momofkhm Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I know I eat it. :) But do I peel it first? How do I even tell if it's ripe? It's green at one end and red at the other. It's not what I would call soft at all. But I also would say it's as firm as say an apple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I only learned myself a few weeks ago. What I've been told is the softer the better and eat the skin. However my ds doesn't like the skin and they are a PITA to peel! LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 (edited) Always buy a yellow mango..should not be very firm to touch..you can smell and it will have a sweet aroma, which will indicate its ripe enough.. I hope the one as you describe, green and red is not ripe enough..ANd we never ate peels..I hope you can but they are very think to chew..We just slice it big enough (along with peels, around three big slices of one entire mango) and eat its pulp with a spoon. If it was ripe, I would either eat it as a fruit or make a mango shake..YUM! Edited April 28, 2011 by Learner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 You peel it, yes. It should be softer than an apple. What to do with it? I can't even count all of the things you can do with it! When we lived in Hawaii there was a sandwich place near us that had a tuna sandwich with mango and strawberries, it was eldest dd's favorite thing. Here is a yummy salsa with mango. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 This youtube shows two ways to cut a mango. And yes, you want it slightly squishy to the touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 When it's ripe, it should be a little soft and smell sweet. You then peel it. Our favorite way to eat it is as part of a dessert: mango coconut rice. You cook the rice in coconut milk and sugar, and serve it with chopped mango. Mmmmm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Woods Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 very messy to peel! but YUM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Don't even try to eat it if it is as hard as an apple. WAIT until soft. We eat those by the dozens around here. It is just about my kids' favorite fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Wait until the mango is soft! Also, don't eat the peels. In fact, don't even let your lips get near them. A lot of people (including me) are sensitive/allergic to the mango peel. Apparently it's somehow related to poison ivy/oak/sumac....? Anyway, I'm fine with mango unless my lips touch the skin (trying to scrape away at the yumminess of mango). Google "Mango mouth" for more info. It causes a nasty rash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 My favorite fruit! LOVE them! You've gotten good advice. I have no more to add. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I do hate to admit it, but I peel and then lean over the sink and eat it like an apple! I don't share and I wait until the kids are upstairs! :D YUMMY!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshine_librarian Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I have eaten mangoes my whole life (my grandparents had mango trees in their yard) and had no idea the skin was edible. Although according to this link if you are allergic to poison ivy you could have a severe allergic reaction to ingesting the skin. We always peeled & sliced them and then ate them with sour cream. My dad prefers them with vanilla icecream and my grandma always offers them over pancakes. Oh, and they ripen really well on a windowsill if they are too firm. Once ripened they can last awhile in the fridge and they seem to freeze pretty well without additional prep work (other then the peeling and slicing that is). And the color thing really varies from one variety to another, with the corresponding flesh varying as well. Yellow ones around here are usually pretty gross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I like mangos that are red and yellow, not too green. I also don't like them very soft. If you try to peep it when it's as hard as an apple, it's harder than if you wait for it to ripen a little more. After I peel it (it's messy!), I slice it into pieces. I've used it for many things, but the two ways I use it the most are in a fruit smoothie (I like it best with a banana, strawberries and a can of milk chocolate Slimfast all blended up in the blender!), and on rice! YUM!!! Love mangos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annlaura Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Re: allergic reactions to the peel. The allergens can transfer to the meat when peeling, so it is a good idea to rinse again after peeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I do hate to admit it, but I peel and then lean over the sink and eat it like an apple! I don't share and I wait until the kids are upstairs! :D YUMMY!!:001_smile: I've eaten them like that too! :lol: And the color thing really varies from one variety to another, with the corresponding flesh varying as well. Yellow ones around here are usually pretty gross. :iagree: Yellow here would be too done and would not taste good!!! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Here is what we do with them. We use them in smoothies, or if I have extra, I freeze them in chunks for future smoothies. We make a cup or two of quinoa and let it cool. Then we add in diced up mango, peppers, black beans, a little golden basalmic vinegar and olive oil. We eat it as a side type salad. We also make a mango salsa using diced up mango, black beans, diced onion, diced tomato, lime juice, olive oil, basalmic vinegar, and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips. Yum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentancalann Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 don't peel it like an apple. just slice off as much as you can from each side (you should have two "halves", disregarding the pit). then, with a paring knife, slice through the fruit of those halves, not the skin, in a criss-cross pattern. slice off the chunks into a bowl. yum-mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Thanks, now I need to go get some mangos! