Of course, a fruit that is harvested when fully ripe tastes best, but under optimal conditions a mango can certainly continue to ripen. To do this, it requires temperatures of approx. 20 to 25 °C and must not have been stored cold for too long.
How can you ripen a mango?
To allow a mango to ripen, it should be stored at room temperature, wrapped in newspaper and placed next to ripe apples or mangoes. Regular monitoring of the ripening process is important to avoid overripeness and rot.
How do you recognize a really ripe mango?
A ripe mango exudes an intense scent. You notice it even before you pick up the fruit. The peel of the mango gives way to just the slightest pressure from your finger. But please don't press too hard, otherwise the mango could easily start to rot at this point.
Another characteristic of a ripe mango is its plump flesh. On the closed fruit you can only see this at the base of the stem. This then sticks out slightly, whereas with an unripe mango it sits in a depression.
What is the best way to let a mango ripen?
If you have ever bought an unripe mango, you can let it ripen. However, the prerequisite is that it has not been stored too cold, and if possible not during transport. Otherwise it can happen that the mango becomes rotten instead of ripe.
To ripen your mango, it's best to wrap it in newspaper so that it ripens evenly and store the mango at room temperature. But don't forget to check regularly how far your mango has ripened.
If the mango starts to smell sour or alcoholic, then it is overripe and is already starting to rot. You should not eat such fruit again. A mango ripens particularly quickly when placed near apples or ripe mangoes. This is due to a ripening gas that these fruits secrete.
The most important things in brief:
- do not store in the refrigerator
- store at room temperature
- wrap in newspaper
- store next to ripe apples
- store with a ripe mango
Tips & Tricks
Check your ripening mango at least once a day, otherwise you will miss the optimal ripening point and be annoyed if your mango is spoiled.
