Dreaming of a tropical vacation but can’t get away? Mangoes may be the next best thing. Whether featured in ceviche or blended in a smoothie, it's love at first bite. Make the most of mangoes with our handy guide to cutting, ripening and enjoying everything these tropical fruits have to offer.
P.S. Get the best deal on yellow mangoes April 3 – 16, and don't wait, they're only available in stores opens in a new tab!
All About Our Mangoes
Sweet, refreshing mangoes need a tropical climate to grow. Throughout the spring and summer, you’ll find mangoes from Mexico, the Caribbean and California in Whole Foods Market stores. While you'll see mangoes in stores year-round (look for ones from South America in the fall and winter), spring and summer is really their time to shine.
Beyond Produce: Must-Have Mango Products
From spicy chutney to organic dried fruit, take a mango-inspired journey through our aisles and discover new favorites.
How to Tell if a Mango Is Ripe
When shopping for mangoes in our Produce department, keep in mind that a mango's color isn't necessarily the best indicator of ripeness. While a red blush tint to the skin may seem like a telltale sign, it's actually not related to ripeness, maturity or quality. Instead, go by how the mango feels. You’ll know it's ripe when a mango has a slight give, much like a peach or an avocado. A fully mature mango will also have full cheeks.
How to Ripen and Store Mangoes
If you can’t find a perfectly ripe mango, don’t stress. You can ripen a mango at home by placing a firm mango on the counter at room temperature – or speed up the process by placing your mango in a paper bag. Not all mangoes are the same, and some varieties may shift from dark to light green as they ripen. You can slow down the ripening process and store fully ripe mangoes in the fridge.
How to Cut a Mango
Ready to enjoy your mango? If you’ve purchased a whole fruit, you’ll need to cut it open to reveal the juicy inner flesh. We’ve broken it down step-by-step to show you how to get perfect mango cubes.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Cutting board: Any type will do, but aim for a medium-sized board.
Paring knife: Mango skin is thick, so you’ll want your knife to be nice and sharp.
Small prep bowl: This is your landing spot for the mango cubes.
Alright, let’s learn how to cut a mango. You can also watch this How to Cut a Mango video opens in a new tab to see the technique in action.
Step one: Slice off the stem end.
Place the mango on its side and slice off the stem end.
Step two: Slice off the cheeks.
Stand the mango upright. Holding the fruit with one hand, slice off the two cheeks on either side of the pit, which is flat and located in the center.
Step three: Cut a crisscross pattern.
Place the cheeks skin-side down on your cutting board. Next, cut a crisscross pattern into the fruit flesh of each cheek, making sure to not cut through the skin.
Step four: Reveal the cubes.
Gently turn each cheek inside out so that cubes begin to pop out from the skin.
Step five: Cut away the cubes.
Gently slide your knife under the cubes to release them from the skin into a small prep bowl. Congratulations! You’ve learned how to cut a mango.
Our Favorite Recipes Using Mango
Mangoes are amazingly versatile, as they go with both sweet and savory foods. Some of our favorite recipes include:
Mango Ceviche
For a burst of tropical flavor, add cubed mango to your favorite ceviche recipe. Need inspiration? Try our easy recipe, which uses cooked shrimp, diced mango, lime juice, red onion and jalapeño.
Mango Smoothie
Blending mango chunks into smoothies gives them a vibrant orange color and subtle sweetness. What fruits go best with mango? Bananas, citrus fruits and pineapple are always safe bets.
Mango Salad
Mango was made for salad, whether it’s sliced and dressed with lime juice and salt or mixed with black beans, avocado and fresh cilantro. Serve as a simple, refreshing side dish for grilled chicken or fish.
Mango Cake
Mango doesn’t stop at smoothies and salads — it’s also great for baking into cakes and breads. Try upside down cake, which is literally baked “upside down” in a pan to create a caramelized, irresistible top.
Mango Agua Fresca
Agua fresca, Spanish for “fresh water,” is a simple blended drink that needs only fresh fruit and water, plus a little sweetener and citrus juice. What a way to enjoy mango on a hot summer day.
More ways to enjoy mangoes:
Add mango chunks to your next seafood or pork kabob by glazing it with teriyaki sauce before grilling — sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving.
Add sliced mango to your avocado toast with mint, chili powder and salt.
Add cubed mango to overnight vanilla bean chia pudding for some tropical sweetness.
Grill mango halves and use them as a dessert base; serve with coconut milk ice cream and drizzle with honey and toasted coconut flakes.
Mangoes aren’t the only tropical fruits in our stores right now. Check out our Guide to Tropical Fruits to explore your options.