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NDTV
4 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
How To Store Mangoes: Should You Refrigerate Or Leave Them Out
If there is one thing that makes the blazing summer heat a little more bearable, it is the ripe, juicy mangoes. Come summer, this golden delight takes over every fruit stall, kitchen counter, and even social media feed. From aamras to mango sticky rice, there are always delicious ways to sneak it into every meal. And why would we not? After all, mango season is fleeting, and it makes perfect sense to enjoy it while it lasts. Whether you are a fan of juicy Alphonso, the tangy Langda, or the classic Dasheri, mangoes are a full-blown seasonal obsession. Let us admit it, we do not just buy one or two; we stock up like it is gold. But here is the catch: how you store mangoes can make or break your experience. Some people swear by the kitchen counter, while others move them into the fridge the moment they are home. So, what is the right way to store mangoes to keep them fresh, juicy, and full of flavour for longer? Let us settle this mango storage dilemma once and for all. Also Read: Why Do Mangoes Turn Brown Inside? The Science Behind Spoiled Mangoes And How To Avoid It Refrigerator Or Kitchen Counter: How To Store Mangoes Where you store your mangoes depends entirely on the condition of the fruit. The first step? Check whether the mangoes are raw or ripe, because that determines everything that follows. 1. Unripe Mangoes If your mangoes are still firm and greenish, avoid refrigerating them. Mangoes need warmth to ripen and chilling them too early can interrupt the process. According to storing unripe mangoes in the fridge slows down their natural ripening. How To Store Unripe Mangoes: Choose a cool, airy spot in your kitchen. Spread out a sheet of newspaper or a soft cloth. Place the mangoes individually. Avoid stacking them to prevent dents and soft spots. Flip them once a day to ensure even ripening. This helps in evenly ripening the mangoes while preserving their natural sugars and aroma. Perfect if you want them ready for that weekend mango shake or salad. 2. Ripe And Ready Once your mangoes are soft to the touch and smell sweet and fragrant, it is time to transfer them to the refrigerator. This slows down further ripening and keeps them fresh for up to 5-7 days. How To Store Ripe Mangoes: Avoid airtight containers as the mangoes need to breathe. Place them in the crisper drawer of your fridge. You can also store them in breathable bags or trays to maintain airflow. This method is ideal if you have bought mangoes in bulk and want to stretch their shelf life without sacrificing taste. Also Read: 5 Best Mango Recipes To Whip Up In Under 30 Minutes 3. Cut Mangoes Once mangoes are sliced or chopped, they are exposed to air. This leads to oxidation and discolouration. While they may still be edible, they might not look or taste as appealing. That is where proper storage comes in. How To Store Cut Mangoes: Drizzle a little lemon juice over the slices to slow down oxidation. Transfer the pieces to a clean, dry airtight container and refrigerate. Alternatively, use a zip-lock bag. Just make sure to press out any excess air before sealing. This way, your mango slices remain fresh and photogenic enough to flaunt on Instagram - or drop into your morning smoothie. 4. Want To Store Mangoes For Longer? Here is a smart trick that can make your mangoes last longer, and it starts at the stem. Did you know that most moisture and rot begin at the stem end of the fruit? But there is an easy fix - a paper towel. How To Use The Paper Towel Method: Gently wrap the stem ends of your mangoes with a paper towel. This helps absorb excess moisture and prevents early spoilage. Next, choose a cool, dry spot with good air circulation. This could be a shaded corner of your room or even the refrigerator, depending on how ripe the mangoes are. Change the paper towel every couple of days if storing outside the fridge. This method is especially handy if you plan to store mangoes for over a week or have some that are in varying stages of ripeness. Also Read: 5 Easy Tips To Remember While Buying Mangoes So, there you have it - a foolproof guide on how to store mangoes at home, whether they are raw, ripe, or sliced. The rule is simple: counter for ripening, fridge for preserving. A little mango storage know-how goes a long way in ensuring your fruit bowl remains fragrant and your mangoes stay juicy throughout the season. Now go ahead and treat yourself - you have earned it. Advertisement About Somdatta Saha Explorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day. For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: How To Store Mangoes Mango Storage Hacks How To Keep Mangoes Fresh How To Store Cut Mangoes Show full article Comments
