Selecting Fresh Mangoes

Shopping for a good mango is easy when you know what to look, feel and smell for!

Perhaps the most important thing to know when selecting a mango is that it continues to ripen after it's harvested. Use your experience with fruits like peaches and avocados to guide your choice, since they also soften as they ripen.

Look

Mangoes come in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes, so color alone isn't the best way to choose one. Contrary to popular belief, the pretty red blush that appears on some mango varieties does not indicate ripeness.

Feel

Gently squeeze the fruit to check for ripeness. A ripe mango will give slightly to pressure, a medium-ripe mango will be somewhat firm, and an unripe mango will be very firm to the touch. Mangoes can be enjoyed at all levels of ripeness, with flavors ranging from sour-tart when unripe to naturally sweet when fully ripe.

Smell

Ripe mangoes will sometimes have a fruity aroma near the stem, so don't be afraid to give your mango a whiff!