The Only Way You Should Store Mangos, According to an Expert

The first time I had a mango was in Hawaii. The tropical fruit was everywhere, showing off its bright orange flesh, often diced and ready to eat. And each time I encountered it, the fruit was perfectly sweet and soft.

Back home, the mangos aren’t quite as fresh, but they’re still tasty. I describe the fruit’s flavor as a peach that has been hanging out with a pineapple. To keep that sweet, one-of-a-kind taste, it’s important that you store mangos correctly.

How to Store Whole Mangos

How you store them depends on the fruit’s ripeness, says Ramón Ojeda, executive director of the National Mango Board. “If the mango is unripe, keep it at room temperature,” he says. “This allows it to continue ripening naturally, becoming sweeter and softer over a few days.” On the flip side, to speed up the ripening process, Ojeda suggests placing it in a paper bag at room temperature.

Once a mango is ripe, store it in the refrigerator. A whole, ripe mango can be stored anywhere in the fridge, but if you have room in the crisper drawer, that’s a good spot because the low humidity will slow spoiling.

Ripe mangos can last up to five days in the refrigerator, explains Ojeda. “Keeping them chilled at this point slows down the ripening process and helps preserve their flavor and texture.”

Watch what other produce you store with your mangos. Some fruits and vegetables—including avocados, apples, and tomatoes—produce ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that encourages mangos (and other produce) to ripen faster, so keep mangos separate from these if you can.

How to Store Cut Mangos—and What to Do With Them

Once you’ve peeled and cubed a mango, it will keep its quality and flavor for several days if you refrigerate it an airtight container. You can also freeze cut mango for up to six months, also in an airtight container.

If you have leftover mango and are looking for things to do with it, the National Mango Board suggests using this versatile fruit in everything from salsa to chutney to icy-cold beverages.

How to Choose a Good Mango

When choosing a good mango, don’t rely on its color. “It’s not a reliable indicator of ripeness, since mango varieties come in many colors, shapes, and sizes,” warns Ojeda. “Instead, focus on how it feels.”

Ojeda suggests gently squeezing the mango. An unripe mango will be very firm, and a ripe mango will give just a little. A medium-ripe mango is somewhere in the middle. He also notes that you can check for a fruity aroma near the stem, which indicates ripeness.

However, Ojeda says you don’t have to wait for a perfect moment: “Mangos can be enjoyed at all stages of ripeness, from tart and tangy to sweet and juicy.”