How to Ripen Mangoes Fast (& Tell When They’re Ripe)

There’s nothing better than a juicy, sweet mango on a hot summer’s day! But if your mango isn't ripe yet, you may be in a pickle. Luckily for you, there are plenty of ways you can quickly ripen a mango so it’s ready to eat sooner. Take a look at the tricks below to learn how to ripen mangoes and tell when they’re ripe.

How do you ripen a mango?

The best way to ripen a mango fast is to place the unripe fruit in a paper bag overnight with other fruits, like apples and bananas. The fruits will release ethylene, an odorless gas that speeds up the ripening process.

Section 1 of 4:

Best Ways to Ripen a Mango Fast

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1
Ripen a mango in a paper bag or newspaper. Place the unripe mango in a paper bag or wrap it in newspaper. Then, leave it in the bag or wrapped up on the kitchen counter overnight. Check for ripeness in the morning.^{[1]
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- Mangoes wrapped in a paper bag release ethylene, which is an odorless gas that speeds up the ripening process.
- When wrapping mangoes in a paper bag or newspaper, be sure not to close the bag completely. Some air and gas must escape, or mold and mildew might start forming.
- Add an apple or banana to the bag to speed up the ripening process even more. Adding more ethylene-emitting fruits increases the ethylene in the bag, giving you an even juicier mango quicker.
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Submerge a mango in a bowl of uncooked rice or popcorn kernels. This old wives trick hails from India, where industrious moms hid unripe mangoes in bags of uncooked rice to speed up the ripening.^{[2]
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Research source} In Mexico, the trick is much the same, but uses uncooked popcorn kernels are used instead of rice. This method usually helps mangoes ripen within a day or two.
- Rice or popcorn helps trap ethylene gas around the mango, resulting in a much faster ripening process.
- In fact, this method is so effective that you sometimes risk overripening. Check every 6 or 12 hours for doneness.
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Place a mango in the microwave for 10 seconds. While this isn’t the best way to ripen an unripe mango, it can work in a pinch. Simply use a fork or knife to carefully poke holes in the mango. Then, wrap the fruit in a paper towel and put it in the microwave for 10 seconds. Check the mango for ripeness. If it’s not ready, microwave in 10-second intervals until it is.^{[3]
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- The mango is ready to eat when it’s slightly soft to the touch.
For this method, you only need time and patience. Like other fruits, mangoes may take several days to ripen, but this is the most natural way to get your mango plump, juicy, and ready to eat. Use the mango when it is soft to the touch and has a strong fruity smell.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Tell If a Mango is Ripe

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Sniff the stem end of the mango. If it has a heavy, fruity, almost musky odor, it’s ripe. If you're struggling to find an aroma, chances are your mango isn't quite there yet.^{[5]
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Squeeze the mango to see if it’s soft. Professional chef Andrea Lawson Gray suggests checking the firmness of the mango to determine if it’s ripe. She says a ripe mango “should be soft but not mushy.”
- A ripe mango feels similar to a ripe peach or ripe avocado. If the mango feels firm, it is still unripe.^{[6]
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Although most ripe mangoes are rich reds and burnt yellows, it depends on the variety, so they’re not always red and yellow. So, forget the look of mangoes when determining ripeness. Instead, use smell and softness as your guide.
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Don't be scared away by a few black spots on the surface of the mango. Some people may think that mangoes that have a few splotchy, black blemishes on them are bad. While mangoes are notoriously susceptible to spoilage, black blotches don't necessarily mean the mango is bad. In fact, it may mean the mango has more sugar content.
- If the black spots are especially soft, cut the mango open and look for translucent fruit. This is a sign of spoilage, and these mangoes should be thrown away.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Store a Mango

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Place a whole mango in the refrigerator when it’s ripe. No wrap or container is necessary to store an unopened mango in the refrigerator. Simply clean the mango and place it in the fridge. Keeping the mango in the refrigerator helps slow down the ripening speed, so it’ll stay ripe longer and spoil slower. Typically, a whole ripe mango can last in the refrigerator for around 5 to 7 days.^{[7]
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- Don't store a mango in the refrigerator before it has ripened. Like with all tropical fruits, refrigeration can halt the ripening process.^{[8]
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Peel and chop a ripe mango and store it in the fridge or freezer. Place a chopped, ripe mango into an airtight container. The cut fruit can last in the container in the refrigerator for a few days and in the freezer for as long as 6 months.^{[9]
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Section 4 of 4:

Mango Varieties

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Variety	Appearance	Flavour
Haden	One of the more popular types of mango, the Haden, has smooth skin and the shape of a kidney bean	Full, sweet flavor
Van Dyke	Popular throughout Europe, the Van Dyke is smaller and has a small nipple on the tip of the fruit	Slightly spicy, not as rich as the prototypical mango
Kent	Large and heavy, this mango cultivar can weigh as much as 1 and 1/4 pounds (.5 kg)	Very tropical flavor
Ataulfo	Slightly oblong, almost resembling a cashew	Sweet, buttery, slightly acidic; the "champagne" of mangos
Tommy Atkins	Bright, deep skin; shaped like a Haden	Not as sweet as Haden, with medium fiber

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How do you know when a mango is ready to be eaten?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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There are several indicators that a mango is ready to be eaten. First, press the skin gently; it should give a little (if it gives too much, the mango is overripe and is best in a smoothie or used for deserts/baking). Second, the mango will smell sweet, fruity and delicious. Third, the color will no longer be green but will appear orange or red, or a combination in between (color on its own is not an indicator though - the other indicators must also be present). You’ll find more help here: How to Tell if a Mango is Ripe.

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What kind of chemical is used to ripen mangoes?

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Ethylene gas is the natural gas used to ripen mangoes. Placing an unripe mango in a paper bag will cause the mango to release ethylene naturally, helping it to ripen. In some countries, calcium carbide has been used to ripen bananas but it is now considered carcinogenic and causes a wide range of health problems––this, it is not suitable for ripening fruit intended for human consumption.

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How do you store cut ripe mango slices to prevent darkening?

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Once sliced, mango deteriorates quickly, so act quickly to stop it from browning. One method is to squeeze a fresh lemon and sprinkle the juice over the slices; the ascorbic acid will slow down the browning. Or, you could use ascorbic acid derived from a vitamin C tablet; just crush a 250g tablet and add to 1 cup ice water, then brush the mango slices with this. Freezing the slices will also stop them from browning.

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