How To Make Mango Ripe Faster – If a mango is produced in a country where it does not grow, you may wonder how to make them ripe faster. When purchasing a mango from a grocery or produce market, it is often hard or the flesh around the stone area is soft and mushy. The first step in preparing it for eating is to ripen it faster.
The fastest way to ripen a mango
The INSIDER Summary:
•One way to speed up the ripening process is to leave the mangos in a paper bag or wrap them in newspaper.
•Another way to speed up the ripening process is to submerge the mango in a bowl of uncooked rice or popcorn kernels.
Have you ever been craving a mango but realized the ones that you bought at the store were not ripe yet? Did you give up and think you were out of luck? Well, lucky for you there are ways to ripen your mango so you can eat it as soon as possible.
One way to speed up the ripening process is to leave the mangos in a paper bag or wrap them in newspaper. You’ve probably heard of this trick for avocados, but it works for mangoes too. You can leave the bag or newspaper collection on the kitchen counter overnight and you should find ripeness in the morning.
Why does this happen?
Mangoes wrapped in a paper bag will release ethylene. This is an odourless gas that speeds up the ripening process. You learn something new every day.
More Ways to Speed It Up
Another way to speed up the ripening process is to submerge the mango in a bowl of uncooked rice or popcorn kernels. The rice or popcorn helps trap the ethylene gas around the mango which makes it ripen faster. This is an old wives trick that came from India and should make your mangos ripe within a day.
Not satisfied with any of those trick? You can also put your mangos in a ventilated wooden or cardboard box with lots of hay. That is how mangos are originally sold in India.
A lazy way to ripen a mango is in the microwave. Warning: it might not taste as good. To do it, you use a knife to poke the mango in 4-5 places to help the steam escape. Then you wrap the mango in a small towel and place it in the microwave for 10 seconds. When the time is up, take it out and press it with your fingers to check its ripeness. If the mango has become soft, then it is ripening. Make a small cut and see if it is ripe enough. If not, microwave it for another 5-10 seconds to achieve desired softness.
Finally, there is the natural way. Set the unripe mango on the kitchen counter at room temperature. This is the most natural way but it might take a few days until your mango is plump, juicy and ready to eat.
How do you know if your mango is ripe?
The best way to know if your mango is ripe is by smelling it. You can sniff the stem and if it has a heavy, fruity odour then it’s ripe. If you don’t smell anything than it’s not. Just as simple as that.
The Color
Don’t rely on the color of the mango. Most ripe mangos will also feature rich reds and burnt yellows more than soft greens. Ripe mangos are not always red and yellow. Forget about the look and use softness as a guide.
Storing Your Ripe Mango
Keep the mango in the refrigerator so it does not get riper. Do not store it in the fridge before they are ripe as it can get damaged by the cold temperature and it will stop the ripening process.
Now that you know everything you need to know about mangos, go ahead and start ripening.
How to Ripen a Mango (4 Easy Ways)
If you’re wondering how to ripen a mango, you’ve come to the right place!
Mangoes are known as the king of fruits, and it’s not surprising.
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These tropical fruits are just downright delicious! They’re super tender and juicy, and the flavor is so amazing.
They’re so sweet, I can eat three whole pieces at a time (minus the seed, of course)!
And because varieties of mangoes have different peak seasons, we get to enjoy this fabulous fruit all-year round.
Now, while some people prefer them green and tart, I like my mangoes ripe and sweet. That’s why I make sure my mangoes are ripened before I slice them open.
But did you know that there are ways to speed up a mango’s ripening process?
If you’re craving mangoes but have some under-ripe ones sitting at the pantry, I have you covered.
I’ll tell you all about different techniques you can use to get your mangoes to that sweet stage.
But first…
How To Tell If a Mango Is Ripe
For this, there are two main things you need to consider: the feel and the smell.
Ripe mangoes are soft and plump. So give the fruit a gentle squeeze.
It should have a little give when you press on it. It should be soft, yet not mushy.
Next, give the stem end a sniff. If it smells sweet and fruity, it’s ready to eat. But if you smell nothing at all, give it a few more days.
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Now, unlike other fruits, looks don’t matter in mangoes. The color of the mangoes could be sometimes deceiving, so don’t be fooled!
Mangoes come in different colors – red, yellow, and green. Just because they’re vibrantly red or yellow doesn’t mean they’re sweet.
Also, if you see black spots in certain areas of the mango, don’t fret. That’s not an indicator of damage or over-ripeness.
It could sometimes even be a good sign! Just pay attention to the feel and the smell of the mango, and you’re good.
How to Ripen Mangoes
There are a few things you can do to help your mangoes achieve ripeness.
1. Patience
If you’re willing to wait several days (I’d say 5 to 8), the simplest way is to store mangoes at room temperature.
Do not refrigerate unripe mangoes, as this will stop or delay the ripening!
To protect the mangoes from insects, place them in a plastic bag or a jar with air flow.
2. Paper Bag
To speed things up a little, place your mangoes in a paper bag or wrap them in newspaper. Store at room temperature and check after 2 days.
