My first Mango!

[RawMagnolia]

I bought my first Mango today. It's still a bit firm.

When will it be ready to eat? Will it be tender to the touch... giving slightly. And should I eat the skin??

Thanks!
Sandra

[berrienoire]

well, in general...when it gives slighty, much like an avocado when it's just ripe. But I've had mangos that were quite soft, very juicy and sweet (and that depended on the type of mango it was). You don't want it to be tooo soft like a custard feel cause it's prolly on its way out by then.

I've never eaten the skin. If you compost, put it there :)

[weirdestpersonalive]

I love mangos! I just bought one today too! :D We should be twins! LOL! j/k. I haven't had mangos in SO long! I'm excited to eat mine. I'll probably eat it tomorrow. I don't remember ever eating the skin either.

[eachpeachpearplum]

I buy two cases at a time at Costco. Mango's like papaya can be eaten quit soft - even with nasty bits on the skin the insides can be fine. Another thing unlike a lot of fruits if one part of "bad" often the rest is fine and uneffected by the bad bit.

Do you need tip on cutting??

EPPP :p

[kiwilime]

I don't eat the skin. I like my mangos very ripe. However the one I bought last week was kinda hard and did not ripe well. When it is ripe and soft...it is so yummy.

[karenisraw]

WannaBRaw,

Your post, if you re-read it, sounds the same as if you are excited about a first date with your mango...LOL!!

k
:p :p

[THX-1138]

I eat the skin on my mangoes... :cool:

[Essensual]

Hey guys...mangoes are my fav- fruit. I guess it's the Carribean in me..

FYI- If it's soft to firm and sweet enough to eat (maybe red,orange,yellow or a combo therefore in color)....I eat the skin.

If it's green, firm to hard (crunchy), bitter to the taste....I sprinkle with salt, pepper and vinegar and enjoy it as a bitter treat. Not too many though as it can turn some peoples stomachs...

Some may be opposed to the last suggestion deeming the fruit underripe. IMHO it's a personal call.

[DrPr]

Yep, ripeness and softness depends on the type of mango you have. I like the huge ones when they are soft- they are so juicy and sweet then. But I have problems with some of the smaller dark green and red ones (except the small Peruvian ones) because they are smooth and firm, and don't yield a lot of juice. Congratulations! You are in for a treat. They are great in smoothies. If you choose the wrong time to eat this one, try again with another!!

[Secret Heart]

I love mangoes...but I've never had a papaya! Any special tricks to how and when to eat them?

Thanks!

Heather

[RawMagnolia]

hehehe.. thanks for asking Heather... b/c papaya is next on my list of "things to try" ;)

[noodle]

Hey any guidelines on cutting a mango?

[Amberly]

I eat the skin. I only tried it recently, as the skin always seemed tough to me. But it's actually very good and easy to eat. Not tough at all.

[maraw]

Mangoes are wonderful - so glad you picked one up. Really rich in vitamin A and C. To peel a ripe one easily, slice just through the thick skin vertically in 4 or 6 segments and peel it like a banana. This works beautifully if the mango is ripe, otherwise, the skin will be much harder to remove - you may have to cut it away.

Mangoes are a relative of the poison ivy family and should be eaten and handled with care. If you have a reaction to poison ivy, poison oak or sumac, it may not be a wise to eat the skin.

Enjoy!
Anna

[Punky]

Mango's are my favorite fruit; I have never ate the skin.
I didn't even know one was suppose to. My mom is Vietnamese,
so I've grown up eating them all my life and she never eats the skin.
But I guess it's perfectly acceptable. I would hesistate trying it unless
it's an organic mango (which are hard to find). Most mangos
are shipped from tropical countries that spray them with who knows what.

[cattzeye]

Hi Secret Heart,

Papayas are one of my "staple" fruits, I eat some just about every day! They should be very ripe to be fully enjoyed. I like the large Mexican papaya (also called Maridol papaya) the best. The small Hawaiian ones are much more expensive, but I honestly like the Mexican ones better. You can tell when a Mexican papaya is ripe when it is a nice orange/yellow color, slightly soft to slight pressure, and fragrant. Sometimes when they're really nice and ripe, the skin will develop spots of mold, but this is not indication of spoilage. In fact, they are delicious when ripened to this stage!

To prepare for eating, first wash the outside of the fruit. Then, simply cut into the papaya, and cut off slices. Then, take your knife and cut off the thin skin. The skin is very easy to cut off. There are small, round, black seeds inside the papaya (although once in a while, I have opened one that had very few, or no, seeds). The seeds are edible, and quite healthful, but can be an acquired taste. They have a very "peppery" taste, and can be overpowering or undesireable to people who haven't eaten them before. I like to include a few spoonfuls in my morning fruit salad. Maybe try a few first, before adding them to anything, in case you don't like them.

Hope these tips help, and I am excited for you to try your first papaya :)

Christine