The best way to pick a good mango is to feel the mango with your fingers.
The Best Method: Feeling the Mango
According to experts, your most reliable method for selecting a ripe mango is by touch. As the reference states, "Your best bet is always to feel the mango with your fingers." This tactile test is considered superior to relying solely on color or smell.
How to Perform the Feel Test
To check for ripeness using the feel method:
- Gently squeeze the mango using the pads of your fingers or your palm. Avoid using fingertips as this can bruise the fruit.
- Observe the resistance. A mango that's ripe and ready to eat should give slightly to pressure.
What to Expect When Feeling
A mango that "gives slightly" means it's not rock-hard like an unripe fruit, nor is it mushy, which indicates it's likely overripe. The flesh inside a ripe mango has softened appropriately for eating. Think of the texture you look for in a ripe peach or avocado – a gentle yielding.
Why Feeling Works
The firmness of the mango is a direct indicator of the ripeness of its flesh. As a mango ripens, starches convert to sugars, and the cell walls soften, leading to the characteristic slight give when gently squeezed.
What to Avoid When Feeling
- If the mango feels hard and has no give at all, it is likely unripe and will need more time to ripen at room temperature.
- If the mango feels very soft or mushy in spots, it may be overripe and past its prime for eating fresh.
Quick Guide to Feeling for Ripeness
Here's a simple table summarizing the feel test:
Test | Result | Indication |
---|---|---|
Gentle Squeeze | Gives Slightly | Ripe, Ready to Eat |
Gentle Squeeze | Hard | Unripe |
Gentle Squeeze | Mushy | Overripe |
Ultimately, focusing on the feel of the mango, specifically its slight give under gentle pressure, is your most effective strategy for picking a good, ripe fruit.