Here’s why this technique works: mangoes release ethylene, an odorless gas responsible for ripening fruits.
Now, if you seal the fruit in a paper bag or newspaper, you trap the ethylene around the mango, making it ripen much faster.
Oh, while you’re at it, you may also want to throw in some apples or bananas in the paper bag.
These fruits produce ethylene as well. The more they are exposed to ethylene, the faster they ripen.
Do not close the bag entirely, though. There still needs to be a little gap for air and gas to escape the bag. If not, it can cause mold and mildew.
3. Popcorn and Rice
Drown those unripe mangoes in popcorn kernels or uncooked rice! It’s the same concept as the paper bag technique.
With this method, you can expect results within a day! Mangoes will ripen so fast, that you’ll have to check after 6 or 12 hours.
You won’t want them to stay in there longer, or else you risk over-ripening them.
Other people also swear by storing mangoes in a cardboard box filled with hay. I don’t have access to hay, so I haven’t tried this.
If you have, please let me know if it works!
4. Microwave Method
If you can’t wait any longer and just want your mangoes immediately, give them a spin in the microwave.
A word of caution, though – microwaved mangoes do not taste as good as fresh mangoes.
Here’s how to do it: poke the mango with a knife in 4 to 5 areas. This will allow steam to escape as it microwaves.
Wrap the fruit in a towel and microwave for 10 seconds. Check if the fruit has softened.
If not, microwave it for another 10 seconds. Keep doing the process until you achieve the desired softness.
How to Properly Store Mangoes
This depends on how ripe or unripe your mangoes are.
Room Temperature
As I’ve said, unripe mangoes should be kept at room temperature.
Refrigerator
But once they have ripened, transfer them to the fridge. Ripe mangoes will keep fresh for up to 6 days in the fridge.
Unpeeled mangoes may go straight to the fridge. For peeled/sliced mangoes, place them in an air-tight container, then refrigerate.
Freezer
You may also store your mangoes in the freezer to increase their shelf-life.
It will not have the same consistency once defrosted, though, but it will still make a good ingredient for shakes or baking.
Frozen mangoes will keep well for up to 10 months.
- To freeze mangoes, slice them into chunks and place them in a baking sheet, making sure each piece does not touch one another. Freeze the baking sheet for 3 to 5 hours. Then transfer the frozen mangoes into a freezer-safe bag. Squeeze out as much air as you can and then seal. Label the bag and freeze.
- Or, you could also puree the mangoes, pour the juice into ice cube trays, and freeze. This is a great technique for making shakes and juices!
- Lastly, you can also soak your mangoes in simple syrup. This will extend its lifespan to up to a year. To make the syrup, add 2 cups of water and a cup of sugar in a pan. Stir until the mixture has come to a boil. Let it cool to room temperature. Place the mangoes in an air-tight container. Pour the syrup over the mangoes, but make sure to leave an inch of headspace. Cover the container with the lid and freeze.
How to Ripen a Mango (4 Easy Ways)
INGREDIENTS
- Unripe mango
- Paper bag
- Apples or Bananas (optional)
DIRECTIONS
- Place the unripe mango in the paper bag.
- Add apples and/or bananas to the bag if desired to speed up ripening even further.
- Check the bag after 2 days to see if the mango is ripe.
- Enjoy!
How to Ripen a Mango
Here’s a great fact for you. Guess what the most consumed fruit in the world is? If you said anything other than ‘a mango,’ I’m afraid you’d be wrong. Mangos are a staple in Asian cuisine. They also happen to be one of our favorite fruits! Ever really wanted one but found that it isn’t quite ready to be eaten? Well, we guess you’ll want to know how to ripen a mango? We’ve got all of the answers you need below.
How Do You Know When a Mango is Ripe?
Probably because you aren’t sat in a bad mood in your kitchen with a mouthful of tough and slightly bitter mango!
No, joking aside, there are a few ways to tell if a mango is ripe.
The simplest is to give it a gentle squeeze. Unripe mangoes feel rock hard. A ripe mango will be soft, plump, and have just a little give to it. If the mango is too wobbly, it’s time to eat it right away. It is in danger of being overripe.
You can also tell if a mango is ripe by its smell. Smell the mango around where the stem was cut. If it smells slightly sweet, it should be ready to use. If there isn’t any smell at all, then it is not quite ready.
Don’t be fooled by the color. I’ve had green mangos that were so soft and juicy. I’ve also had bright red mangos that were tough and stringy. Mangos are one of the few fruits whose skin stays the same color regardless of how ripe they are. The only way to tell is to touch, smell or taste…
Here’s How to Ripen a Mango Fast
There are a few ways to ripen a mango… No, patience isn’t a legitimate way. That would completely defeat the object of what we are trying to achieve. What you really want to know is how to ripen a mango quickly. Here are our top tips: –
1. Newspaper
Wrapping a mango in newspaper can really help to make it ripe sooner. Mango releases a gas called ethylene. The more it is exposed to this gas, the quicker it goes ripe! You might think that a ziplock bag would be better for trapping ethylene. Well, yes… And no.
