1. Inspect the mango visually.The ideal mango should be football-shaped, so you should choose mangoes that are full, plump and rounded, especially around the stem. Sometimes ripe mangoes will have brown spots or speckles, which is perfectly normal.
Note:Â Do not pick flat or thin mangoes because they are likely to be stringy. Avoid choosing mangoes with wrinkled or shriveled skin because they are old.
2. Touch and feel the mango.Gently feel the mango. Ripe mangoes will be slightly soft to the touch just like avocados and peaches, but not soft or mushy enough to where your fingers sink into or through the skin.
Note: If you do not plan on eating the mango for a few days, better to choose a mango with firmer skin and let it ripen some at home.
3. Smell mangoes near where their stems were attached to the tree.Ripe mangoes will always have a strong, sweet, fragrant and fruity aroma around the stem. If it smells like you’d want to eat it, you’re in business.
Note: Since mangoes have a high natural sugar content, they will ferment naturally, so a sour smell is a distinctive sign the mango is overripe. Don’t buy it.
4. Look at colour last.In general, the colour of mangoes is not the best way to look for ripeness. Since the colours of ripe mangoes can be bright yellow, green, pink, or red depending on the variety and season, colour alone won’t necessarily tell you much about the ripeness of a mango. Instead, familiarise yourself with the different varieties of mangoes.
For mango recipes click here.
