Mangoes are one of the most delicious fruits around. Their sweet, aromatic flavor makes them ideal for everything from fruit salads to smoothies. But biting into an underripe mango can be a huge letdown. The fruit is hard, sour and fibrous when not yet ripe.
Ripening mangoes properly is key to enjoying their full flavor. While you can let them ripen naturally at room temperature, this can take anywhere from 2 days to over a week. When you want to enjoy mangoes right away, it helps to speed up the ripening process.
With a few simple tricks, you can shave days off the ripening time for unripe mangoes. Here are 5 quick ways to get your mangoes ripe and ready to eat faster.
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1. Paper Bag Method
Placing mangoes in a paper bag is one of the easiest ways to accelerate ripening. The bag traps ethylene gas produced by the fruit, which initiates the ripening process.
Simply place unripe mangoes in a regular brown paper grocery bag. Fold the top over loosely to enclose the fruit while still allowing for some airflow. Let the mangoes sit at room temperature for a day or two until softened and fragrant.
To speed it up even more, you can add a banana or apple to the bag. Both of these fruits produce high amounts of ethylene to ripen the mangoes faster.
Check the mangoes daily for ripeness. Once they yield slightly to gentle pressure, they are ready to enjoy.
2. Ripen in a Warm Area
Warmth significantly hastens the ripening process for mangoes and other fruits. Situating mangoes in a warm spot in your home can reduce ripening time up to twice as fast as room temperature alone.
The ideal temperature for ripening mangoes is around 65-75°F. Places like near a sunny window, on top of the refrigerator or in the garage often work well. You can also set ripening fruit on a heating pad on the lowest setting.
Be sure not to subject mangoes to direct sunlight or hot spots above 75°F, as this can over-ripen and ruin the fruit. Monitor mangoes closely when using warmth to avoid overdoing it.
3. Ripen in a Paper Bag With an Apple
Combining the paper bag technique with a ripening agent like an apple merges two effective methods. The bag traps ethylene gas while the apple produces extra amounts to ripen the mangoes faster.
Place the unripe mango and apple together in a paper bag, preferably in a warm area as mentioned above. The enclosed space concentrates the ethylene around the mango to hasten ripening.
Check daily and remove the mango once it feels slightly soft and yields to light pressure. Leaving the mango in too long with the apple results in over-ripening.
4. Use Ripe Fruit to Ripen
Placing unripe fruit next to ripe fruit causes it to ripen more quickly. Ripe fruit gives off high levels of ethylene gas that initiate the ripening process in nearby unripe produce.
Arrange the unripe mango beside other ripe fruit like bananas, apples, tomatoes, peaches or avocados in a paper bag or fruit bowl on the counter. The ethylene from the ripe fruits will hasten ripening of the mango within a day or two.
You can also wrap the unripe mango with newspaper along with a ripe banana. This traps the ethylene gas even closer to the mango to speed ripening.
5. Ripen in Rice
Here’s an unusual but surprisingly effective trick for ripening mangoes faster: bury them in uncooked rice. The starchy grains work to trap ethylene gas and speed up ripening.
Place unripe mangoes in an airtight container and cover with uncooked rice. The rice insulates the fruit and concentrates ripening gases.
Leave the container in a warm area for a day. Check and remove the mangoes once they are fragrant and yield slightly to pressure.
Tips for Ripening Mangoes
Follow these tips for the best results when using any ripening methods:
- Start with unripe, firm mangoes free of cuts and bruises. Very underripe mangoes ripen better than those starting to soften.
- Ripen mangoes in a paper bag folded over at the top if not using another method.
- Keep mangoes separate from each other so gases can reach all surfaces equally.
- Ripen mangoes at around 65-75°F for optimal results. Avoid direct sun or heat over 75°F.
- Check mangoes daily by smell and touch to gauge ripeness level.
- Remove ripe mangoes promptly to avoid over-ripening. Enjoy or refrigerate immediately.
- Add an apple, banana or tomatoes to generate extra ethylene and speed ripening.
- Combine methods like using a paper bag and ripe fruit for even faster ripening.
With these simple techniques, you can slash the normal ripening time for mangoes. Ripening fruit properly brings out the full sweetness and flavor. Follow these 5 quick ways to ripen mangoes faster and enjoy their tropical taste.
How to Tell When Mangoes Are Ripe
Knowing when mangoes are ready to eat ensures you enjoy them at their peak ripeness. Here are signs that mangoes are ripe and ready to enjoy:
- Fragrant, sweet mango aroma
- Yield slightly when gently squeezed
- Skin color turns more yellow, orange-red or blushing
- Smooth, thin skin that wrinkles slightly at the stem
- Flesh gives slightly when pressed and is not rubbery or fibrous
- Internal fruit color changes from white/pale yellow to golden yellow
Mangoes stop ripening once they are removed from the plant. Allow fruit to fully ripen on the counter before refrigerating to preserve the ripe flavor and texture. Enjoy ripe mangoes within 2-3 days for the best quality.
With these visual, aroma and touch cues, you can determine perfect mango ripeness. Pick fruit at the peak of ripeness for the finest flavor and texture.
Enjoying Mangoes When Ripened
Ripe, juicy mangoes are delicious enjoyed in many ways:
- Eat them fresh by themselves as a sweet snack
- Slice over yogurt, cereals or oatmeal
- Toss into fruit salads and salsas
- Blend into smoothies, lassi or ice pops
- Puree into chutneys, curry sauces or marinades
- Bake into pies, tarts, cakes and other desserts
Ripening mangoes perfectly brings out their natural sugars and flavors. Once your mangoes have ripened to perfection, it’s time to indulge in their juicy goodness.
Wash the mangoes thoroughly, then slice, dice, or simply bite into the soft, succulent flesh. You can also use ripe mangoes in a variety of dishes, such as smoothies, salads, salsas, or desserts. The options are endless!
Wrapping Up
Now that you have these fantastic methods at your disposal, you might wonder how long it takes for the mangoes to ripen. The truth is, it varies based on the initial ripeness of the mangoes and the chosen method. On average, it can take anywhere from 24 hours to several days for the mangoes to become perfectly ripe. Check on them regularly to gauge their progress and prevent overripening.
If you’re eager to enjoy ripe and juicy mangoes, these quick and easy methods can help you ripen them faster. Remember to choose firm and unripe mangoes for these methods, and be patient as you wait for them to ripen. Once they’re ready, enjoy the tropical flavors and versatility that mangoes bring to you.