While you might trap more gas, you’ll also trap moisture. Moisture, warmth, and fruit produce one thing… Mold. Nobody wants to eat a moldy mango
To use newspaper to ripen your mango, just spread a couple of sheets out, place your mango inside and wrap it up tight. It might take a day or two, but its better than waiting a week
2. A Paper Bag
If you don’t have a newspaper, a paper bag will do the trick just as well. There might be a chance that you’ve got a few lying around after your grocery shop.
It is worth noting that this is exactly the reason why you should take your fruit out of the bag and unpack it after you have been to the store. If you’ve suffered from fruit turning ripe too quickly, this might be the reason why.
3. Rice
Mangos and rice? That sounds like some kind of Thai dessert? In fact, it is!
In this instance, we will use uncooked rice, which you definitely don’t want to eat! If you have a mango-sized container, place your fruit inside and then ‘bury’ it in uncooked rice. Rice has a huge surface area and traps lots of air… Much in a similar way to newspaper or paper bag. This will allow ethylene to build up around the mango, making it nice and ripe.
Just like the newspaper method, this takes a day or two to work.
4. Go Bananas
No, not literally!
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Remember how we said that ethylene ripens fruit more quickly? Well, bananas produce more gas than mangos. The more ripe bananas are, the more ethylene they produce. So, if you’ve got a couple of ripe bananas, you can leave your mangos next to them and should see them ripen pretty quickly. Alternatively, leave your mango in a paper bag with a banana or two for double the ethylene and double the effect.
If your mango is just slightly underripe, this can give you same-day results.
5. The Microwave Method
Alright alright! None of these are quick enough for you. Man, you must really want some soft and juicy mango. How does waiting for 10 seconds sound?
Ok, well, listen up.
Unripe mango is a little hard and bitter. Well, you can make them soft and sweet in seconds by placing them in a microwave. Here’s how to do it.
But, pay attention, this bit is important. Make sure that you stab your mango with a fork. This will allow steam from the mango to escape. Fail to do this, and you’ll have no mango and potentially a very dirty microwave!
Wrap your pierced mango in a piece of kitchen paper and microwave it on high for 10 seconds. Remove it and give it a squeeze. If it is still hard, give it another 10-second blast until you get the consistency you want.
6. Consider Cooking with Sugar?
This all depends on how you intend to use your mango, but heat and sugar will break down the mango’s cell walls. So if you just can’t wait, consider stewing chunks of unripe mango in a pan with some water and a spoonful of sugar. If you want to make a fruit preserve, this should last longer than a fresh mango normally would, so you can serve it any time you like.
How to Ripen a Mango (6 Fast Ways)
INGREDIENTS
- Mango (unripe)
- Paper bag
- Bananas
DIRECTIONS
- Place your mango that needs ripening into a paper bag.
- Add your bananas into the bag with the mango
- Leave it for. 48 hours
- Enjoy
Conclusion
Knowing how to ripen a mango is really easy, and there are lots of options depending on how quickly you need a mango fix! Our favorite is the banana method, that way, we get a bowl of mango and a banana at the same time! Do you know any tricks as to how to get a mango to ripen? Let us know in the comments.
How to Ripen a Mango When You Want to Eat It, Like, Now
When a craving for a mango margarita or mango guacamole strikes (which is often, in our experience), you shouldn’t have to wait until that fruit on your kitchen counter feels soft. Seize the day, we say. In other words, you should enjoy that juicy, sweet fruit now. All you need is a few clever tricks for how to ripen a mango quickly. And here they are. You’re welcome.
Method 1: Use the microwave
This isn’t necessarily the best way to ripen a mango (you probably won’t get the same amount of sweetness), but it’s certainly the quickest. Here’s what to do: Use a knife and carefully poke the mango in four to five places (this will help the steam escape). Next, wrap the fruit in a paper towel and place it in the microwave for ten seconds. Gently press into the mango to check if it’s ripe (i.e., slightly soft with a little give). If not, microwave it for another ten seconds until it’s ready to eat.
Method 2: Use a brown paper bag
You’ve probably come across this trick for ripening avocados, and it works the same way for this tasty, yellow fruit. Simply leave the mango in a brown paper bag, roll it shut and store on your kitchen counter. Mangoes (like avos) release ethylene, an odorless gas that speeds up the ripening process. The paper bag makes this gas work overtime and means your mango should be ripe in a couple of days (or less, so keep checking every day).
Method 3: Use uncooked rice
Another way to harness the power of ethylene gas is to submerge your mango in a bowl of uncooked rice or popcorn kernels overnight. You should be ready to whip up that guacamole in a day or two (but again, keep checking regularly).
Method 4: Be patient
Bought your mango on a Monday and having friends over for a fiesta on Friday? To let your mangoes ripen naturally, simply let the fruit sit on the kitchen counter at room temperature until it’s ready to eat (which might take a few days).