruits, vegetables, and other farm-produced goods, freshness is an absolute must. Whether you shop at a supermarket, a greengrocer, or a farmers' market for your produce, there is a basic food inspection ritual you've doubtlessly witnessed which fascinates and even frightens those of us who nourish ourselves entirely on a diet of fast foods. What are they looking for? How do they know which test to run on which vegetable? What is this secret knowledge which allows some to eat fresher than others?

If you want to eat fresh produce, it's beneficial to take your time and really examine the fruits and vegetables you're planning on buying. In this free video series, the manager of a market will teach you how to pick out a number of fruits and vegetables. You'll learn how to choose everything from apples and bananas to kiwis and watermelons, from broccoli and lettuce to yams and celery. You'll also learn which fruits and vegetables should be hard or soft, lightly or darkly colored, and how to tell when a fruit or vegetable is ripe. With these tips, you'll soon find yourself eating only the freshest produce that can be found at the supermarket.

Video Transcript

"In this clip we're going to talk about how to pick out a good mango and what to stay away from when choosing a mango. Most of the mangos come in pretty dark green like this, and they're pretty firm. And that's pretty good. You want them to be firm. You don't want them to be too soft. And, I mean, if you do find some that have spots like that, that's a little bit of bruising. It may just be on the skin. It may be okay, but it may not. And, I mean, if there's a better one, I would probably choose the better one. A little bit of yellow on them is okay. You don't want them to be too firm. Just a little bit of give on the skin is a good, is a good thing. Sometimes when picking out a mango, a lot of people think that the really soft ones are the best ones. And sometimes the really soft ones are going to be a little too mushy and a lot of people don't like that. And at some farm markets like this, a lot of times, if you just ask, they'll let you try one out and you can, I mean, you can ask your, your local produce supplier if you can try one out. When you're trying to feel how firm they are, if they're really soft and it kind of pops in your finger, not a good mango. You want a little bit of more firm mango with a little bit of yellow on it. Not totally green, a little bit of yellow and nice firm push on them should give you the right judgment."