Mangoes are a popular tropical fruit that’s sweet and delicious. Preparing mangoes can seem daunting, especially when this fruit isn’t always in season. Learn how to pick, store, and freeze mango so you’ll never run out of a sweet stash at home.
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
How to Pick, Store & Freeze Mango
The tropical and sweet taste of fresh mango can’t be beat – but choosing, storing and cutting mango can sometimes feel a little intimidating. After all, most of us don’t have access to a fresh supply of this delicious seasonal fruit all year long.
So, what to do if your ‘mango game’ feels a little rusty? Well, don’t worry, because I’ve got you covered with this guide on how to pick, store, and freeze mango. You’ll learn how to pick mango at peak ripeness, cut it properly and store it for ultimate freshness. And you’ll find some of my favorite recipes to use with this fantastic summertime fruit as a bonus!
Mango Benefits
Mangos are a good source of fiber and vitamin B6, and are high in vitamins A and C. They also contain potassium, magnesium, and copper, which have anti-inflammatory properties that help boost immunity! 💪 And fear not — if you’re worried the mango may be too tart for your baby, it actually has far less acid than most fruits, so it will be gentle on sweet little baby tummies.
How to Pick Ripe Mango
Here’s how to select a mango that’s perfectly ripe and ready to enjoy:
- Squeeze it: Feel the mango with your fingers. When gently squeezed, it should give lightly to pressure if it’s ripe. If it’s hard as a rock, it’s not ripe yet.
- Don’t worry about color: Yes, with most other fruits and veggies, we often look for specific colors. However, there are many different varieties of mangoes, including green, orange, red, and yellow. Color is not the best indicator of ripeness though. If you see black spots on the skin, that indicates that the mango is already ripe.
- Scent: A ripe mango will have a sweet, fruity aroma.
- Heaviness: Pick up the mango and feel for those that appear heavy for their size, which indicate ripeness.
Types of Mango: Did you know there are over 500 different types of mangoes in the world, each with its own unique flavor and texture? The most common variety sold in the United States is the Tommy Atkins, a large, reddish-orange fruit that’s tart with sweet notes of flavor.
How to Store Mango
- Put mangoes in the fridge once they are ripe, as this slows down the ripening process.
- Whole, ripe mangoes can be stored for up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
- Mangoes freeze well for up to 4 months.
How to Store Cut Mango
Mangoes can be peeled, cubed and placed in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-7 days.
How to Cut Mango
- Hold the mango so it is standing up on your cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the mango down one side, either to the right or to the left of the center. Cutting the mango off-center helps you avoid the tough, inedible pit in the middle.
- Cut the same way on the other side of the mango so you’ll have two halves.
- Depending on the mango size, more fruit may be left around the pit. Carefully cut off 1/2 – 1 inch strips along the other two sides of the mango, still cutting around the pit.
- Use the tip of a sharp knife to score the cut mango pieces, being careful not to cut through the skin. You can score the mango depending on what type of pieces you want (sliced, large chunks or smaller diced cubes).
- Turn the mango flesh inside out so that each section of scored mango sticks out.
- Use a sharp knife, or spoon, to cut against the inside of the peel, so that each piece of scored mango comes loose from the peel. You can do this while holding the mango over a cutting board or bowl.
- Add the mango chunks to a freezer-safe bag or stasher bag. Lay the bag on the counter.
- Starting at the bottom of the bag and working towards the zip-lock closer, gently press out all the air.
- Close the bag and then place it in the freezer to freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, you can, but I recommend completing the above steps to cut the mango first, and then freezing sliced or diced mangoes without the skin on. It’s just easier and less messy when it comes time to thaw and use the mango.
A ripe mango should have a little “give” to it when squeezed – if you regularly buy peaches or avocados, think about how these fruits ripen to help you choose a mango. Ripe mangoes will also feel heavy for their size when picked up and have a sweet, fruity aroma.
If you store ripe mangoes in the fridge, in whole form, they can last for 1-2 weeks. Cut mango will last for 4-7 days in the fridge. Freezing mangoes is the best way to make them last longer. Frozen mangoes will stay fresh for up to 4 months.
How To Freeze Mango
- Cut: Remove the fruit from the peel and cut a ripe mango into chunks or slices.
- Remove Moisture: If the mango is very ripe and juicy, bloat any excess moisture with a paper towel.
- Freeze Option 1: lay the cut mango on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid before placing the frozen mango into a zip-lock baggie.
- Freeze Option 2: lay the cut mango directly into a zip-lock baggie flat in a single layer. Press out any excess air before making sure to zip the baggie securely. Freeze flat overnight.
- Store: store mango flat in a zip-lock bag for up to 4 months.
How to Thaw Frozen Mango
To thaw frozen mango, place the amount you want to use in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight. You can also defrost mangoes in cold water in about 2-3 hours.
How to Use Frozen Mango
There are so many ways to use frozen mango. Here are some of our favorites:
Favorite Recipes
Creamy Mango Yogurt (3-Ingredients)
This creamy and flavorful Mango Yogurt blends up quickly and perfectly for breakfast, snack, or dessert! This yogurt dish is also full of protein, calcium, probiotics, and essential vitamins for all ages. Best of all, you can use fresh or frozen mangos! For ages 6+ months.
Get the recipe
Baby’s First Spinach Smoothie
Baby’s First Spinach Smoothie is packed with spinach, avocado, mango, banana, oats, chia seeds and coconut milk. This nutritious and delicious smoothie is easy to make and perfect for babies (and toddlers) 9 months and up!
Get the recipe
The Best Homemade Mango Milk (3 Minutes)
Need a fruity and refreshing twist on regular milk? This mango milk is quick to make and a great source of protein and calcium. Plus, it can be made with fresh or frozen mangoes. Great for toddlers, kids and even adults!
Get the recipe
Expert Tips
- Frozen mango is a great option if fresh mango isn’t available in your grocery store. Just make sure there are no added sugars and either cook it or let it thaw before serving to baby.
- Many flavors and spices pair well with mangoes – try adding a dash of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamon or garam masala the next time you offer them to your baby or toddler.
- Both conventional and organic mangoes are great choices – since the skin is not eaten, this limits the amount of pesticide exposure.
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Hold the mango so it is standing up on your cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the mango down one side, either to the right or to the left of the center. Cutting the mango off-center helps you avoid the tough, inedible pit in the middle.
-
Cut the same way on the other side of the mango so you’ll have two halves.
-
Depending on the mango size, more fruit may be left around the pit. Carefully cut off 1/2 – 1 inch strips along the other two sides of the mango, still cutting around the pit.
-
Use the tip of a sharp knife to score the cut mango pieces, being careful not to cut through the skin. You can score the mango depending on what type of pieces you want (sliced, large chunks or smaller diced cubes).
-
Turn the mango flesh inside out so that each section of scored mango sticks out.
-
Use a sharp knife, or spoon, to cut against the inside of the peel, so that each piece of scored mango comes loose from the peel. You can do this while holding the mango over a cutting board or bowl.
-
Add the mango chunks to a freezer-safe bag or stasher bag. Lay the bag on the counter.
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Starting at the bottom of the bag and working towards the zip-lock closer, gently press out all the air.
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Close the bag and then place it in the freezer for at least 5 hours, but perferribly overnight.
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Once frozen, if there are any mango chunks sticking together, you can gently tap on them with the back of a spoon to loosen them.