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mangos Are Now Thriving in the Most Unexpected Place
The mango is a truly fantastic fruit. As explains, it is actually a "drupe," aka a "simple fleshy fruit that usually contains a single seed," and belongs to the cashew family. It is about 5,000 years old and originated in eastern India and southern China, spreading across Southeast Asia. Its first seeds made their way to the Middle East, East Africa, and South America around 300 AD. That's where they have thrived ever since, as the fruit has always flourished best in tropical and subtropical climates. Until now. Over the past several years, mango crops have been popping up in an unexpected location: Sicily. While not typically recognized as an ultra-cold climate, Sicily was once quite distant from being "subtropical." However, experts say that climate change is changing all of this — and rapidly. In 2021, Sicily experienced temperatures nearing 120°F, marking the highest ever recorded on the European continent. As Euronews highlighted, data from MeteoBlue indicates that the Mediterranean basin, where Sicily is located, is warming 20% faster than the global average. Related: How Does Climate Impact Wine? This change in weather has led to an increase in what scientists refer to as "precipitation extremes" and the potential desertification of the island. While none of this is good news for anyone, farmers on the island are at least seizing it as an opportunity to try growing new crops, such as mango and avocado, which are better suited to warmer climates than their previous plantings. And according to a few farmers, they're making a killing in doing so. 'I sell mangoes for 3 to 5 euros per kilo, depending on the variety, quality, and appearance,' Pietro Cuccio, a 70-year-old Sicilian farmer, shared with Green European Journal. 'If you consider that lemons have reached 20 cents, you understand that the price of tropical fruit can be a driving force for a more profitable agriculture.' As Cuccio explained, he began growing mangoes on the island about two decades ago after returning from stints in Hawaii and Los Angeles, and he fell in love with the fruit. While he says everyone called him "crazy" for trying to cultivate the fruit at that time, he was able to get help from agronomists at the University of Palermo, who helped him find the right soil to make it work. And work it did, as Cuccio says he produces a little more than 44,000 pounds of mangoes each year. This success is less surprising to experts like w meteorologist Jennifer Gray, who shared that climate change is "having a huge impact on agriculture. As temperatures, growing seasons, and precipitation patterns change, farmers are forced to make a decision," Gray added, "This could lead to a huge shift from where we have traditionally seen certain foods grown to a completely new landscape." Many in Italy are heeding this call. Green European Journal highlighted that data from Coldiretti, Italy's major agricultural organization, shows that the number of hectares used to grow mangoes and avocados has expanded from just 10 hectares in 2004 to 1,200 today. Related: Seafood Is Getting Riskier to Eat Due to Climate Change, According to Science However, all this new growth means that other crops typically grown here are being sidelined, including Cuccio's lemons. Italy has also seen a significant decline in olive oil production and wine grape production. While this may seem like a distant issue if you're reading this from the United States, keep in mind that changes in crop production anywhere in the world will affect you, too — especially when it comes to grocery prices. noted that while most mangos in the U.S. come from Mexico today (about 63% of our total mango imports), that could shift with climate change, as Mexico has experienced its own extreme weather, causing a drop in production, leading to a drop in exports to the U.S. by more than 5% in 2024, causing prices of individual mangoes to continue to rise. Italians also aren't the only ones in the Mediterranean region testing out new fruits. reported on the growing mango trend in Greece, which also had its warmest winter on record in 2024. The publication noted that the Greek state agriculture institute Demeter is working on a study to determine if this tropical fruit and others could address its drought issue and keep farmers working. As the study's supervisor, Teresa Tzatzani, told the point is to "find new ways to face this climate change and make it work in our favor." And if Cuccio's success is any indication, you could soon expect sliced mango to join those cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta in your Greek salads — so long as climate change doesn't get those ingredients first. Read the original article on Food & Wine
