The mango season is currently underway. From supermarkets to fruit shops, street corners, and bicycles, baskets are filled with various types of mangoes everywhere. Seeing mangoes around tempts everyone to enjoy them. Nowadays, many households don’t have the condition to consume mangoes quickly. Instead of buying small quantities daily, many people purchase large amounts—10 to 12 kilograms—from wholesale fruit markets. Some also receive large quantities of mangoes as gifts. It is common in rural areas to bring a basket filled with mangoes at once. Buying or receiving a large quantity of mangoes at one time has several advantages. First, it allows for the convenience of eating fresh mangoes. Second, buying in bulk often comes with price discounts. However, storing mangoes poses a challenge. If you have bought many mangoes at once and are concerned about how to keep them fresh, the following methods can be helpful.
1. Do not store all mangoes in the same place. Most people tend to keep all mangoes together in one container or spot, which is not ideal. If one mango spoils, it can cause the others to spoil as well. Therefore, it is best to store each mango separately in different locations as much as possible.
2. Store raw and ripe mangoes separately. If it is not possible to keep each mango separately, then place the riper mangoes in one spot, less ripe mangoes in another, and raw mangoes in a separate place. Ripe mangoes emit ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening of other mangoes. When all mangoes ripen at once, they become difficult to consume on time and spoil quickly.
3. Use the refrigerator for storing ripe mangoes. Once mangoes are fully ripe, they can be stored in the fridge. The cold temperature slows the ripening process, keeping mangoes fresh for 5 to 7 days. However, raw mangoes should not be stored in the refrigerator.
4. Use newspaper wrapping. Mangoes can be wrapped in newspaper, which allows air circulation and protects them from spoiling quickly. This is especially beneficial for raw mangoes, as it helps them ripen naturally and properly.
5. Avoid placing mangoes in hot areas. Mangoes should not be kept in direct sunlight or in places with excessive heat, as this accelerates their decay and spoilage. Also, storing mangoes in plastic bags for a long time is not advisable. Mangoes should not be washed before storage.
