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There are several varieties of Mango fruit. Depending on the variety, the skin can be green or red, and the fruit can weigh between 6 oz (170g) and 5 pounds (2 1/4 kilos.)

The Manila variety has yellow skin, the Tommy Atkins variety has red and green skin, the Haden variety has yellow and pink skin, and the Keitt variety has green skin. The skin on all varieties is inedible.

Inside, the fruit has golden flesh and a large stone in the middle. It has a sweet taste with a bit of tartness that adds a tang.

Mangos are picked and shipped before they are fully ripe. They will arrive at the store firm, but not hard.

Really hard ones probably won't ripen for you at home, just rot. These are meant for cooking, not for eating raw. They are used in Thai recipes.

Mango is a very important product of India.

When buying Mango to eat out of hand, choose ones that are slightly scented and have a bit of give when pressed. There should be no wrinkles or blemishes. Small black dots on the skin are normal. The colour of the skin should seem fully developed and you should be able to smell the fruit around the stem end.

Cooking Tips
Cut around the large seed in the middle, then peel the rest.

To make cubes, separate the two halves. Make horizontal then vertical cuts in the flesh, not cutting through the skin. If you want to make a Mango porcupine after cubing it, push the skin side up and pull the flesh side down. Otherwise, at this point, just use a knife to sever the cubes off.

Nutrition
Good source of vitamins A and C.

The skin of the Mango may be an irritant to some people (Mango belongs to the same family as poison ivy and poison oak).

Equivalents
1/2 cup fresh, peeled Mango = 3 oz / 85g
4 slices fresh, peeled Mango = 2 oz / 50g

Storage

Mangos are shipped unripe. To ripen one, wrap it in paper, put in a bowl, cover bowl with paper and allow to sit at room temperature.

When ripe, store in refrigerator and use within 2 to 4 days.

History
Native to South-East Asia. They were being cultivated in India back in 2000 BC. The Portuguese introduced them to Africa in the 1500s. From there, they were brought to Brazil and the Caribbean in the 1700s, and in the 1800s to Mexico and Florida. Brought to Hawaii in 1842.

The Keitt variety was developed in Florida.

Literature & Lore
Both "Mangos" and "Mangoes" are correct as the plural.

Also called:

See Also:

Wild Mango

Other entries for:

Mangos
Mango Powder, Wild Mango

Other entries for:

Hard Fruit
Apples, Apricots, Avocado, Chayote, Citrus Fruit, Guava Fruit, Kiwis, Maypop Fruit, Medlars, Melons, Nectarines, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Persimmons, Plums, Pomegranates, Quinces, Red Sorrel, Rose Hips, Sapote, Star Fruit, True Service Fruit

Other entries for:

Fruit
Bananas, Bletting, Candied Fruit, Dried Fruit, Drupes, Olives, Rhubarb, Soft Fruit