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Wait until it is soft. I eat them almost daily. I cut about half of it (the seeds are huge) and chop it up. I then add it to plain, nonfat yogurt. YUM! I love mangoes. PS -- I peel the half I'm going to eat before I start cutting. It's rather messy but worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 IAnd the color thing really varies from one variety to another, with the corresponding flesh varying as well. Yellow ones around here are usually pretty gross. Kroger recently had the yellow smaller ones, and they didn't even taste like mangoes. YUCK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heliconian Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Mangos are one of my favorite fruits (I'm trying to figure out where to plant a tree this fall), but we always check for allergies before sharing with anyone. Mangos are part of the sumac family. This is where the poison oak/ivy sensitivity comes in. Cashews are also sumacs, so if you have cashew allergies, no mangos for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Mangos are one of my favorite fruits (I'm trying to figure out where to plant a tree this fall), but we always check for allergies before sharing with anyone. Mangos are part of the sumac family. This is where the poison oak/ivy sensitivity comes in. Cashews are also sumacs, so if you have cashew allergies, no mangos for you! I love mangoes but have to wear gloves to peel them, then rinse the flesh after peeling. Otherwise I get an awful rash all over my hands! And I get a small-scale version of that same rash around my lips and eyes if I eat cashews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 peel, cut it and put in FREZER... YUMMY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Re: allergic reactions to the peel. The allergens can transfer to the meat when peeling, so it is a good idea to rinse again after peeling. :001_huh: I'm so glad I read this thread since my youngest two have pretty severe poision ivy reactions. I had no idea about the mango skin. :svengo: So glad we didn't find out the hard way (we have mangoes frequently, but I'm always the one peeling it since it's such a PITA - but middle child has been taking over fruit-peeling duties lately since fruit salads are her specialty... so glad she left the mangoes in the fridge this afternoon! eek!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I grew up in HI where we gorged on mangoes during mango season and never knew about the allergy issues. Mom always told us not to eat the skin because it causes diarrhea. So how do you all ripen them? Just sit them on the counter? I rarely eat mangoes now because they're never as good as the ones we got at home fresh from the tree. I find that usually they go bad before they get sweet. Do I just need to submit to the fact that they won't be as good because they're not tree ripened? I talked to Mom about this once and she said store-bought mangoes will not be as good because they're picked too early and they don't ripen once picked. If anyone has advice for me so I can enjoy mangoes again I'd love to hear it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I love mangoes and will usually just serve plain mango slices. However, sometimes I cut it in cubes, and toss it with sliced strawberries and fresh mint leaves. Let it sit a while to combine flavors. Mmmm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I've never had tree-ripened ones, so I cannot compare, but mine are delicious and VERY sweet. I grew up in HI where we gorged on mangoes during mango season and never knew about the allergy issues. Mom always told us not to eat the skin because it causes diarrhea. So how do you all ripen them? Just sit them on the counter? I rarely eat mangoes now because they're never as good as the ones we got at home fresh from the tree. I find that usually they go bad before they get sweet. Do I just need to submit to the fact that they won't be as good because they're not tree ripened? I talked to Mom about this once and she said store-bought mangoes will not be as good because they're picked too early and they don't ripen once picked. If anyone has advice for me so I can enjoy mangoes again I'd love to hear it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I grew up in HI where we gorged on mangoes during mango season and never knew about the allergy issues. Mom always told us not to eat the skin because it causes diarrhea. So how do you all ripen them? Just sit them on the counter? I rarely eat mangoes now because they're never as good as the ones we got at home fresh from the tree. I find that usually they go bad before they get sweet. Do I just need to submit to the fact that they won't be as good because they're not tree ripened? I talked to Mom about this once and she said store-bought mangoes will not be as good because they're picked too early and they don't ripen once picked. If anyone has advice for me so I can enjoy mangoes again I'd love to hear it! Yes, just leave them on the counter. We get the best mangos from China town/International District here. I don't know if you have something like that. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Mangos are one of my favorite fruits (I'm trying to figure out where to plant a tree this fall), but we always check for allergies before sharing with anyone. Mangos are part of the sumac family. This is where the poison oak/ivy sensitivity comes in. Cashews are also sumacs, so if you have cashew allergies, no mangos for you! :001_huh: I'm so glad I read this thread since my youngest two have pretty severe poision ivy reactions. I had no idea about the mango skin. :svengo: So glad we didn't find out the hard way (we have mangoes frequently, but I'm always the one peeling it since it's such a PITA - but middle child has been taking over fruit-peeling duties lately since fruit salads are her specialty... so glad she left the mangoes in the fridge this afternoon! eek!)My dh and I have both had MAJOR problems with poison oak/ivy, but neither of us has any reaction at all to mangos or cashews. I am VERY thankful for that, as I LOVE mangos and cashews! Is there a difference between sumac and poison sumac? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In2why Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Too much sharing.....but the best way to eat a ripe mango is while naked, and with someone!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn in OH Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 LOL! Here I was thinking a mango was a new device like a Blackberry, or Kindle. I'm so out of the loop with new gadgetry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I have dh peel them because I am very allergic to the oil in the skin. I get a rash anywhere I touch after handling it. But once it is peeled and rinsed I'm fine - and we love using mangoes in smoothies. Other stuff too, but mango banana smoothies are our top choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 LOL! Here I was thinking a mango was a new device like a Blackberry, or Kindle. I'm so out of the loop with new gadgetry.:lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heliconian Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 My dh and I have both had MAJOR problems with poison oak/ivy, but neither of us has any reaction at all to mangos or cashews. I am VERY thankful for that, as I LOVE mangos and cashews! Is there a difference between sumac and poison sumac? Poison sumac, like poison oak and poison ivy, are all part of the larger sumac family, which includes mangos and cashews, and probably a hundred other sumacs. Many of them are edible. It's just a matter of how concentrated the urushiol is in the plant. There's a ton in the "poison" ones, and not very much in the others. But in mangos it can concentrate in the skin, and in cashews, in the oils in the nutshell. Processing usually removes most of the chemical in storebought cashews, but "usually" and "most" won't do if you are highly sensitive. I can't tell you how much more I appreciate being able to buy cashew after reading about the harvesting process : http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-cashews.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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