Mango season is in full swing, but it’s not uncommon to find unripe mangoes at the store. While you might need to wait a little longer, unripe mangoes can be ripened at home and enjoyed in a relatively short time. To speed things up, there’s a simple at-home method to get your mangoes to the perfect ripeness.
Mangoes should ideally be kept at room temperature and should not be chilled before they soften. According to Matthew Rendine, director of merchandising at Baldor Specialty Foods, storing mangoes colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit will impact the flavor of the fruit because the sugars won’t develop. Unripe mangoes should be kept between 50 to 55 degrees—a fruit basket on the counter is ideal. It takes approximately five days for mangoes to ripen at room temperature.
To speed up the ripening process, place the mangoes near a sunny indoor window, as sunlight accelerates ripening. Desiree Pardo Morales, founder and president of Tropical Fruit Box, suggests another common practice: placing mangoes in a brown paper bag or a bag of rice. When using the brown bag method, Rendine suggests adding a banana to further speed things up.
Once ripe, mangoes should be kept in the fridge, where they will remain fresh for another five days. If stored whole, they may begin to shrivel over time. For convenience, mangoes can be stored already peeled and sliced or cubed in an airtight container.
Remember, patience is key when it comes to ripening mangoes. By following these simple tips, you can enjoy perfectly ripe mangoes in no time.
